St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 28, 2020

Now including both on-line and live events during the pandemic. To get your event listed here, send an email to calendar [at] stageleft.org.

St. Louis playwright Nancy Bell's MUTE: A Play for Zoom, which was performed live via Facebook on April 5, 2020, is available as a live stream at vimeo.com. "In a world much like ours, there exists a video conference call. And in this call, there are academics, confusion, fire and...one hamster. An experimental theatre piece that steals rabidly from Ionesco, Beckett, real life and Chekhov. The play was for performance on Zoom by Nancy Bell and directed by Lucy Cashion."

Denise Thimes

The Black Rep, The Organization for Black Struggle, Better Family Life, and Action STL present performances of Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak On It by Cheryl L. West at different times and locations Friday through Sunday, October 2-4. Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak On It tells us about an activist who spoke out about voter registration and civil rights in African American communities. It showcases songs and speeches that inspire and chronicle the story of Fannie Lou Hamer’s experience. This production will feature Denise Thimes in the role of Fannie Lou Hamer with accompaniment by Dennis Brock on guitar. On October 2nd in The Black Rep parking lot, 6662 Olive. Action St. Louis will provide voter registration tables at 5pm and preshow music will be provided by James Biko. The Summer Performing Arts students will also perform an excerpt from their final performance and the main performance of Speak On It will begin at 6pm. On October 3rd, The Organization for Black Struggle will have a Community Day at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. and Hodiamont.  This event will have COVID testing as well as health and job vendors. The performance of Speak On It will begin at 1pm. The final performance will begin at 2pm, on October 4th at Better Family Life located at 5415 Page Blvd. All three performances will be outdoors with voter registration tables available to the public. For more information: theblackrep.org

The Blue Strawberry presents a Pop-Up Piano Bar with Sir Stryker, "Piano Bar Star of the Holland America Cruise Line," Tuesdays through Sundays from 6 to 10 pm. There is no cover or minimum and sidewalk seating is available. The club is operating under a "COVID careful" arrangement with restricted indoor capacity and other precautions. The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Leslie Craig

The Blue Strawberry presents Standardish with singer Leslie Criag, along with Charlie Brown on piano and Rich Mendoza on basss, on Thursday, October 1, at 8 pm. "Songs made famous by Amy Winehouse, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Adele,  Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli and Cyndi Lauper. A night of standards new and old." The club is operating under a "COVID careful" arrangement with restricted indoor capacity and other precautions. The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

The Fabulous Fox Theatre presents the return of its popular Ghost Tours during the month of October.    Fox Ghost tours include both Fox Theatre history provided by Fox tour guides and 'ghost' stories from the St. Louis Paranormal Society following their investigation and analysis of the theatre’s “hot spots” of paranormal activity. Tours begin on Sunday, October 4, and will continue at a variety of dates and times through October 26. Tours and will be limited to 15 people per departure time. In order to provide the best possible safety measures for Fox guests and to comply with the city health department requirements, the following protocols will be in place.  Tours will cover 3 levels of the auditorium and the stage, but will not include the narrow underground tunnels this year.  Tours will move in one direction and not cross paths with other tour groups.  Tour participants will be required to wear a mask and observe social distancing.  Each tour will be accompanied by a Fox tour guide and a monitor to assure adherence to mask-wearing and social distancing.  Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the tour. For more information: www.fabulousfox.com.

Fly North Theatricals presents three new free digital series. Their new digital line up includes The Spotlight Series, the Grown-Up Theatre Kids Podcast, and Gin and the Tonic. The Spotlight Series highlights the Fly North family of students and actors performing songs from previous FNT shows. In the Grown-Up Theatre Kids podcast you can join Colin Healy and Bradley Rohlf every other Friday as they explore life after drama club and what it means to make a living in theatre far from the lights of broadway. Gin and the Tonic is a "reckless unpacking of music history’s weirdest stories hosted by Colin Healy.” The Spotlight Series and Gin and the Tonic are available at the Fly North Theatricals YouTube channel and the Grown-Up Theatre Kids podcast can also be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Sticher, other podcast platforms. All three are updated on a bi-weekly (every other week) basis.

The Hawthorne Players present an online version of Echoes of Valhalla, a theatrical edition of the annual Voices of  Valhalla hayride event presented in the Florissant Civic Center Theatre in 2018, on Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3.   There will be no charge to view the show, but viewers will have the option to donate to Hawthorne’s scholarship program.  For more information or to request an email link for the presentation, visit www.hawthorneplayers.info.

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Death of a Blackheart through November 7th. "Ahoy Matey! Join us for an exciting evening of murder, mystery and pirates at the best comedy dinner theater show in town. Don your favorite pirate gear and join us on a high seas adventure fraught with peril! What part will you play in this hilarious show full of fair maidens, lost boys, rival pirates and wenches? Whichever character you acquire, beware of that famous pirate Captain Jack Blackheart! Aye, he's a scurvy seadog if my eye ever seed one! Gee, I hope no one kills him off!" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents its 2020 Digital Festival with a variety of streaming content, including Opening Night Spotlights and the Spring Artists in Training Recital, available at www.opera-stl.org/season-and-events/thisisotsl-digital-festival as well as on its YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/OperaTheatreSTL.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, in collaboration with Baltimore Center Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, The Public Theater and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, present Play at Home, a series of micro-commissioned short plays from some of the American theatre's most exciting and prominent playwrights. These new plays – which all run 10 minutes or less – are available for the public to download, read and perform at home for free at playathome.org.

