Our St. Louis Critics
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BWW Reviews: The Muny's Excellent Production of DREAMGIRLS
If you only went to the Muny this week to see a very svelte Jennifer Holliday sing "And I'm Am Telling You I'm Not Going", in the role that virtually made her career, you would already have enough reasons to attend The Muny's production of DREAMGIRLS. But, the fact is, there are so many more things ...
BWW Reviews: The Muny's Colorful Production of DISNEY'S ALADDIN: THE NEW STAGE MUSICAL
I missed press night for DISNEY'S ALADDIN: THE NEW STAGE MUSICAL, but I decided to go down this Tuesday and check out the production from the free seats. Armed with a pair of binoculars, which I didn't really need, I was able to take in this wonderfully charming presentation after all. And, I was no...
BWW Reviews: Splendid Production of UN BALLO IN MASCHERA at the Union Avenue Opera
Giuseppe Verdi's opera, UN BALLO IN MASCHERA(with a libretto by Antonio Somma) is a fictionalized account of the actual assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden at a masked ball. In this case, the location and names have been changed, but the outcome remains the same. This production by the Union ...
BWW Reviews: Stages St. Louis's Delightful Production of THE JUNGLE BOOK
The musical adaptation of the 1967 animated feature film, THE JUNGLE BOOK, is a sheer delight, perhaps best viewed through the eyes of a child. And, the first production I ever took my young son to see was this same show a few years back. But, he was so small he didn't really remember it that well. ...
BWW Reviews: Sparkling Production of CHICAGO at the Muny
If you've only seen the movie version of CHICAGO, and it's a pretty sexy and sleek story on the big screen, you have to do yourself a favor and check out the current production at the Muny. The Muny has such an expansive stage that some musicals can get lost, but not this one. In this case, CHICAGO ...
BWW Reviews: The Black Rep's Dark and Intense Production of INSIDIOUS
The dictionary defines insidious as "proceeding in a gradual way, but with harmful effects". Playwright Ibn Shabazz's work INSIDIOUS certainly follows that line of thinking, with the eponymous title character worming his way into the lives of a engaged couple Kara and Dawud. The play makes allusions...
BWW Reviews: Shakespeare Festival St. Louis Presents Solid OTHELLO
When Iago talks about 'Jealousy…the green-eyed monster,' he might as well be referring to himself. It's his envy of Cassio's promotion under the leadership of Moorish general Othello that sets a devious plot in motion that will leave many dead and others wounded. And so it goes, in St. Louis Shake...
BWW Reviews: Stages St. Louis's Sizzling Production of AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
One of the first shows I remember reviewing when I became a theatre critic was AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', and it's become a favorite of mine ever since. Although, I've had to wait quite a few years for a group to do a revival of this fascinating revue based on the songs and recordings of the fabulous Fats W...
BWW Reviews: Circus Flora's Spectacular Show: THE WIZARD
Every year I look forward to going to Circus Flora, which is St. Louis's own one-ring (air-conditioned) circus, with family in tow, knowing that a splendid time is guaranteed for all. And, this year's show is no exception. There are acts of equestrian artistry, magical hijinks with the much beloved ...
BWW Reviews: New Line Theatre's Superb Revival of HIGH FIDELITY
When I reviewed New Line Theatre's production of HIGH FIDELITY in 2008, I decided to start off in the spirit of Nick Hornby by giving my readers the top five reasons they should see this wonderful musical. Well, here are the Top Five reasons you should see High Fidelity, either for the very first ti...
BWW Reviews: HotCity Theatre's Engaging Production of ROUNDING THIRD
Playwright Richard Dresser's work, ROUNDING THIRD, really struck a chord with me since I'm a coach on my son's coach-pitch little league team. Sure, I hope they win every game they play, but much like the character of Michael is at the beginning of the play, at their age I'm just happy to see them h...
BWW Reviews: Splendid Production of RIVERDANCE at the Fox Theatre
If you had the opportunity to see RIVERDANCE at the Fox this past weekend, then you were treated to a fine display of Terpsichore and musicianship. If you didn't, then you may have missed your chance to see it at all, since it was, in all likelihood, the troupe's final trip to St. Louis. It's a sham...
BWW Reviews: Peabody Opera House Presents Charming Production of MARY POPPINS
The touring production of MARY POPPINS that's currently gracing the stage of the Peabody Opera House is "practically perfect", featuring eye-popping special effects, a glorious set, and terrific performances that manage to capture the spirit of the 1964 Disney film, as well as the P.L. Travers books...
