Symphony Preview, January 22 and 23, 2016: As the world turns

John Adams
Photo: Lambert Orkis, earbox.com

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The second and more substantial half of this weekend's St. Louis Symphony double bill consists of only two works: John Adams's "Saxophone Concerto," which the SLSO recorded in 2014, and Mahler's powerful "Symphony No. 5," which hasn't been heard here since 2009.

The Adams was a joint commission from the SLSO, the Boston Symphony, the Sao Paulo Symphony, and David Robertson’s Other Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony (where it had its first performance in August of 2013). When I first heard it in 2013, I found the concerto a tough nut to crack from a musical structure standpoint, largely because Adams’s style had developed to the point where entire movements were constructed from brief motifs that were so closely related it was often hard to tell them apart.

The long first movement of the concerto, for example, unfolds from a short, snappy rising arpeggio for the solo sax. That sense of rapid upward movement remains even when, towards the end, the mood shifts to the kind of sultry nocturne that wouldn’t be out of place in a film noir. The second and final movement—based on a two-note descending figure often embellished with cascades of notes in the solo part—ups the ante with a hyperkinetic solo line that rises to a classic jazz wail just before the final notes.

Timothy McAllister
timothymcallister.com

At the time I wasn't sure whether the concerto itself warranted repeated hearing, so it will be good to get reacquainted with the piece. Better yet, the soloist is once again the ferociously talented Timothy McAllister, whose 2013 performance melded classical virtuosity with a real jazz sensibility.

At well over twice the length of the Adams concerto, the Big Dog on the program is the Mahler symphony. It's a work of sharp contrasts, with moments of pure poetry alternating with massive orchestral assaults. "Doors suddenly open to totally unfamiliar scenes," writes Eddie Silva in his program notes, "or to themes you thought had been used up, only to return, sometimes menacingly.”

But then, that's quintessential Mahler. "[A]ll of Mahler's music", wrote his great champion, Leonard Bernstein, in 1967, "is about Mahler—which means that it is about conflict."

Think of it: Mahler the Creator vs. Mahler the Performer; the Jew vs. the Christian; the Believer vs. the Doubter; the Naïf vs. the Sophisticate; the provincial Bohemian vs. the Viennese homme du monde; the Faustian Philosopher vs. the Oriental Mystic; the Operatic Symphonist who never wrote an opera. But mainly the battle rages between Western Man at the turn of the century and the life of the spirit.

That paragraph is also quintessential Bernstein, and its verbosity could not be more appropriate for its subject. For Mahler was nothing if not musically verbose. His musical gestures are invariably grand and, surprisingly for a man who essentially wrote nothing for the stage, brilliantly and aptly theatrical. Here's Bernstein again:

He took all (all!) the basic elements of German music, including the clichés, and drove them to their ultimate limits. He turned rests into shuddering silences; upbeats into volcanic preparations as for a death-blow. Luftpausen became gasps of shock or terrified suspense; accents grew into titanic stresses to be achieved by every conceivable means, both sonic and tonic. Ritardandi were stretched into near-motionlessness; accelerandi became tornadoes; dynamics were refined and exaggerated to a point of neurasthenic sensibility. Mahler's marches are like heart attacks, his chorales, like all Christendom gone mad. The old conventional four-bar phrases are delineated in steel; his most traditional cadences bless like the moment of remission from pain. Mahler is German music multiplied by n.

Bernstein could have been Mahler reincarnated. Given that he was born several years after Mahler died, maybe he was.

But I digress.

"Photo of Gustav Mahler by Moritz Nähr 01"
by Moritz Nähr (1859–1945)
Licensed under PD-US via Wikipedia

Mr. Silva provides a concise road map to the symphony in his notes, so there's no point in my providing one here. The Wikipedia article on the work is also worth a read, especially since it includes examples of the principal themes and shows how they're developed over the symphony's 70-minute (or thereabouts) length. Allow me to recommend as well Michael Steinberg's San Francisco Symphony program notes for their in-depth analysis and their illumination of the relationship between the 5th and its predecessor, which briefly (and somewhat mysteriously) quotes the opening trumpet fanfare in its own first movement.

According to musicologist Donald Mitchell, Mahler once told Sibelius that a symphony "must be like the world. It must embrace everything." Mahler's 5th, with its incredible dynamic and emotional range and the kaleidoscopic brilliance of its orchestration, is the composer's world, to be sure. But its triumph, tragedy, and even its grotesque comedy are our world as well.

The essentials: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Robertson presents John Adams's "Saxophone Concerto," with soloist Timothy McAllister, and Mahler's "Symphony No. 5" Friday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m., January 22 and 23. Performances take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Symphony Preview, January 22, 2016: Love is in the air

"The Bartered Bride as performed at Zoppsot" by Unknown
Taken from: Rous, Samuel Holland (1919).
"Bartered Bride Prodana Nevesta". Retrieved 2009-06-17.
Licensed under PD-US via Wikipedia

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It's another two-for-one sale at Powell Hall this Friday and Saturday as David Robertson and the St. Louis Symphony present "Music You Know: Romantic Favorites" on Friday night, and major works by John Adams and Mahler Friday morning and Saturday night. I'll talk about the second program in another article.

The Friday night favorites concert opens with the lively and colorful overture to Smetana's 1865 comic opera "The Bartered Bride." It was his biggest stage hit in his native Bohemia but hasn't gotten much traction elsewhere. Operabase.com places it number 3 in its list of most-performed operas in the Czech Republic, but it doesn't even make their top fifty world-wide. The overture is another story, often showing up on concert programs and in recordings, often in conjunction with the popular "Dance of the Comedians". You can even hear the latter in the 1994 Road Runner cartoon "Chariots of Fur."