Adena Varner and family

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents a live video stream of the WiseWrite Digital Play Festival beginning on Saturday, October 2, at 6:00 pm and running until the end of the Rep's 2020-2021 season. “Step into the imagination of three young playwrights as The Rep presents professional readings of their new plays.” The production is directed by Adena Varner, the Rep's Director of Learning and Community Engagement. For more information: repstl.org.

Come Together

The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival presents streaming videos from the SHAKE20 festival, including re-imagined, condensed versions of classic Shakespeare plays and new takes on old favorites like Joe Hanrahan's Come Together, at the Shakespeare Festival Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/STLShakesFest/videos

St. Louis University Theatre presents a video adaptation of Diary of a Madman, based on the short story by Nikolai Gogol, beginning at 8 pm on Monday, October 5. "The diary entries are reimagined by different groups of theatre-artists, filmed, and then curated into a final, single photodrama, creating a collage of insanity in isolation." Adapted and directed by Lucy Cashion, the production will remain available on demand through Thursday, October 8. For more information www.metrotix.com.

The St. Louis Writers Group streams live recordings of previous play reading sessions at their Facebook page. For more information: facebook.com.

SATE, in collaboration with COCA and Prison Performing Arts, presents Project Verse: Creativity in the Time of Quarantine. Project Verse presents two new plays: Quatrains in Quarantine by e.k. doolin and Dream On, Black Girl: Reflections in Quarantine by Maxine du Maine. The performances are streamed free of charge on SATE’s website and Facebook page. For more information: slightlyoff.org.

The Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis presents Something Spoken: Tennessee Williams On the Air alternating Saturdays at 5 pm on Classic 107.3 FM. Each episode will air live and then be available for streaming at classic1073.org until the day before the next episode is broadcast. Episodes include a production of a Williams one-act play, followed by commentary from Williams scholar Thomas Mitchell.  Mister Paradise is available for streaming at the Classic 107.3 web site until October 2. For more information: www.twstl.org/something-spoken

Union Avenue Opera offers Sneak Peeks of its 2021 season operas Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) and The Cradle Will Rock on its YouTube channel.

Looking for auditions and other artistic opportunities? Check out the St. Louis Auditions site.

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's Events Calendar.

Would you like to be on the radio? KDHX, 88.1 FM needs theatre reviewers. If you're 18 years or older, knowledgeable in this area, have practical theatre experience (acting, directing, writing, technical design, etc.), have good oral and written communications skills and would like to become one of our volunteer reviewers, send an email describing your experience and interests to chuck at kdhx.org. Please include a sample review of something you've seen recently.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of December 13, 2019

The big pre-Christmas theatre rush continues this week, with a lot of shows to recommend.

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New This Week:

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Ben Nordstrom

The Blue Strawberry presents Ben Nordstrom: My Favorite Stuff on Sunday, December 17, at 7 pm. "With an affable charm, a quick joke, and a soaring tenor, Ben will share musical stories of parenting, love, theatre, and of course, the holidays. My Favorite Stuff marks Ben Nordstrom's solo debut at Blue Strawberry. He’ll be joined by the iconic Steve Neale on piano. Together, they will span a wide array of musical styles from 70s pop/rock to contemporary musical comedy to the Great American Songbook. By the end of the night, Ben’s favorite stuff will be yours too." The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: www.bluestrawberrystl.com.

My take: Here's a duet show by a pair of well known and highly regarded local theatre and cabaret artists. Mr. Nordstrom has a long resume that includes dramatic and comic roles, along with extensive musical theatre work, while Mr. Neale is a composer, conductor, pianist, and vocalist who is much in demand here in town. It looks like an unbeatable combination to me. I will definitely be there on Sunday.

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The Cricket on the Hearth
Photo: John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues its 109th season with the world premiere of Vladimir Zelevinski's adaptation of Charles Dickens's The Cricket on the Hearth Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, December 12-15. "In mid-19th century London John and Dot have fallen in love and married. Theirs is a May-December match (she is young and spritely, he is older and wiser), as unlikely as it is loving. The joy of their life is their bouncing baby boy, and their home is guarded by a friendly cricket who chirps from the hearth, an omen of good fortune. Then, a mysterious stranger enters their lives. Has he brought with him suffering and sorrow that will tear apart the lives of John, Dot and their friends, or does he bring gentler gifts? We won't spoil the ending, except to say that you just might leave the theatre with your heart a little warmer than when you entered." Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

My take: I saw this last night and was impressed by every aspect of it, from the solid acting, to the smart direction, to the fanciful sets, to the remarkably faithful adaptation of Dickens's somewhat odd original story, including it's strange, surreal final moments. I have had occasion to admire Mr. Zelevinski's work as a playwright in the past. He has once again fulfilled my expectations. Disclaimer: I serve on the board of WEPG as well as the play selection committee, but have had no hand in this production.