BWW Reviews: The New Jewish Theatre Offers Delightful Production of JACOB AND JACK
Playwright James Sherman has crafted a charming and delightful work with his play JACOB AND JACK. It's a fond remembering of the last days of the Yiddish theatre and it weaves in the modern day with the past with considerable flair. It has farcical elements, including the requisite doors, six in thi...
BWW Reviews: The Charming Mythology of ACIS AND GALATEA by the Union Avenue Opera
To open their 18th season, the Union Avenue Opera has chosen an English text version (John Gay) of Handel's take on the mythological, with ACIS AND GALATEA (seen April 29, 2012). This is definitely a tale of two acts, with the first being devoted to their love for one another, this semi-divine sea n...
BWW Reviews: Fox Theatre's Lively Presentation of MEMPHIS
While it may look through its world through "rose colored glasses", MEMPHIS celebrates a time when race music was beginning to catch on with a white, mostly teenaged audience. It's a crackling, amusing, and fast-paced show (book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, music and lyrics by David Bryan) that takes...
BWW Reviews: Upstream Theater's Exceptional Production of CONVERSATIONS WITH AN EXECUTIONER
Dedicated to bringing the world to St. Louis, Upstream Theater takes a to Poland this time for an engrossing and compelling tale based on the memoirs of Kazimierz Moczarski (adapted by artistic director Philip Boehm). It's a fascinating story based on his own experience in Warsaw, originally involve...
BWW Reviews: Black Rep's Excellent Production of MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM
Revisiting a popular play in the ten work "Pittsburgh Cycle" from August Wilson, the Black Rep has put forth a superior effort. MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM is especially interesting to me as a musician since the focus is really on the interplay that goes on between Ma Rainey's band as they banter about...
BWW Reviews: St. Louis Actors' Studio Present Killer Show with KILLER JOE
KILLER JOE is a killer show! I only regret not being able to see this show until I'd returned from my vacation, effectively eliminating my chance to laud the show properly in order to drive an audience to it. My sincerest apologies, because I'm a fan of playwright Tracy Letts, and, not having seen t...
BWW Reviews: Hot and Sexy LE FREAK C'EST CHIC at the Black Rep
The Black Rep presented Le Freak C'est Chic as part of their Sunday concert series this past weekend (April 1, 2012), and it's an interesting mix of dance, music, and incredible vocalizations that was thoroughly entertaining and as sexy as advertised. The show gave St. Louis an opportunity to see so...
BWW Reviews: CAVALIA Wows Crowd and Extends Run
CAVALIA is nearly impossible to describe as a show, at least in terms of giving you a true perspective on all the things that are happening at once on stage, and yet, I can say it's an elegant, athletic, visual and audio delight that combines a number of elements in achieving its success. First off,...
BWW Reviews: High Octane Production of BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL at the Fox Theatre
It's amazing to me that Broadway keeps looking to Hollywood for its hits, especially since there are so many great original musicals and plays still being written today. And yet, every now and then a movie is reworked so much that it's almost unrecognizable from the movie, and it works. BRING IT ON ...
BWW Reviews: The Rep's Colorful and Uproarious THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Anyone who reads my reviews regularly knows that I'm a fan of Shakespearean re-imaginings. Sure, I like my Shakespeare played straight as well, but sometimes when one of his plays is tinkered with in just the right fashion it comes to life in new and unexpectedly exciting ways. Such is the case with...
BWW Reviews: The Black Rep's Moving Production of NO CHILD
With NO CHILD, playwright Nilaja Sun brings to light the troubling failure of the "No Child Left Behind" program. It's a fascinating look at one teacher/artist's attempt to reach a group of student who describe themselves as the worst in the school. Conceived as a one woman play, the work gives an a...
Videos
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The Light in the Piazza Loretto-Hilton Center (5/30-6/28) |
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The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Stages St. Louis at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (5/29-6/28) |
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God of Carnage New Jewish Theatre (NJT) (6/11-6/28) |
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The Wasp by Morgan Lloyd Malcom Albion Theatre (6/12-6/28) |
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Saint Louis Ballet's ENCORE Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center (6/13-6/13) |
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Wicked Fox Theatre (5/12-5/30) |
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16th Annual Missouri Chamber Music Festival June 10-21 at The Sheldon Sheldon Concert Hall (6/17-6/17) |
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Mamma Mia! The Fabulous Fox Theatre (3/30-4/04) |
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The Book of Mormon (Non-Equity) Fox Theatre (2/02-2/07) |
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Motown Magic Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (6/19-6/19) |
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