Next is a suite from the incidental music Gabriel Fauré wrote for a 1900 production of Maeterlinck’s elusive and once-popular drama "Pelléas and Mélisande". The story of doomed and forbidden love inspired multiple composers, including Debussy, who fashioned a weirdly compelling opera from it. Fauré's suite nicely captures the oddly ethereal and unsettled nature of the play.

Bob Becker
nexuspercussion.com

Bringing us up to intermission is the 1987 "Girlfriends Medley" for xylophone and strings by Bob Becker, a member of the innovative percussion ensemble Nexus (a ragtime LP by whom I still treasure). "As a composer," says Wikipedia, "Becker employs a multicultural approach by mixing the style of western military drumming with North Indian Hindustani idioms, such as raga scale patterns and tabla drumming." You won't hear any of that in this charming short piece, though, which rings changes on some ragtime and Great American Songbook standards.

The second half kicks off with the familiar "Wedding March" from the incidental music Mendelssohn wrote for a production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in 1843. The orchestra will be performing all of Mendelssohn's score later this season (an uncommon occurrence on concert stages), with actress Maureen Thomas reading bits of the play, so think of this as a preview.

The next piece is a preview of sorts as well; it's the "Adagietto" for harp and strings from the work that takes up most of the other concert program this weekend, Mahler's "Symphony No. 5." There's no evidence that Mahler ever intended this haunting, sweetly sad little gem to be played independently (although that was already being done as early as 1909, four years after the symphony was first published), but it has proved so popular that conductors and audiences alike seem to find it irresistible all on its own.

Three-Cornered Hat at the Alhambra Theatre,
Cape Town, in 1966
grutbooks.com

Things come to a vibrant finish with the second of two suites from Manuel de Falla's ballet "El sombrero de tres picos" ("The Three-Cornered Hat"), which had its premiere in 1919 in London with choreography by Léonide Massine and sets and costumes by Pablo Picasso. The suite concludes with the ballet's final "jota," in which the opera's comic villain gets tossed up and down on a blanket by frolicking party guests to the hilarity of all. Try it at your next party, but don't say I gave you the idea.

The essentials: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Robertson presents "Music You Know: Romantic Favorites" Friday at 8 p.m., January 22. The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 18, 2016

[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 web site.

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The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents And Away You Go through March 27. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Chuck Lavazzi
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

The Cabaret Project and 88.1 KDHX present the monthly cabaret open mic night on Wednesday, January 20, from 7 to 10 PM at the Tavern of Fine Arts "Drop by and enjoy a night of great music from St. Louis cabaret artists, backed up by the guest music director Ron McGowan on the baby grand." The master of ceremonies is Chuck Lavazzi, senior performing arts critic at 88.1 KDHX. If you're planning to sing, be prepared to do one or two songs and bring music, preferably in your key. At least one of your two songs should be a medium-or up-tempo number. We'd also recommend that you have your song memorized. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt at Waterman in the Central West End. There's free parking in the lot right across the street. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Clueless through April 16. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

Winter Opera St. Louis presents Mozart's comic opera Cosi fan Tutte Friday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, January 22 and 24. Performances take place at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 S. Lindbergh. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

Newsies
Photo: Deen van Meer

The Fox Theatre presents the musical Disney's Newsies, opening on Tuesday, January 19, and running through January 31. " They delivered the papers, until they made the headlines. Direct from Broadway comes NEWSIES, the smash-hit, crowd-pleasing new musical from Disney. Based on true events, NEWSIES tells the captivating story of a band of underdogs who become unlikely heroes when they stand up to the most powerful men in New York. It's a rousing tale about fighting for what's right...and staying true to who you are." The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, fabulousfox.com or call 314-534-1678.

Hard Road Theatre Productions presents Drinking Habits 2 opening on Thursday, January 21, and running through January 30. "Set in the present day outside the small town of Shady Glenn, USA, Drinking Habits 2 follows the misadventures of the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing and their friends. An orphanage with a strong connection to the convent is in danger of closing unless $5,000 can be raised in four weeks. In order to raise the needed funds, the convent decides to perform a play written by Mother Superior. Meanwhile, the other nuns of the convent agree to make a secret batch of their award-winning wine to sell to supplement the play's proceeds. But when Mother Superior believes she's had a holy vision, the lead male actor can't remember his lines, and the woman playing the Blessed Mother can't stop her uncontrollable cravings because she's pregnant with twins, things are thrown into chaos and everything that can go wrong does just as the curtain rises." Performances will be held at Highland Elementary Auditorium, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL. For more information: www.hardroad.org.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents comedy Enchanted April through January 24. "Lottie Wilton and Mrs. Arnott have never met but share a mutual feeling of unhappiness in empty relationships with their husbands. The ladies become acquainted through a newspaper advertisement and together decide to take a holiday from their spouses and rent an Italian castle for the month of April. To help with expenses, they advertise for two other women to join them. Together with Mrs. Graves, an elderly widow, and Lady Caroline Bramble, a young and attractive flapper, the women begin their month-long escape. The ladies embrace their time together; but their holiday changes gear once the men start to arrive. In the beautiful surroundings of the castle retreat, friendships are made, and love and hope are rediscovered." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre of the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road. For more information, call 314-821-9956 or visit ktg-onstage.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of the musical Georama January 20 - February 7. "In the mid 1800s, John Banvard created the first georama, a three-mile long scrolled painting celebrating the majesty of the Mighty Mississippi. Once a starving sketch artist, his creation catapulted him to a life of luxury and notoriety, but also brought competition and deception that threatened to push his passion to the wayside. Georama illustrates an artist's rise and fall, and the choice between the art he loves and the life he's always longed for." 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.