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Fully Committed
Photo: John Gitchoff

New Jewish Theater presents the comedy Fully Committed Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 4 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm through December 22 "The New Jewish Theatre's Artistic Director, Eddie Coffield, Artistic Director, announces the cast and creative team of Fully Committed. Arriving just in time for the holidays, Becky Mode's hilarious hit lets the madness run wild. “I am overjoyed to bring Fully Committed to the New Jewish Theatre during the most festive time of year!” Coffield said. “There's no actor more equipped to tackle 40-plus characters than our beloved Will Bonfiglio. I can hardly wait for St. Louis to see Will bring this timeless, one-man tour-de-force to life!” This hilarious comedy features more than 40 characters that come to life through one actor.” Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

My take: A one-actor show can be great fun if the script is worthwhile and the actor is up to the task. I've seen this show three times (here at the Rep and Stray Dog, and in Chicago with Bronson Pinchot) and found it vastly entertaining every time. The characters in Becky Mode's script are deftly and convincingly drawn, which raises this above the level of a simple virtuoso acting display. Mr. Bonfiglio has earned plenty of praise for his work on stage and is getting good notices for his performance here. "Bonfiglio doesn’t break a sweat at the frequently breakneck pace of character switches," writes Ann Lemmons Pollack, "flying back and forth between voices and faces. He’s just plain terrific. And he’s terrifically funny." That's pretty typical of the notices thus far. You should maybe get your tickets sooner rather than later.

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A Life in the Theatre
Photo: Patrick Huber

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents A Life in the Theatre by David Mamet Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm through December 22. "The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Glengarry Glen Ross and Speed-The-Plow, takes us into the lives of two actors: John, young and rising into the first flush of his success; the other Robert, older, anxious, and beginning to wane. In a series of short, spare, and increasingly raw exchanges, we see the estrangement of youth from age and the wider, inevitable and endless cycle of life, in and out of the theatre." Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre on North Boyle in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

My take: I have found Mamet less and less interesting as he sinks deeper and deeper into his Angry Old White Guy role, but A Life in the Theatre is a much earlier work (from 1977) and free of political axe grinding. Reviews for the STLAS production have been good, with Calvin Wilson's notice for stltoday.com being a good example, which describes the show as "spellbinding and frequently hilarious...a rare and illuminating glimpse into what goes on in the mind and heart of an actor."

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That Uppity Theatre Company and the St. Louis University Department of Fine and Performing Arts present Playhouse Emissions: Climate Change Theatre Action St. Louis 2019 on Friday, December 13, at 7:30 pm. "Produced by Joan Lipkin, and directed by Thomas Martin, Anna Blair and Alex Knapp, "Playhouse Emissions: Climate Change Theatre Action St. Louis 2019" will feature a sampling of the CCTA international collection of short plays inspired by climate change and prevailing attitudes towards science. In 2017, close to 140 collaborators in 23 countries hosted events, reaching an audience of 12,000. In the US, 90 events took place in 60 cities." The performance takes place at the Mark Wilson Theatre on the campus of St. Louis University. Admission is free. For more information: www.climatechangetheatreaction.com

My take: I haven't seen this and won't have the opportunity to do so, but I think the topic is important enough and the production company professional enough to make this worth your attention.

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Pride and Prejudice
Photo: Phillip Hamer

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Pride and Prejudice, adapted from the Jane Austen novel by Christopher Baker, through December 29. "In a world of opulent estates and lavish private balls, where women's entire futures hinge on marriage, Elizabeth Bennet stands apart. With a vibrant wit and a headstrong sense of pride, Elizabeth places her own needs first and refuses to marry for mere convenience. But she meets her match in the unlikely figure of Mr. Darcy. Beginning as a testy battle of words and ideas, their relationship blossoms into a remarkable romance between two passionate intellects who play by their own rules. " Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

My take: Here's another show I won't see until later this weekend, but notices have been very positive. "Augustin Family Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif makes her directorial debut at The Rep with this exquisitely conceived and accomplished paean to the timeless charm and acute observations of novelist Jane Austen," writes Mark Bretz at Ladue News. "The Rep’s adaptation of Austen’s enduring novel, Pride and Prejudice, is impossibly romantic and richly rapturous in its depiction of Austen’s finely etched characters." At stltoday.com, Calvin Wilson calls this "a brilliantly entertaining show that immediately sweeps the audience up in its joyous storytelling. Deftly sidestepping stodginess, Sharif elicits smart, engaging performances that bring Austen’s characters to vibrant life." I'm looking forward to it.

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Held Over:

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Dean as Dean

The Blue Strawberry presents Dean Christopher: A Classic-Vegas, Rat-Pack Christmas on Friday, December 13, at 8 pm. "One of the greatest eras in the history of entertainment, Classic Vegas meets the holiday season head-on. The style, the entertainers, all brought to life and rolled up into your favorite holiday tunes by award winning actor, singer, impressionist, Dean Christopher and his band. A holiday show you soon won't forget. Not to mention a surefire way to get into the holiday spirit." The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

My take: Basically a holiday version of the "Rat Pack" tribute Mr. Christopher has been performing with great success for many years, the evening is an homage to the kind of flashy, mid-1960s Las Vegas nightclub show perfected by legendary performers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. It's also 90 minutes of rock-solid, raucous entertainment; not to be missed. See my review for KDHX for more details.

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It's a Wonderful Life
Photo: Jennifer Lin

Metro Theatre Company presents It's a Wonderful Life, based on the classic film, through December 15. "The beloved American holiday classic leaps to life on stage in a delightful, heartwarming new adaptation. John Wolbers' "It's a Wonderful Life" has a clever twist: it's staged as a play within a play, more specifically a radio play within a play. On Christmas Eve 1949, KMTC Radio St. Louis is prepared to perform a live radio broadcast of "It's a Wonderful Life," when unexpected events transform the station's staff into the radio play's actors. Complete with microphones, live sound effects by a Foley artist, 1940s period costumes, and a diverse company of characters, the play tells the story of George Bailey and his discovery of the life-affirming message that one life can change the whole fabric of a community. " The performances take place at The Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square in Grand Center.. For more information: metroplays.org.

