ST. LOUIS THEATER REVIEWS

High passion and sheer unrestrained melodrama overflow in Verdi's 'Il Trovatore,' the current offering by Winter Opera St. Louis. And the voices are glorious! Once again Winter Opera has assembled a sterling group of singers. Caruso once said that all it takes for a successful performance of 'Trovat...

What began in book writer Douglas McGrath's head as a jukebox musical centered around the relationship between competing songwriting teams Carole King and Gerry Goffin and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil evolved into something slightly different. This was due to the fact that the show stopped before Car...

The title of Lee Blessing's play, ELEEMOSYNARY, refers to the word one of the characters successfully spells, winning a spelling bee in the process, but also to the very definition of it; charitable. It's an intriguing story of three generations of women, all of whom are extraordinarily gifted in on...

Everyone needs someone who's a good listener when they're troubled. And, when you find yourself hesitant or unable to open up to a loved one about something, you can always seek out a therapist to talk to. Therapists offer objective observations that allow their patients to express their feelings wi...

Over the years I've learned a tremendous amount about the Jewish religion and its traditions through the plays and people I've come in contact with at The New Jewish Theatre. But, I have to admit that I never knew the story of the 'wandering Jew', although I'd grown up with parents who loved flora a...

Gina Galati and her Winter Opera continue to bless St. Louis with exemplary productions! They've just opened 'Cosi fan tutte,' and it's a superb presentation of this popular Mozart work....

Thanks to the developmental work that occurred during The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' Ignite! Play Festival in 2014 we now have the opportunity to witness the fruit of their labors; the world premier of a very entertaining new musical called GEORAMA. This play tells a fascinating story that is t...

It's not unusual for movies to be adapted for the stage these days, in fact, it's become rather commonplace. But typically, musicals written for the screen that flop (even though they might have a rather substantial cult following), are usually avoided for obvious reasons. Although, that didn't stop...

Although I've seen the successful 1968 film version of THE LION IN WINTER, I'd never had the opportunity to watch the actual stage play which it's based upon, until now. Maybe it was the washed out prints that turned me off to it initially, but it's an absolute revelation to see The Repertory Theatr...

My lists for the best plays/musicals in St. Louis is in chronological order. I'm not limiting myself to any specific number of entries either. These are simply the best productions and performances in various categories that I witnessed during a packed year filled with companies closing and new ones...

Each December Stray Dog Theatre chooses an unconventional show to celebrate the season. It's always something unusual, and often something somewhat shocking. I like that idea of going against the grain, and giving audiences relief from the Christmas overload that all forms of media utilize at this t...

When it comes to classifying THE GIN GAME, it's a bit of a sticky wicket. On the cover of Donald Coburn's play it says it's a tragicomedy, and yet it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. No wonder my fellow critics and I felt a bit confused as to where it should fall categorically. Personally, the amou...

In his director's notes Ken Page mentions that he had a conversation with a dear friend where they were trying to define 'the place that exists beyond ordinary relationships or sexual discovery.' That became the name of Page's latest play, SUBLIME INTIMACY. And, it's an apt title for this artistic e...

WICKED is pure spectacle, or to quote Glinda the Good Witch herself, it's a 'thrill-ifying' experience that both dazzles and delights, backed by terrific performances and eye-popping scenic design and special effects. It's a prequel of sorts to L. Frank's Baum's Wizard of Oz series of books, that is...

There are some St. Louis connections in this current production of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER. There's local author Ridley Pearson who, along with Dave Barry, crafted a terribly interesting and arresting 'prequel' to the story of Peter Pan with their entertaining novel Peter and the Starcatcher. The ...

A special concert for Voice for Veterans, which seeks to give aid and housing to homeless veterans, took place at The Peabody Opera House on Sunday night (December 6, 2015), and it was a simply joyous experience. Sometimes benefit shows can be a rather somber affair, but that was not the case at all...

Neil Goldberg who created and directed CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE, wanted to create a Cirque show that was not only family-friendly, but one that could tour the country. His ideas, based partly on his own ornament collection, came to fruition with this unique holiday extravaganza. It's filled with music...

Playwright Joshua Harmon has created an intensely dark comedy/drama with his work BAD JEWS. It's a stunning piece that never runs out of steam, even though it maintains a high level of emotional upheaval throughout its 90 minute running time. It's certainly humorous, but it also has a serious tone t...

I had the opportunity to chat with international singing star Mario Frangoulis the other day, and it was a simply delightful experience. He'll be performing in St. Louis at the Peabody Opera House on December 6, 2015 along with the legendary Smokey Robinson in a concert that will benefit the Voices ...

So I'm watching a Paul McCartney DVD, which is a collection of videos he released over the years, and I start to queue up the one for the song "Pipes of Peace", and I notice immediately that the short film is based on the Christmas Truce of 1914. I don't recall any history classes I had in school ev...

There's something truly remarkable about playwright Lauren Gunderson's work I AND YOU that's difficult to explain without spoiling the experience. So, I'll tread lightly. Just know that you should definitely check out this terrific new work that gives anyone who watches it insight, not just in how o...

St. Louis' Winter Opera gives a delightful 'Yeomen of the Guard.'...

I first became aware of author Roald Dahl from watching the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, although I didn't read the book it was based on, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, until later, finding it much darker in tone than the movie, but very entertaining nonetheless. After that exposu...

Every season the Repertory of St. Louis plucks a gem or two from the past to mix in with some of their more current selections. It's undoubtedly a treat when it happens, because there's always something there that rings true with a modern audience. Whether it's a comedy whose jokes still maintain a ...

The New Jewish Theatre opens their season with a nicely staged presentation of Neil Simon's lovingly written tribute to the those long gone days of vaudeville, THE SUNSHINE BOYS. As you would expect from such a prolific and gifted writer, the jokes come fast and furious, reflecting the nature of the...