Circus Harmony presents Giocoso Saturdays at 2 and 7 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 23 - 31. Performances take place at City Museum, 701 N. 15th Street. Show admission is free with museum admission. For more information: circusharmony.org.

Anna Blair

The Emerald Room at the Monocle and The Presenters Dolan present Anna Blair in I Am Reddy, Hear Me Roar on Thursday, January 21, at 7:30 p.m. "This show will be a tribute to one of Anna's childhood heroes, Helen Reddy. Featuring the songs of Helen Reddy, some pop, some showtunes, some iconic, these songs will bring back memories of the 70's and 80's." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis

Alton Little Theater presents the Neil Simon comedy Last of the Red-Hot Lovers Thursdays through Sundays, January 21-31, at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. " here is a rumor going around that in the 1960s any reasonable adult in search of casual sex could find it in a New York minute. But Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers proves that there were exceptions, and the play brings back those days with a clear eye and a warm heart. A middle aged restaurateur begins to feel the desire to roam and decides to use his mother's apartment for his attempts at seduction. Only he learns that it is much more complicated and difficult than he could have imagined, and the problems which result are hilarious - a search for sexual freedom gone awry." For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

The Lion in Winter
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents James Goldman's The Lion in Winter through January 31. "During Christmas of 1183, King Henry II of England plans to announce his successor to the throne. But in this amusing and high-spirited romp, other members of the royal family have their own opinions of who should be crowned king. As he feuds with his estranged wife, Eleanor, and attempts to navigate the minefield of his bickering sons, all of whom have a stake in the game, it's open season on the English throne, bringing a whole new meaning to dysfunctional family drama." Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Monocle Varieté presents Le Nouveau Cabaret Fridays and Saturdays at 7, 9 and 11 p.m., through January 30. "A Parisian-inspired evening of song, Le Nouveau Cabaret brings to life a European tradition of cabaret featuring a creative cast of characters sizzling with risque style. Featuring Kyle Hustedt as emcee, James Dunse both as himself and his alter ego Drag Icon Jessica Leigh Foster, and STL piano mainstay Ron Bryant. Burlesque courtesy of Lola Van Ella Studios." The performances take place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis

The Monocle presents an open mic night every Mondays from 9:00pm to midnight. "Musical Theater actor? Cabaret singer? Balladeer? Beleter? Coloratura soprano? Crooner? Student? Teacher? Performer? Fan? Come on down and sing. All are welcome. Ron Bryant is your accompanist. Bring your sheet music"." The monocle is at 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: themonoclestl.com.

Peabody Opera House presents Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend January 22-24. "No matter where you're from or where you've been, everyone is special - so join in! Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby, and their Sesame Street friends welcome Chamki, Grover's friend from India, to Sesame Street. Together, they explore the universal fun of friendship and celebrate cultural similarities, from singing and dancing, to sharing cookies! Join the fun and make a memory with your friends and family!" The Peabody is at 14th and Market streets, downtown. For more information, visit peabodyoperahouse.com or call 314-622-5420.

The Black Rep presents the drama Sunset Baby through January 31. "Kenyatta Shakur is alone. His wife has died, and now this former Black Revolutionary and political prisoner is desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter." Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.org Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

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.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of January 18, 2016

Charis in 2011

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CHARIS, the St. Louis Women's Chorus, invites the public to open rehearsals for its next show Behind the Scenes on Tuesdays from 7 to 9:30 p.m., through January 26. "Join CHARIS - The St. Louis Women's Chorus for open rehearsals as we prepare for our final show of our 22nd season, "Behind the Scenes". We welcome you to our open rehearsals on January 5th, 19th, & 26th and to a social networking event January 12th to learn about CHARIS and the music and concept for our next concert. CHARIS is a non-auditioned community chorus open to anyone who identifies as a woman. We are a diverse group of women united in our mission to perform music that celebrates and encourages women and the LGBTQ community." Rehearsals take place at the Center for Divine Love, 3617 Wyoming in the South Grand neighborhood. For more information: charischorus.org.

The New Music Circle presents its 2016 opening concert featuring Baltimore pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn and Chicago percussionist Frank Rosaly on Friday, January 22, at 7 PM. "New Music Circle audiences may recall hearing percussionist Frank Rosaly at a performance in 2013 with Joshua Abrams's Natural Information Society at Joe's Cafe. As we heard, unusual percussive devices such as found objects and electronic sounds are often included in his arsenal, and he is capable of transitioning from the most subtle sounds to intense outbursts, all in the same breath. Baltimore pedal steel guitarist, Susan Alcorn, will make her first time visit to St. Louis! Alcorn is a Baltimore based composer and instrumentalist who has received international recognition as an innovator of the pedal steel guitar. Alcorn elicits an expansive range of sounds from her instrument, from accessible country glissandos to Theremin like science fiction “noir” effects." The performance takes place at Joe's Café, 6014 Kingsbury. For more information: newmusiccircle.org.

The St. Louis Symphony's Crescendo Circle presents Sips and Symphonies, featuring a discussion/presentation on Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5, on Thursday, January 21 at 7:00 PM. "What is Sips and Symphonies? It is a great way to learn about music in a fun, casual environment." A special cocktail is created for each event to accompany the music. The event takes place at The Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Timothy McAllister
timothymcallister.com