My take: Well, it wouldn't be the holidays without someone doing a stage version of this beloved movie. Metro's approach has the advantage of treating it as the basis for a story that's less about the original film and more about the intrepid group of employees of a fictional radio station doing their best to work together to bring it to life over the air. "Metro Theater Company's It's a Wonderful Life brings an hour or so of a captivating and classy good time to an appreciative audience, a terrific start to the holiday season," writes Mark Bretz at Ladue News. "Don't forget to clap on cue."

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WickedPhoto courtesy of The Fabulous Fox

The Fox Theatre presents the musical Wicked opening on Wednesday, December 4, at 7:30 pm and running through December 29. "So much happened before Dorothy dropped in. WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin-smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”" The Fox Theatre is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

My take: I haven't seen this particular tour, but in my review of the 2005 tour I noted that composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz and book author Winnie Holtzman have done a remarkable job of simplifying and reducing the story of Gregory McGuire's original novel while still remaining true to the original characters and their relationships. The score is one of Schwartz's best, and that's saying something.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of June 21, 2018

It's your last chance for great productions at Opera Theatre, along with new shows at The Muny and Uppity Theatre Company.

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New This Week:

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That Uppity Theatre Company and the University of Central Oklahoma present 26 Pebbles by Eric Ulloa on Tuesday through Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 2 pm, June 19 - 23. Presented in partnership with the Missouri Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and "Painting for Peace in Ferguson", the play combines live music, singing, and interviews from Newtown residents as they recount the ripples in their community in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The performances taks place at Christ Church Maplewood UCC, 2200 Bellevue on 6/21; at Lafayette Park United Methodist Church, 2300 Lafayette on 6/22; and at Daniel Boone Branch of the St. Louis County Library, 300 Clarkson Rd., on 6/23. The production is suitable for ages 12 and above. All performances are free and open to the public. For more information: uppityco.com.

My take: I haven't seen this, but the issues is raises and the high profile of The Uppity Theatre Company are enought to move me to recommend it. Producing theatre about important contemporary issues is never easy, and Uppity does an exemplary job of it.

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The Wiz

The Muny presents The Wiz running through Monday, June 25. Based on L. Frank Baum's nostalgic classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Wiz is considered a feel-good favorite sparkling with heart-pounding soul, unforgettable gospel and infectious rock rhythms. Grammy Award-winner for Best Cast Show Album, and ranked as one of the highest watched live television musicals, this reimagined familiar favorite will have you ready to "Ease on Down the Road" to meet The Wiz for yourself!" Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

My take: This 1975 Broadway hit is getting a contemporary update, courtesy of Emmy-nominated writer Amber Ruffin (Late Night With Seth Meyers) and choreographer Camille A. Brown (Once on This Island). If you're a fan of the original, though, don't worry. As Kevin C. Johnson writes at STLToday, the heart of the original "remains intact, from the positive message of what you’re looking for most in life being inside you the whole time, to the importance of home and family, old and new."

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Held Over:

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An American Soldier
Photo by Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of An American Soldier, by Huang Ro and David Henry Hwang, running through June 22. "Danny Chen is the son of Chinese immigrants, and a proud American. He enlists in the US Army in 2011, eager to serve his country. In boot camp, Danny is welcomed by his band of brothers. But in Afghanistan, his own base becomes enemy territory as military hazing turns deadly. Based on a true story, this opera asks powerful questions about what it means to be an American." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.

My take: While I'm not particularly taken with Huang Ro's score, David Henry Hwang's libretto is so strong and the performances of the cast are so compelling that I'm recommending this important new opera without hesitation. As I write in my review for KDHX, it's a work that forcefully reminds of us the gap that far too often exists between our nation's ideals and its realities, and it deserves to be seen. Note that as this is being written, the last performance of the show is sold out, but you can still put yourself on a wait list.

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Blithe Spirit
Photo by John Lamb

Act Inc presents Noël Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm through June 24. "Blithe Spirit is a comic play by Noël Coward. The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his annoying and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost." Performances take place in the Emerson Black Box Theatre at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, visit actincstl.com.

My take: Coward's arch take on ghostly goings-on has been so popular for so long for very good reasons. Tina Farmer calls it an "entertaining diversion" in her review for KDHX, and I'd say that summarizes the play's appeal perfectly. Act Inc has also gotten the technical demands right, it seems, which is where productions of the play can sometimes fall down.

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Hedda Gabler
Photo by John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents Ibsen's tragedy Hedda Gabler Thursdays through Saturdays through June 23. "A masterpiece of modern theatre, Hedda Gabler exposes a powerful and reckless heroine who finds herself stranded in the seemingly ordinary but dangerously imbalanced Victorian Era. Employing methods that define the modern psychological drama, the plot stealthily reveals the bitter conflicts and thwarted longings that lie just below the "civilized" interactions of daily life and unflinchingly leads us to a shocking but inevitable conclusion." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: Well, you don't need me to tell you that Hedda Gabler is one of the classics of 20th-century theatre. It is, however, easy to get it wrong and make it tedious. Needless to say, Stray Dog has done nothing of the kind, which means (to quote Tina Farmer at KDHX), "Ibsen’s dark drama is as juicy and pointedly acerbic as it is sharply perceptive and every moment is purposeful." At Ladue News, Mark Bretz concurs, noting that director Gary Bell "elicits compelling performances from his talented cast and keeps this version of Hedda Gabler intriguing and involving throughout its three acts and three hours, which never drags despite its length."