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Robertson presents John Adams's Saxophone Concerto, with soloist Timothy McAllister, and Mahler's Symphony No. 5 Friday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m., January 22 and 23. "From the opening funeral march to the exuberant and glorious brass finale, Mahler's Fifth Symphony is a larger-than-life work capturing a wide spectrum of emotions including possibly the greatest and most famous musical love letter ever written-from Mahler to his new bride, Alma. This monumental work is paired with Adams' jazzed-infused Saxophone Concerto featuring Timothy McAllister." Performances take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand.For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Robertson presents Romantic Favorites Friday at 8 p.m., January 22. "David Robertson leads an evening devoted entirely to love and romance captured in music. From Mendelssohn's familiar Wedding March in A Midsummer Night's Dream, heard at countless weddings, to Mahler's hauntingly beautiful Adagietto, this concert is full of favorites that evoke the sounds of love in the air." The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand.For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Wednesday, January 20, at 8 pm, The Sheldon Concert Hall presents Cellist Bjorn Ranheim and violinist Shawn Weil. "Cellist Bjorn Ranheim and violinist Shawn Weil, members of the St. Louis Symphony and genre-defying acoustic quartet, The 442s, present an eclectic program in collaboration with musical friends. Including virtuosic duos by Kodály and Stefan Freund, Schoenfield's sparkling "Café Music" with pianist Peter Henderson, and a new work by composer Adam Maness for The 442s and vocalist Brian Owens, this not-to-be-missed program has something for everyone!" The Sheldon is at 3648 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

Duo Bandini-Chiacchiaretta
bandinichiacchiaretta.com

Saturday, January 23 at 7:30 pm, The Sheldon Concert Hall presents Duo Bandini-Chiacchiaretta. "This Duo consisting of guitarist Giampaolo Bandini and bandoneon player Cesare Chiacchiaretta was formed in 2002 with the express intent of presenting the Argentinian "new tango"music of Astor Piazzolla with its two essential instruments. Their first CD "Hombres de Tango" has been greeted with great enthusiasm, selling more than 10,000 copies. Extraordinarily charismatic, the Duo has performed throughout both Eastern and Western Europe to great acclaim." The Sheldon is at 3648 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a concert by soprano Rebecca Drury on Saturday, January 23, at 8 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents the Nylönïcä Guitar Trio (David Ferrara, Mark Akin, Adam Gabbert) in an evening of trios, duos, and solos on Saturday, January 16, at 8 p.m. "Nylönïcä! is a St. Louis-based classical guitar trio specializing in modern classical and rock compositions arranged for guitar." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Winter Opera St. Louis presents Mozart's comic opera Cosi fan Tutte Friday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, January 22 and 24. Performances take place at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 S. Lindbergh. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of January 15, 2016

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

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New This Week:

Topper Productions presents Christy Simmons in Ain't We Got Fun on Sunday, January 17, at 2 and 5 p.m. The show is a "rollicking romp through the Roaring 20s." Paul Westcott is pianist and music director for the show, which takes place at The Boom Boom Room, 500 North 14th Street, downtown. For more information: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2485560

My take: This one's a no-brainer. I'm a sucker for music from this period, and featured quite a lot of it in my one-man show Just a Song at Twilight. And Christy Simmons is a great entertainer with a big, powerful voice. You can't go wrong.

Deborah Sharn

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents Bridgette Kossor, Tim Schall, Deborah Sharn in a cabaret evening on Friday, January 15, at 8 p.m. "Three dynamic singers who individually have played some of St. Louis' top venues come together for an evening of jazz standards and sophisticated pop. Rocky Tucker at the piano. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

My take: This is another easy call. I don't know Bridgette's work, but Tim and Deborah are old hands at this. Expect a solidly entertaining evening is one of our city's coolest musical event spaces. Come early and check out the menu and wine list.

The Lion in Winter
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents James Goldman's The Lion in Winter through January 31. "During Christmas of 1183, King Henry II of England plans to announce his successor to the throne. But in this amusing and high-spirited romp, other members of the royal family have their own opinions of who should be crowned king. As he feuds with his estranged wife, Eleanor, and attempts to navigate the minefield of his bickering sons, all of whom have a stake in the game, it's open season on the English throne, bringing a whole new meaning to dysfunctional family drama." Performances take place on the mainstage 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: This is a tough call for me. I'm not very persuaded by director Edward Stern's approach to the text. I think he rushes it a bit and misses many nuances in Goldman's witty dialog. Reviews, however, have been very positive. "The Rep's production," writes Tina Farmer at KDHX, "finds more humor in the script than I remember, and the subtle differences in inflection and emotion expertly counter the frequently ambiguous actions of the characters. The effect is mesmerizing, giving the well-known show a fresh, vibrant energy and suspenseful tone that propels the story." And over at stltoday.com, Judy Newmark calls it a "satisfying, well-seasoned, wonderfully witty drama — perfect fare for a cold winter's night." It has been a while since we've had a solid professional production of this literate and intelligent script and this one has an excellent cast and great production values, so I'm giving it a qualified thumbs up.

First Run Theatre presents the comedy The Other Side by David Hawley Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, through January 17. "Stan and Kevin are two post graduate Psychology students from England and Ireland working on their doctorate thesis in Boston. they decide to combine their research into spiritualism with the need to make a few extra bucks by setting up as mediums themselves. Things are going very well for them until a client who wants to contact her father turns out to be the daughter of the local mafia Don. Things start going crazy when she has them confirm he's dead and her brother now demands to know who killed him. How do our boys get out of this mess and evade the overly large strong-arm for the brother who also happens to be a Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard? We will find out." Performances take place at De Smet Jesuit High School Theatre 233 N. New Ballas Rd. For more information, call (314) 352-5114 or visit www.firstruntheatre.com.

My take: In the years after World War I, con artists found fertile ground in the despair of those who lost loved ones in the conflict. Mediums claiming the ability to contact "the other side" and relay messages from the dead bilked many grieving families. First Run's script plays the hustle for laughs and generally gets it right according to Tina Farmer at KDHX. "First Run Theatre," she writes, "is committed to staging productions of original, premier plays, primarily by St. Louis area playwrights. As a result, their productions can often be more enjoyable when viewed as a 'work-in-progress.' In this spirit, I applaud the company's efforts and more thoroughly enjoyed a script that, while problematic in places, is interesting and engaging, with likeable characters and a solid story arc."

Zi

The Emerald Room at the Monocle and The Presenters Dolan present magician Zi in Playing With Impossibilities on Friday and Saturday, January 15 and 16, at 7 p.m. "When was the last time you were truly blown away by a Magic show? Curious about what Mentalism means? There will be no rabbits in hats or doves from sleeves here! Instead, come experience jaw-dropping moments as Zi amazes and delights with feats of the mind, and makes you reconsider the true depths of what we are capable of! Watch as everything from how we think to how we connect with each other become charged with an element of the supernatural, and come witness as things happen that should be utterly impossible. Watch as the impossible becomes a playground. " The performances take place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis

My take: Magician Zi Teng Wang is a board member of the Skeptical Society of St. Louis, so it's a safe bet he won't be claiming any supernatural powers. As a former magician myself, I love a good magic show, and local performers don't get nearly enough chances to show their stuff. The cabaret space at The Monocle should be a good fit for a show like this.

Symphony Preview, January 16, 2-16: Messiaen's "Des canyons aux étoiles..." is one singular sensation

"BryceCanyon-Amphiteatre1" by Jean-Christophe BENOIST
Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons

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America's bicentennial sparked a lot of activity on the classical music scene, including special concerts, new commissioned works, and even a record label (New World) dedicated to American music, past and present.  One of the more unusual commissioned works, though, came not from an American composer but from a Frenchman.  It was "Des canyons aux étoiles…" ("From the Canyons to the Stars…") by Olivier Messiaen, and it's getting its local premiere this Saturday by David Robertson and the SLSO.

Messiaen, who died in 1992, was a remarkable character.  A devout Catholic, he imbued his music with a deep and sometimes obscure Christian mysticism.  But he was also a nature lover and dedicated ornithologist who drew inspiration from bird song and had an almost pantheistic appreciation of the natural world.  And as if that weren't enough to mark him as a singular individual, he was also a synesthete—someone who saw certain colors when he heard musical notes or chords.

His music has, as a result, an idiosyncratic sound that is unlike anyone else's.  He abandoned the traditional chromatic scale for a set of what he called "modes of limited transposition" and employed what Eric Salzman (in "Twentieth-Century Music: An Introduction) called "a concept of sonority and static, spatial form."  Nineteenth-century notions of rhythm, melody, and harmony are upended in Messiaen's music, which often seems to exist in a sonic and temporal world of its own.

You can hear all of that eccentric, quirky sensibility in "Des canyons aux étoiles…."  Inspired by visits to the unearthly rock formations of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park in Utah, this twelve-movement, 90-minute work is, I think, best appreciated in conjunction with images of those natural wonders.  Which is why video artist Deborah O'Grady's contribution to the concert is so important.

"Zion angels landing view" by Diliff
taken by Diliff. Licensed under
CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

A photographer specializing in the landscapes of the Western USA, Ms. O'Grady has also studied music theory.  In preparing the images and video that will accompany the concert, she immersed herself both in Messiaen's score and in the landscapes that the composer and his wife visited.  As Eddie Silva points out in his program notes, she walked where the composer walked, and at the same time of year.  “I wanted to hear the places,” he quotes her as saying. “I wanted all my senses involved… You have to stop and be still and let the place tell you what it’s about.”

Aware that Messiaen's music might need a bit of an introduction, Mr. Robertson will spend the first half-hour of Saturday's concert talking about the piece, with musical illustrations from the orchestra.  I think it's a good decision.  Olivier Messiaen was a wholly original figure in twentieth-century music, and a little background on the man and his compositional style couldn't hurt.

You don't have to wait until Saturday to get acquainted with the piece, of course.  Complete recordings are available on YouTube by the London Sinfonietta under Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France under Myung-Whun Chung.  There's also a live performance by what appears to be a student ensemble conducted by Fabian Russell.  You can also watch videos of the individual movements by a variety of orchestras.

While you listen, view images of the stunning alien landscapes of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.  That will give you some idea of what to expect from Saturday's immersive multi-media experience.

There will be only one performance of "Des canyons aux étoiles…," on Saturday, January 16, at 8 p.m. at Powell Hall.  It promises to be a provocative and important event; visit the St. Louis Symphony web site for tickets.  Later this month, the orchestra will take the piece on its West Coast tour, along with "City Noir" and the "Saxophone Concerto" by John Adams.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 11, 2016

[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 web site.

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Topper Productions presents Christy Simmons in Ain't We Got Fun on Sunday, January 17, at 2 and 5 p.m. The show is a "rollicking romp through the Roaring 20s." Paul Westcott is pianist and music director for the show, which takes place at The Boom Boom Room, 500 North 14th Street, downtown. For more information: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2485560

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents And Away You Go through March 27. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Deborah Sharn