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Corinne Melançon and Steve Isom
in I Do! I Do!Photo by Peter Wochniak

Stages St. Louis presents the musical I Do! I Do!, by the creators of The Fantasticks, through July 1. "I DO! I DO! tells the poignant story of 50 years in the married lives of Michael and Agnes. This two character musical version of the comedy/drama 'The Fourposter' takes place entirely in a bedroom and takes its audience on a whirlwind journey that begins in 1895 and ends half a century later. I DO! I DO! offers its audiences a frank look at the miracle of marriage as Michael and Agnes experience childbirth, parenthood, and the eventual settling down to face the future and their advancing years together. Originally written for the Broadway stars, Mary Martin and Robert Preston, STAGES employs the innovative theatrical hat-trick of two separate rotating casts: neither of which you will want to miss! An unabashed gift to the many couples who have walked through our doors, I DO! I DO! will be sure to steal your heart while celebrating the many triumphs and heartaches of marriage: past, present, and future!" Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

My take: Originally staged on Broadway back in 1966 and revised for a revival 30 years later, this charming if slight show will strike some familiar chords for anyone who has been married for any length of time. Despite a coupe of emotional crises that are resolved with implausible ease, the emotional stakes in this script are not high, but the appealing score (including the "My Cup Runneth Over," a lovely number that was inescapable back in the late 1960s) and polished production still make this well worth your time. Because, really, not everything has to be fraught with dramatic weight. I saw the "purple" cast, consisting of Stages regular Steve Isom and Corinne Melançon (who is also the production's dance captain). Their work is impeccable, but I don't think you can go wrong with the "red" cast of David Schmittou and Kari Ely either.

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Orfeo and Euridice
Photo by Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Gluck's Orfeo and Euridice through June 21. "What would you do if you lost your soulmate? For Orfeo, the answer is simple: get her back - even if it means traveling to the underworld. He braves every challenge, armed with nothing more than his music and his devotion. Little does he realize that his greatest obstacle will ultimately be his own passion. As a myth, it's a celebration of love and of music's transcendent power. As an opera, it's a ravishing masterpiece." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.

My take: Director Ron Daniels' modern, minimalist production takes a bit of getting used to, but when all is said and done it works pretty darned well as a contemporary theatre piece while still honoring the intentions of the opera's creators. That's not an easy task. Check out my review at KDHX for more details.

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Regina
Photo by Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Mark Blitzstein's Regina running through June 24. "Theft. Blackmail. Murder. Is there nothing that Regina Giddens won't do to satisfy her ambition? Based on Lillian Hellman's play The Little Foxes, and set against a Southern backdrop of spirituals, jazz, and ragtime, this deliciously twisted opera pits siblings and spouses against each other in a battle for the family business. Prepare to be scandalized - and entertained - as the renowned Susan Graham returns to Opera Theatre to portray one of the American stage's most fascinating characters." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.

My take: As I write in my review for KDHX, Regina is an American classic, and the Opera Theater production is a triumph in every respect. Don't miss it. Its condemnation of the ethical vacuum at the heart of crony capitalism and the ugly brutality of those who practice it could hardly be more relevant today. You should not miss it.

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La Traviata
Photo by Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Verdi's La Traviata through June 23. "Violetta has one important rule: never fall in love. As a Parisian courtesan, her life is full of parties, admirers, and - most importantly - freedom. Then she meets Alfredo. His naive sincerity sweeps her off her feet. Just when Violetta thinks she has escaped her past, she is asked to make an unthinkable sacrifice. Will pride, love, or honor prevail? Embrace the romance of this Verdi masterpiece, featuring the directing debut of star soprano Patricia Racette" Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.

My take: There was a time (before November 2016) when I would have suggested that the mix toxic chauvinism and smug self-righteousness of the males characters in Verdi's opera was starting to look dated. Now I'm not so sure. In any case, this new production is getting rave notices for the quality of the singing and acting on display. Having finally seen it myself, I have to agree that, while it may not be my favorite Traviata (that position is still held by Union Avenue's wonderful 2014 production), it's an awfully good one. Besides, it stars the immensely talented Sydney Mancasola, who was so impressive in OTSL's La Rondine in 2015.

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Yeast Nation
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the St. Louis premiere of the rock musical Yeast Nation Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, through June 23. "The world's first bio-historical musical comedy, from the mad geniuses who brought you Urinetown! It is the year 3,000,458,000 BC. The Earth's surface is a molten mass of volcanic islands and undulating waves. The atmosphere is a choking fog lit by a dim red sun. And the mighty waters of the world are inhabited only by rocks, sand, salt, more rocks, a little silt, and the great society of salt-eating yeasts - yes, yeasts! - the world's very first life form! These single-cell salt-eaters are the only living creatures on earth, and they're struggling against a food shortage, a strange new emotion called Love, and the oppression of a tyrannical yeast king. But when the king's son ventures out of the known yeastiverse, the yeasts' epic story - and ours - is changed forever." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111.

My take: One of the takeaways from the success of Urientown is that you can make a musical out of pretty much anything. So it should be no surprise that Mark Hollmann and Gret Kotis decided to follow up on the success of that first show with a musical about that most song-inducing of subjects, salt-eating yeasts. The show, as Tina Farmer writes at KDHX, features "vibrant color and effective performances that are delightfully engaging and thoroughly satisfying. You might learn a little science if you listen closely, but you're sure to leave the theater with a smile, a melody in your head and a new appreciation for our distant neighbors those salt-eating yeasts." Sounds...um...tasty.