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents Bridgette Kossor, Tim Schall, Deborah Sharn in a cabaret evening on Friday, January 15, at 8 p.m. "Three dynamic singers who individually have played some of St. Louis' top venues come together for an evening of jazz standards and sophisticated pop. Rocky Tucker at the piano. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The St. Louis Family Theatre Series presents the TheatreworksUSA production of Charlotte's Web Friday through Sunday, January 15-17. "Wilbur the pig has a problem: how to avoid winding up as pork chops! The little grey spider Charlotte, a fine writer and true friend, hits on a plan to fool Farmer Zuckerman-she will create a “miracle.” Spinning the words “SOME PIG” in her web, Charlotte weaves a solution which not only makes Wilbur a prize pig, but ensures his place on the farm forever. This treasured tale, featuring fun and endearing farm animals, explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship. Based on E.B. White's classic story.." Performances take place at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. For more information, call 314-921-5678 or visit www.florissantmo.com.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents comedy Enchanted April January 15-24. " Lottie Wilton and Mrs. Arnott have never met but share a mutual feeling of unhappiness in empty relationships with their husbands. The ladies become acquainted through a newspaper advertisement and together decide to take a holiday from their spouses and rent an Italian castle for the month of April. To help with expenses, they advertise for two other women to join them. Together with Mrs. Graves, an elderly widow, and Lady Caroline Bramble, a young and attractive flapper, the women begin their month-long escape. The ladies embrace their time together; but their holiday changes gear once the men start to arrive. In the beautiful surroundings of the castle retreat, friendships are made, and love and hope are rediscovered." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre of the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road. For more information, call 314-821-9956 or visit ktg-onstage.org.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents Yasmina Reza'a comedy God of Carnage through January 17. "A comedy of manners ... without the manners. Two married couples meet to sort out a playground fight between their sons. At first, niceties are observed but as the evening progresses and the rum flows, the gloves come off and the night becomes a side-splitting free-for-all." Performances take place in the Guild theatre at Newport and Summit in Webster Groves, MO. For more information: theatreguildwg.org or call 314-962-0876.

Java Jived

The Emerald Room at the Monocle and The Presenters Dolan present Java Jived on Thursday, January 11, at 7:30 p.m. "Java Jived specializes in a cappella arrangements of jazz and pop classics from the 20's to the 80's. Known for its fine blend and intonation, this high-energy ensemble performs polished stylistic renditions of challenging repertoire by the best contemporary arrangers, including Deke Sharon, Kirby Shaw, Teena Chin, and Gene Puerling, who is well known for his arrangements for The Manhattan Transfer. " The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis

The Lion in Winter
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents James Goldman's The Lion in Winter through January 31. "During Christmas of 1183, King Henry II of England plans to announce his successor to the throne. But in this amusing and high-spirited romp, other members of the royal family have their own opinions of who should be crowned king. As he feuds with his estranged wife, Eleanor, and attempts to navigate the minefield of his bickering sons, all of whom have a stake in the game, it's open season on the English throne, bringing a whole new meaning to dysfunctional family drama." Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

The Monocle Varieté presents Le Nouveau Cabaret Fridays and Saturdays at 7, 9 and 11 p.m., January 8-30. "A Parisian-inspired evening of song, Le Nouveau Cabaret brings to life a European tradition of cabaret featuring a creative cast of characters sizzling with risque style. Featuring Kyle Hustedt as emcee, James Dunse both as himself and his alter ego Drag Icon Jessica Leigh Foster, and STL piano mainstay Ron Bryant. Burlesque courtesy of Lola Van Ella Studios." The performances take place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis

The Monocle presents an open mic night every Mondays from 9:00pm to midnight. "Musical Theater actor? Cabaret singer? Balladeer? Beleter? Coloratura soprano? Crooner? Student? Teacher? Performer? Fan? Come on down and sing. All are welcome. Ron Bryant is your accompanist. Bring your sheet music"." The monocle is at 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: themonoclestl.com.

First Run Theatre presents the comedy The Other Side by David Hawley Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, through January 17. "Stan and Kevin are two post graduate Psychology students from England and Ireland working on their doctorate thesis in Boston. they decide to combine their research into spiritualism with the need to make a few extra bucks by setting up as mediums themselves. Things are going very well for them until a client who wants to contact her father turns out to be the daughter of the local mafia Don. Things start going crazy when she has them confirm he's dead and her brother now demands to know who killed him. How do our boys get out of this mess and evade the overly large strong-arm for the brother who also happens to be a Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard? We will find out." Performances take place at De Smet Jesuit High School Theatre 233 N. New Ballas Rd. For more information, call (314) 352-5114 or visit www.firstruntheatre.com.

Zi

The Emerald Room at the Monocle and The Presenters Dolan present magician Zi in Playing With Impossibilities on Friday and Saturday, January 15 and 16, at 7 p.m. "When was the last time you were truly blown away by a Magic show? Curious about what Mentalism means? There will be no rabbits in hats or doves from sleeves here! Instead, come experience jaw-dropping moments as Zi amazes and delights with feats of the mind, and makes you reconsider the true depths of what we are capable of! Watch as everything from how we think to how we connect with each other become charged with an element of the supernatural, and come witness as things happen that should be utterly impossible. Watch as the impossible becomes a playground. " The performances take place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis

The Black Rep presents the drama Sunset Baby January 13-31. "Kenyatta Shakur is alone. His wife has died, and now this former Black Revolutionary and political prisoner is desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter." Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.org

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.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of January 11, 2016

Bass Ravi Raghuram

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The Bach Society of St. Louis presents a Young Artist Recital on Sunday, January 17, at 4 p.m. "The Young Artist Scholarship Program was established in 1989 to provide performance experience and enhance professional training for career-oriented soloists, some of whom now sing in concert halls and opera houses across the country. The 2014-2015 Young Artists are joined by pianist Sandra Geary for an afternoon featuring Bach solo arias and duets, as well as personal favorites from operatic and recital repertoire. Enjoy hearing soprano Madalyn Mentor, mezzo soprano Katherine Menke, tenor Jimmy Stevens and baritone Ravi Raghuram on their path to careers as soloists. Presented jointly with the Couts Music Series of Second Presbyterian Church. Free admission." The concert takes place at Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End. For more information: bachsociety.org.