Review: At Opera Theatre, "The Grapes of Wrath" is a searing indictment of American folly

The Joad family on the road
Photo: Ken Howard

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"If you're not outraged," reads a popular bumper sticker, "you're not paying attention." I can't think of a better way to describe my reaction to composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Michael Korie's powerful operatic treatment of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, on view at Opera Theatre through Sunday, June 25th.

Originally created for Minnesota Opera back in 2007 and revised substantially for the current production (hence its designation as a "world premiere"), the opera (like the novel that inspired it) is a searing indictment of the cruel and exploitative treatment of the so-called "Okies"-subsistence farmers driven into poverty by the Depression and the Dust Bowl and driven from their homes by rapacious banks. It's an indictment which, as Mr. Gordon points out in a program note, "maintains its resonance today: governments and people at odds, human-induced environmental disasters, distrust between corporations and workers, passing the buck and denying responsibility."

That doesn't mean that The Grapes of Wrath is a heavy-handed Brechtian diatribe, though. Its strong moral is conveyed by an intelligent and thoughtful libretto with well-rounded, credible characters. It's the harrowing and tragic tale of the Joad family that drives the message home.

Tobias Greenhalgh and
Katherine Goeldner
Photo: Ken Howard

And then there's Mr. Gordon's immensely appealing score. It pays homage to American folk music, vintage pop tunes, and notable American composers like Samuel Barber while still sounding fresh and original. It's also filled with ingenious touches, for example when characters trying to dodge responsibility for their cruel and oppressive actions sing "it's not my fault" to the "fate" motif from Beethoven's Fifth. "I'm a victim of circumstance," as Curly Howard used to say.

Under James Robinson's sure direction, a large cast of remarkable singing actors brings Steinbeck's rich tapestry of hope and tragedy to brilliant life. Mezzo Katherine Goeldner delivers a standout performance as the long-suffering Ma Joad, trying to hold her family together as it crumbles under the weight of bad luck and oppression. Her voice is powerful and her acting impeccable. Baritone Tobias Greenhalgh is impressive as Tom Joad, trying to escape his ex-con past, and baritone Hugh Russell is a painfully tragic Noah Joad, the simple-minded brother who makes the ultimate sacrifice for his family.

There are great performances as well by baritone Robert Orth as the alcoholic Uncle John, baritone Levi Hernandez as Pa Joad, and soprano Deanna Breiwick as Tom's pregnant sister Rosasharn. Tenor Geoffrey Agpalo also shines as the lapsed preacher Jim Casy. In fact, there's not a less than stellar performance anywhere in this large cast; see the OTSL web site for a complete list.

.. The German philosopher Friedrich Hegel is often quoted as saying that “the only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.” The Grapes of Wrath reminds us of the high human cost of stupidly repeated past mistakes. Go see it now; tickets are available at the Opera Theatre web site.

The great nations of Europe, coming through

Manifest / Destiny, Act II
Photo: John Lamb

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Through tomorrow the West End Players Guild is presenting the first fully staged production of Manifest / Destiny by physicist and playwright Vladimir Zelevinsky. The play tells the story of European immigration to and then across the American continent in a series of rapidly-changing scenes displaying dozens of characters played by just four versatile actors designated by letters A through D.

It's a rich, intelligent script that reminds us of the things our ancestors came here to escape (poverty, bigotry, fascism) as well as the challenges they faced when they got here.

That is: poverty, bigotry, and fascism.

Because it sometimes takes fiction to tell the truth, I present you with two quotes. The first is from a character in Zelevinsky's script, the second from a real person. In the wake of our recent presidential election, I leave you to contemplate the truth expressed in both.

"The most useful people are: homosexuals. No, really. Each is like a canary in the coal mine of society. Anything goes wrong, and they are the first to feel it. Next, the poor; next, the folks who dress different and don't cut their beards the way you do; but in front of the line, it's them, always bravely first into the breach. Look, Hitler becomes a Chancellor and guess who gets outlawed first? This is, like, a great calling card: hi, my name is Hitler and I hate homosexuals! So, yeah, they were first. You know, I have no idea why I'm talking about homosexuals. They have nothing to do with my story. Only this: they were first. And next it's Communists, and then – well – us." - "A" in Manifest / Destiny, Act I

"When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church — and there was nobody left to be concerned." - Pastor Martin Niemöller, quoted in The Congressional Record, 14 October 1968, page 31636

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of November 11, 2016

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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The 2015 cast of All is Calm
Photo: John Lamb

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the a cappella musical All is Calm Thursdays through Sundays, November 11-December 4. “Join us in celebrating the power of peace in this acapella musical based on the true story of soldiers during World War I who for one night, put down their arms and played soccer instead of exchanging bullets.” Performances take place at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com.

My take: All is Calm has become an annual winter tradition at Mustard Seed. With a script by Peter Rothstein and musical arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach, this story of the remarkable Christmas truce of 1914—a spontaneous outbreak of peace that occurred at multiple points along the trenches in France—combines splendid and often quite complex a cappella singing with readings of letters from soldiers and other historical documents. At a time when opportunistic politicians are pushing an agenda of hate, fear, and eternal war, this is a play that everyone needs to see. As we used to ask back in the 1960s, "what if they gave a war and nobody came?"