The Missouri Chamber Music Festival presents Pro Jam for the ProAm Thursday, January 14, at 6 p.m. " Join the Missouri Chamber Music Festival for a chamber music party celebrating MOCM's Pro-Am Intensive Workshop. Guaranteed fun, whether you join the chamber music readings with our Pros or just sit back and listen." The event takes place at The Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The St. Louis Art Museum presents a high-definition video broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera's production Bizet's The Pearl Fishers on Saturday, January 16, at 1 p.m. "Bizet's gorgeous opera of lust and longing set in the Far East returns to the Met stage for the first time in 100 years. Soprano Diana Damrau stars as Leïla, the beautiful Hindu priestess pursued by rival pearl divers competing for her hand. Director Penny Woolcock explores the timeless themes of pure love, betrayal, and vengeance in a production that vividly creates an undersea world on the stage of the Met." The live digital HD video broadcast from New York takes place in The Farrell Auditorium at the Art Museum in Forest Park. For more information: slam.org.

David Robertson

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Robertson presents Olivier Messaien's From the Canyons to the Stars on Saturday, January 16, at 8 PM at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. The performance features piano soloist Peter Henderson and video artist Deborah O'Grady. "After a 1972 visit to Bryce Canyon and neighboring parks, French composer Olivier Messiaen set out to create an extraordinary musical creation capturing the vastness of National Parks in the American West. From the Canyons to the Stars..., a monumental work never performed in St. Louis, features intoxicating colors and beguiling rhythms alongside projected video and images of nature by visual artist Deborah O'Grady and insightful commentary led by Music Director, David Robertson. This awesome musical narrative is performed in honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Park System." For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a classical open stage night on Monday, January 11, from 7:30 - 9 PM. "Come by yourself or bring your quartet. Sight read through a Beethoven quartet or use this as an opportunity to put the finishing touches on that Hindemith Viola Sonata you have been working on. All ages and skill levels are welcome. We have a 6' grand piano and an accompanist." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Arianna String Quartet

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents The Arianna Orchestra Festival on Tuesday, January 12, at 6 PM. "The Arianna String Quartet proudly presents it's annual Orchestra Festival. Providing the best educational opportunities for the next generation of our best musicians has always been a primary mission of the Arianna String Quartet. This festival is certainly no exception. After a day of rehearsals, sectionals, masterclasses and touring the campus with members of the Arianna String Quartet, three of the top high school orchestras in our area will perform beginning at 6 p.m. in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall. All three orchestra will perform under the direction of our very own Dr. James Richards. Please join us and experience what these young people are able to accomplish in a day by helping us celebrate this great night of music and the immense talent of these students." The Touhill Performing Arts Center in on the University of Missouri at St. Louis campus. For more information: touhill.org.

Symphony Review: "Ratatouille in Concert" charms and delights at Powell Hall, January 2 and 3, 3016

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I love visiting Paris, and in my memory the city has a lovely soft-focus luminosity that is beautifully captured in Disney/Pixar's 2007 animated comedy "Ratatouille," the concert version of which got its North American premiere last weekend at Powell Hall with the St. Louis Symphony and guest artists under the baton of Sarah Hicks.

In this colorful vision of the City of Light, even the sewers look clean as Remy, the rat with the nose and talent of a master chef, crawls upward to save the failing restaurant of the late Chef Gusteau from the twin threats of vicious food critic Anton Ego and conniving chef Skinner, who is using Gusteau's name to sell fast food. "Ratatouille" is, make no mistake, that rarest of birds: an animated feel-good comedy that can entertain multiple generations. As Diane Carson wrote in her KDHX review of the commercial release in the summer of 2007, "'Ratatouille' takes time to love Paris and its characters; to celebrate life, even if it is a rat's; and to reward the good and redeem the bad. Pixar adores friendship, supportive communities, living your dreams, leaping hurdles, and facing down danger. With 'Ratatouille' they again prove it doesn't matter if it's a rat or a fish, a car or a rubber superhero, it really is the sentiment and the message that ensures our enjoyment."

But enough about the film; this is a music review, after all, so let's talk about Michael Giacchino's whimsical and consistently imaginative music. Scored for a full late-Romantic orchestra with an expanded sax section, accordion, and an array of guitars and related instruments that kept guest artist Steve Shenkel very busy, the music of "Ratatouille" sounded, most of the time, remarkably (and appropriately) small in scale.

Yes, the full band is used for most of the chase sequences, but even these have interesting little touches, like the scurrying flute line that accompanies Remy up from the Paris sewers. A classic "big band" brass-and-sax sound accompanies the rat reunion party at one point, and the charm of Parisian night life is evoked by both the accordion and the jazzy passages that call to mind guitar legend Django Reinhardt and his famed Quintette du Hot Club de France.

All this meant that Ms. Hicks, a Curtis Institute Staff Conductor who does pops and special presentations concerts for the Minnesota Orchestra, had to be both versatile and versed in a variety of different musical styles. Conducting a live score to accompany a film is, as I have noted earlier, a very specialized skill, and Ms. Hicks certainly appears to have mastered it. She kept all the disparate elements of Mr. Giacchino's score working harmoniously together and perfectly in synch with the film.

The high-def print of "Ratatouille" looked great on the big screen at Powell Hall, and I was pleased to see that subtitles for the hearing impaired have been added. My ears are fine, thanks, but even I sometimes have trouble catching film dialog at Powell when the orchestra is playing full tilt. I hope this is a preview of things to come.

The SLSO has had quite a public affair lately with movies and movie music. Granted, it's a match born out of financial necessity more than love, as these programs nearly always sell out and are probably quite profitable. But if they attract audiences who have never experienced the heady cocktail of a live orchestral performance then I, for one, am all for it. Now if only first-time concertgoers could get it through their heads that you don't walk out during the curtain calls we'd all be happy.

Next at Powell Hall: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Robertson presents Olivier Messaien's "From the Canyons to the Stars" on Saturday, January 16, at 8 PM. The performance features piano soloist Peter Henderson and video artist Deborah O'Grady. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 4, 2016

[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 web site.

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The cast of 25 to Life

New Line Theatre presents 25 to Life, an evening of songs from New Line's first twenty-five years, on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 5 and 6, at 8 p.m. "The evening will include songs from past New Line shows, including Next to Normal, Bat Boy, Reefer Madness, Bonnie and Clyde, The Rocky Horror Show, Cry-Baby, Spelling Bee, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Jacques Brel, Company, The Wild Party, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Floyd Collins, A New Brain, March of the Falsettos, The Robber Bridegroom, Into the Woods, The Fantasticks, and many more. The concert will include adult content and adult language. Performances take place at the Sheldon Concert Hall in Grand Center. For more information: newlinetheatre.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents And Away You Go January 1 through March 27. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents Yasmina Reza'a comedy God of Carnage January 8-17. "A comedy of manners ... without the manners. Two married couples meet to sort out a playground fight between their sons. At first, niceties are observed but as the evening progresses and the rum flows, the gloves come off and the night becomes a side-splitting free-for-all." Performances take place in the Guild theatre at Newport and Summit in Webster Groves, MO. For more information: theatreguildwg.org or call 314-962-0876.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents James Goldman's The Lion in Winter January 6-31. "During Christmas of 1183, King Henry II of England plans to announce his successor to the throne. But in this amusing and high-spirited romp, other members of the royal family have their own opinions of who should be crowned king. As he feuds with his estranged wife, Eleanor, and attempts to navigate the minefield of his bickering sons, all of whom have a stake in the game, it's open season on the English throne, bringing a whole new meaning to dysfunctional family drama." Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

The Monocle presents an open mic night every Mondays from 9:00pm to midnight. "Musical Theater actor? Cabaret singer? Balladeer? Beleter? Coloratura soprano? Crooner? Student? Teacher? Performer? Fan? Come on down and sing. All are welcome. Ron Bryant is your accompanist. Bring your sheet music"." The monocle is at 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: themonoclestl.com.

First Run Theatre presents the comedy The Other Side by David Hawley Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 8-17. "Stan and Kevin are two post graduate Psychology students from England and Ireland working on their doctorate thesis in Boston. they decide to combine their research into spiritualism with the need to make a few extra bucks by setting up as mediums themselves. Things are going very well for them until a client who wants to contact her father turns out to be the daughter of the local mafia Don. Things start going crazy when she has them confirm he's dead and her brother now demands to know who killed him. How do our boys get out of this mess and evade the overly large strong-arm for the brother who also happens to be a Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard? We will find out." Performances take place at De Smet Jesuit High School Theatre 233 N. New Ballas Rd. For more information, call (314) 352-5114 or visit www.firstruntheatre.com.

The Poor People of Paris

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents Elsie Parker and the Poor People of Paris in A Tribute to Edith Piaf, on Monday, January 4, at 8 p.m. "This performance will also be a benefit concert for victims of the recent Paris Attacks. All proceeds go to the victims and their families through the Consolate General of France in Chicago. St. Louis' premier French Band band will amaze you with their range and talent. This concert will feature mostly the Edith Hits form her 4 decades as an icon of French music and culture. However Elsie Parker and The Poor People of Paris can play some of the most engaging jazz, latin, pop or rock numbers you will ever hear." The Tavern of Fine arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Emerald Room at the Monocle and The Presenters Dolan present Johanna Elkana-Hale in Starting Here on Wednesday, January 6, at 7:30 p.m. "St. Louis native Johanna Elkana-Hale's voice has graced many a big stage. Tonight she takes to the small stage for an intimate musical journey through life's ups and downs in her debut solo cabaret." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis.

Ben Watts

The Emerald Room at the Monocle and The Presenters Dolan present Ben Watts in Wonderful Enough on Thursday, January 7, at 7:30 p.m. "Ben Watts is a throwback to the Golden Age of Hollywood. He brings charm and class to jazz standards, long-forgotten show tunes, 80s power rock ballads, and everything in between. Wry, witty, and darkly funny, his stories and songs will leave you laughing and wanting more. With sings Cole Porter, Noël Coward, Kurt Weill, Peggy Lee andJerry Herman." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis.

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 January 1, 2016

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

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New This Week:

Carol Schmidt

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents Concert for Change, a cabaret showcase in support of The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, on Saturday, January 2, at 8 p.m. "Calling all moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grandmas, grandpas, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles and cousins: Get your Peter, Paul and Mary on for a great musical evening. Join music director Carol Schmidt and singers Matt Anderson, Bob Becherer, Anna Blair, Steve Brammeier, Robert Breig, Michele Isam, Chuck Lavazzi, Kay Love, Katie McGrath, Elizabeth Murphy, Angela Nicholson, Dionna Raedeke, Charlene Reiman, Christy Simmons and Jeffrey M. Wright for a free concert to promote the need for change in our gun laws. No speeching, teaching or preaching. Online petitions will be available from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence for sign-up on the spot and contact info on our local, state and national representatives who need to know we support their efforts for change." The Tavern of Fine arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

My take: I have, obviously, a vested interest in this. But the fact is that this is really quite an impressive lineup of local cabaret artists who are donating their time to a good cause. The Tavern of Fine Arts is a very cool venue with a good wine list and a small but tasty menu, so you'll want to come early and grab a bit to eat and a tipple before the show.

Held Over:

Wicked
Photo: Joan Marcus

The Fox Theatre presents the musical Wicked, based on the novel by Gregory McGuire, running through January 3. "Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for 'the most complete - and completely satisfying - musical in a long time' (USA Today)." The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, fabulousfox.com or call 314-534-1678.

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.