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Cuddles
Photo: Joey Rumpell

Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble presents Cuddles Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., November 9 - 12. " Eve is a young vampire. Tabby is her sister. Tabby makes the rules. Eve has never left her room. All she knows about the world comes from Tabby and from Eve's storybook characters. Eve does everything a good little vampire girl should do; including drinking Tabby's blood when she has to. But one day, Tabby tires of opening her veins, her heart, and in a breath, Eve's world changes. " Performances take place at The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: slightlyoff.org.

My take: Ready for some things that go "bump" in the night? Slightly Askew apparently has what you're looking for in this darkly ambiguous vampire story. "As evidenced by this pensively dark, intensely nuanced and complex production of Joseph Wilde's Cuddles," writes Tina Farmer at KDHX, "Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble remains among the most artistically and intellectually stimulating theaters in the region, if not the entire Midwest. This may be reason enough for theatergoers to add the company's current production to their calendar. Add in Joe Hanrahan's viciously perceptive direction, Tibbetts and Schwetye's profoundly broken yet mesmerizing performances, and excellent stagecraft, and you get a piece of noir theater that shines with brilliance."

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The Hawthorne Players present the comedy Driving Miss Daisy through November 13. " Having recently demolished another car, Daisy Werthan, a rich, sharp-tongued Jewish widow of seventy-two, is informed by her son, Boolie, that henceforth she must rely on the services of a chauffeur. The person he hires for the job is a thoughtful, unemployed black man, Hoke, whom Miss Daisy immediately regards with disdain and who, in turn, is not impressed with his employer's patronizing tone and, he believes, her latent prejudice. The performances take place at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. For more information, call 921-5678 or visit hawthorneplayers.info.

My take: I haven't seen this production and my schedule won't give me a chance to do so, but I have loved this play ever since I played Boolie (Miss Daisy's put-upon son) in the West End Players production many years ago. And the leading actress, Nancy Crouse, is an ideal pick for the role of the cantankerous Miss Daisy. Having worked with Hawthorne Players in the past, I can also attest to the consistently high technical quality of their shows as well.

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Judy Carmichael

The Presenters Dolan presents pianist Judy Carmichael on Friday, November 11, at 8 p.m. as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Grammy-nominated Judy Carmichael, one of the world's leading interpreters of stride piano, is a flat-out wonderful entertainer - singing, playing or talking. Judy hosts her own weekly show "Judy Carmichael's Jazz Inspired" on SiriusXM, Public Radio and podcast. Count Basie nicknamed her "Stride," acknowledging the command with which she plays this technically and physically demanding jazz piano style. Judy has appeared frequently on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, and has been featured on National Public Radio's Morning Edition, Entertainment Tonight and CBS' Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt and now with Charles Osgood." The performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: As a failed pianist, I always like it when (to quote a lyric from a Jimmy Durante classic) "a real piano player sits down at the keys." I also happen to be very fond of ragtime and its immediate descendants like stride. Ms. Carmichael has an impressive resume and the intimate space of the Gaslight should be good for this kind of show.

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Ken Haller

The Presenters Dolan presents Ken Haller in The Medicine Show on Saturday, November 12, at 8 p.m. as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Ken Haller's shows have been described as "touching," "hilarious," "intimate," and "tremendously entertaining." In The Medicine Show, where "miracle cures" are peddled, Ken weaves songs as diverse as "The Physician" (Cole Porter), "Someone to Fall Back on," (Jason Robert Brown), "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" (Stephen Sondheim) and more, into a narrative of how becoming a doctor is only the first step toward becoming a healer." The performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: "Haller is a charming and talented performer with a voice as smooth as a brandy Alexander," wrote Robert Mitchell in a KDHX review of Ken's Sondheim show back in 2011. I couldn't agree more. Ken is an immensely talented gent with impressive credentials in both the theatrical and cabaret worlds and he has been producing top-notch cabaret here in town as well as in Chicago and New York for several years now. And right now this country very much needs a show about the healing power of music.

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Mara Bollini

The Emerald Room at the Monocle and The Presenters Dolan present singer Mara Bollini in Taking Chances on Friday, November 11, at 7 p.m. "A native of St. Louis, Mara Bollini has had the privilege of singing and dancing her way across stages throughout the area for decades. “Taking Chances,” Bollini's new cabaret show, is an artistically crafted journey blending music from across the ages as well as musical genres. Carol Schmidt is pianist and music director for the show, which is directed by Tim Schall." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: themonoclestl.com.

My take: We have an embarrassment of cabaret riches in St. Louis this weekend, as this show clearly indicates. Mara is a great talent and Carol Schmidt is one of our town's finest music directors. And the Emerald Room is one of the coolest music venues in town.

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Held Over:

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Manifest / Destiny
Photo: John Lamb

The West End Players Guild opens their 106th season with the world premiere of Manifest / Destiny by Vladimir Zelevinsky Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, November 4 - 13. There will also be a show on Thursday, November 10, at 8 PM. "In a year when America's immigration history and policies have been front-and-center in political conversations, Zelevinsky's play is especially timely and insightful. An ensemble cast playing dozens of roles offers poignant vignettes of the love and suffering, bravery and betrayal endured by four centuries-worth of immigrants fleeing the Old World for a chance to reinvent themselves in the new one. " Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

My take: I'm on the board at West End Players as well as the play selection committee, so I'm pretty much pre-sold on this script. When we read it last year, we were all just bowled over by how well-written it was, but I don't think any of us could have anticipated just how relevant it would become in a year when mindless nativism once again spreads its poison over the land. We have been here before, and more than once. Zelevinsky's play reminds us that we are, in the words of JFK, a nation of immigrants. An excellent ensemble cast under the fluid direction of Steve Callahan reminds us forcefully of where we all came from and why we should remember how much our ancestors had to give up to get here.

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Mothers and Sons
Photo: Peter Wochniak

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Mothers and Sons by Terrence McNally through November 13. "Time stopped for Katharine the day her son died of AIDS. Twenty years later, she seeks out his former partner, Cal, only to discover that he has a husband and a six-year-old son. As she and Cal explore memories of someone they both loved, Katharine begins a rocky journey toward reconciliation with the side of her son that she never understood." Performances take place in the studio theater at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

My take: Like Until the Flood, the show on the Rep mainstage right now, Mothers and Sons deals with how the untimely death of a young man affects and changes the living. Unlike the characters in Until the Flood the characters in Mothers and Sons are entirely fictional. But they are also clearly inspired by playwright McNally's personal experience as a man of the theatre living through a period that brought both the triumph of marriage equality and the tragedy of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It's a powerful show with top-notch performances.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of November 4, 2016

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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Karen Irwin

The Presenters Dolan presents Karen Irwin in Janis, Me, and Bobby McGee: A Janis Joplin Tribute on Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5, at 8 p.m. as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "In her magical, stunning tribute to Janis Joplin, Karen Irwin shakes us to the core." The performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: Ms. Irwin's Joplin tribute has been getting praise from critics for a while now. Broadwayworld.com called her performance at The Cabaret at the Columbia Club in Indianapolis "a perfect 10" while the critic for Nuvo News Weekly descried it as "of the finest "tribute shows" I've witnessed" the previous year. Tribute shows like this can be a risky proposition for a performer, but it looks like Ms. Irwin may have found a good balance here.

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Manifest / Destiny

The West End Players Guild opens their 106th season with the world premiere of Manifest / Destiny by Vladimir Zelevinsky Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, November 4 - 13. There will also be a show on Thursday, November 10, at 8 PM. "In a year when America's immigration history and policies have been front-and-center in political conversations, Zelevinsky's play is especially timely and insightful. An ensemble cast playing dozens of roles offers poignant vignettes of the love and suffering, bravery and betrayal endured by four centuries-worth of immigrants fleeing the Old World for a chance to reinvent themselves in the new one. " Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

My take: I'm on the board at West End Players as well as the play selection committee, so I'm pretty much pre-sold on this script. When we read it last year, we were all just bowled over by how well-written it was, but I don't think any of us could have anticipated just how relevant it would become in a year when mindless nativism has once again spreads its poison over the land. We have been here before, and more than once. Zelevinsky's play reminds us that we are, in the words of JFK, a nation of immigrants.

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Mothers and Sons
Photo: Peter Wochniak

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Mothers and Sons by Terrence McNally through November 13. "Time stopped for Katharine the day her son died of AIDS. Twenty years later, she seeks out his former partner, Cal, only to discover that he has a husband and a six-year-old son. As she and Cal explore memories of someone they both loved, Katharine begins a rocky journey toward reconciliation with the side of her son that she never understood." Performances take place in the studio theater at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

My take: Like Until the Flood, the show on the Rep mainstage right now, Mothers and Sons deals with how the untimely death of a young man affects and changes the living. Unlike the characters in Until the Flood the characters in Mothers and Sons are entirely fictional. But they are also clearly inspired by playwright McNally's personal experience as a man of the theatre living through a period that brought both the triumph of marriage equality and the tragedy of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It's a powerful show with top-notch performances.

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Gail Payne

The Emerald Room at the Monocle and The Presenters Dolan present singer Gail Payne in Red, White and Blue Burgoo on Saturday, November 5, at 8 p.m. " Life-long Midwesterner and world traveler, Gail Payne presents a savory and sweet potluck of musical perspectives on the American dream. With a variety of ingredients from the musical gardens of Gershwin and Sondheim to Mellencamp and the Dixie Chicks, Payne cooks up a thought-provoking and entertaining evening that celebrates the complex flavors required for our increasingly nuanced American palate. Alex Rybeck is pianist and music director for the show, which is directed by Broadway star Faith Prince." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis.

My take: Ms. Payne is a veteran of the St. Louis Cabaret Conference, a week-long intensive training program for musical theatre and cabaret singers. I attended last year and was very taken with her work, both in class and in the final showcase. And the Emerald Room is a very cool venue.

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Held Over:

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Until the Flood
Photo: Peter Wochniak

Through November 6, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Until the Flood. Writer, performer and Pulitzer Prize finalist Dael Orlandersmith spent a week in St. Louis interviewing people from every corner of the region about recent social unrest. From these conversations, she has crafted a play that reflects the complexity of St. Louis. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

My take: While some reviews for this remarkable one-woman show have been mixed, I'm including it because it shines theatrical light on issues that have remained too long in the darkness in American in general and here in St. Louis in particular. "Through eight sharply drawn characters and a moving spoken word closing," writes Tina Farmer in a soon-to-be-published review at KDHX, "Orlandersmith challenges easy assumptions while making the case for continued conversation. As an actor, she is thoroughly engaging, with a clear purpose and focused action. Her characters are distinct and teeming with authenticity". Having seen the show myself, I can only add that this is a beautifully written and flawlessly acted show that deals in a surprisingly even-handed m