Our St. Louis Critics
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BWW Reviews: ITC's Funny Take on PUSS IN BOOTS
The Rep's Imaginary Theatre Company presented a version of PUSS IN BOOTS that more in line with Charles Perrault's original fairy tale, than with the Dreamworks, sword-wielding brand we've become accustomed to. Playwright/composer Brian Hohlfeld's take is decidedly more true to its source, although ...
BWW Reviews: New Jewish Theatre Presents Funny and Touching THE VALUE OF NAMES
Playwright Jeffrey Sweet has constructed an entertaining and though-provoking work with THE VALUE OF NAMES. This brief (75 minutes) look at two men and the different paths their lives have taken since one named names during the Senator McCarthy red hunt trials of the 1950's. Filled with a surprising...
BWW Reviews: The Rep Presents Excellent Production of THE INVISIBLE HAND
When we think in terms of terrorism, we usually picture suicide bombings, and planes flying into the sides of buildings, but we rarely ponder the idea of socioeconomic terrorism. That's why the Rep's final Studio Theatre production is so compelling and brilliant; that possibility is brought to light...
BWW Reviews: Muddy Waters Theatre Presents Creepy and Compelling Production of BUG
BUG is a play that gets under your skin, burrowing into your psyche and feasting on your anxieties. It may make you restless to watch it, and you may find yourself absentmindedly scratching at imaginary itches. It's a small tale filled with big ideas, and a must-see for conspiracy theory enthusiasts...
BWW Reviews: Dramatic License Productions Presents Superior Production of THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Over the years I've seen a number of productions of THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams, and they've varied in degrees of appeal greatly. There's even another production from another local company scheduled later this month. There's a reason; it's a classic. This play, based on the author's sh...
BWW Reviews: New Line Theatre Presents Rockin' Production of CRY-BABY
CRY-BABY is a smash, a musical and cultural send up of drape and square mores, while at the same time, a parody of the typical "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back" scenarios that we've all been exposed to in more traditional shows. At times, it's like watching a throwdown between Lit...
BWW Reviews: Peabody Opera House Presents Thrilling Production of AMERICAN IDIOT
AMERICAN IDIOT is an absolute blast, a musical filled with energy and exuberance, both evidenced in the music and in the performances. There will surely come a time when it's considered a period piece, since it does take place in the recent past, focusing on the last Bush presidency and the wars on ...
BWW Reviews: West End Player's Guild Presents a New Comedy WAKE UP, CAMERON DOBBS
It's nice when a local playwright gets the opportunity to stage their work, and Stephen Peirick's comedy, WAKE UP, CAMERON DOBBS, is certainly a worthy first effort. There are a lot of good lines that were lost to the Sunday matinee crowd I saw it with, so we can ignore them and get straight on to t...
BWW Reviews: That Uppity Theatre Company Partners with Vital Voice on Entertaining Play Festival BRIEFS
Theatre companies are always on the lookout for performance space. There are just not enough venues to house all the groups that have sprung up in the last few years. Even veteran companies have to sometimes choose unusual settings for their productions. Such is the case with BRIEFS, A FESTIVAL OF S...
BWW Reviews: R-S Theatrics Presents Entertaining Production of AUTOBAHN
It seems like productions of prolific playwright and filmmaker Neil Labute's works have been presented everywhere the past couple of years, and another is currently being presented by R-S Theatrics, formerly known as Soundstage Productions, in their current home in the Crestwood Mall ArtSpace. AUTOB...
BWW Reviews: The Black Rep's Funkadelic Production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM is one of the few Shakespearean plays that's considered totally original, not owing its story to any other source other than the Bard's imagination. It's a delightful romantic comedy with fun, supernatural elements, and unlike his many tragedies and histories, nobody dies. ...
BWW Reviews: Upstream Theater's Provocative Production of THE MAIDS
Playwright and raconteur (what else would you call a man orphaned by his prostitute mother, who grew into a thief, before finding his niche as a controversial and often banned writer?) Jean Genet's THE MAIDS (translated by Martin Crimp) is a peculiar and provocative one act whose images stay with yo...
BWW Reviews: Sparkling Production of WEST SIDE STORY at the Fox
There have been any number of renowned re-imaginings of Shakespeare. But, easily one of the finest to have been conceived is the musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, WEST SIDE STORY. One thing that makes it so special is the way that Leonard Bernstein's dramatic orchestral score meshes so perfect...
BWW Reviews: A VALENTINE CABARET presented by Dramatic License Productions
Dramatic License Productions presented a lovely Valentine cabaret this past weekend (February 10-12) in their space at Artopolis in Chesterfield Mall. Classics from a number of generations on the subject of love and it's foibles mixed gracefully in a sweetly simple production that showcased four tal...
BWW Reviews: Rep's Incendiary Production of RACE
In a season already packed with hits, the Rep smacks a home run with David Mamet's profanely brilliant play, RACE. Managing to expound not only about race, but also on how the justice system works in some cases, Mamet produces a wonderfully provocative work that seems designed to have tongues waggin...
BWW Reviews: Stray Dog Theatre's Superb Production of URINETOWN
URINETOWN is a satirical musical based on the idea that an ecological disaster could create a situation whereby individuals have to pay for the opportunity to eliminate their wastes in public amenities. If that sounds like an odd concept, you're right, it is. And, with it's grungy atmosphere and gri...
BWW Reviews: Mustard Seed Theatre's Taut Production of PLAYLAND
Mustard Seed Theatre continues their season with playwright Athol Fugard's PLAYLAND, and the location of the play affords the company a chance to be very creative with the set design (Courtney Sanazaro). But, this is a dark, although it brightens just as the sun rises, tale of border wars and Aparth...
BWW Reviews: Over the Top Production of ROCK OF AGES at the Fox Theatre
A certain generation (namely, my own) is going to really get a kick out of ROCK OF AGES. Those younger than me will still be amused by its wildly over the top antics, but those that are older may be a bit befuddled by the constant barrage of cultural references from the late 1980's, and probably hav...
BWW Reviews: Freddie Washington Quartet Kicks off Black Rep's Sunday Concert Series in Fine Fashion
A member of the St. Louis Blues and Jazz Hall of Fame returned to his roots this past Sunday bringing a trio of talented musicians in tow. The Freddie Washington Quartet, led by the saxophonist extraordinaire, put on a blistering 90 minute set at the Grandel this past Sunday (1/29/2012) that showcas...
BWW Reviews: New Jewish Theatre's Heartbreaking Production of WAY TO HEAVEN
David Johnston's translation of playwright Juan Mayorga's WAY TO HEAVEN is an intriguing play with an interesting concept and execution. Told in five acts, the work, at first, seems to suffer from repetition, until you begin to realize just how this moment in history actually took place. The act whi...
BWW Reviews: HotCity Theatre's Provocative Production of OLEANNA
A good friend told me about a production of OLEANNA (by playwright David Mamet) that he attended where the audience was actually segregated along gender lines. I can understand how that could be very intriguing and effective given the subject matter and eventual outcome of the piece. It's definitely...
BWW Reviews: Rep's Harrowing and Intense Production of A STEADY RAIN
It's easy to see some of the elements of A Steady Rain that playwright Keith Huff owes a debt to. There are certainly enough police procedural shows on television that reference enough of same plot points to breed a certain familiarity to the material, including a crucial bit concerning a Dahmer-lik...
BWW Reviews: West End Players Guild's Engaging Production of THE SEAFARER
Playwright Conor McPherson's THE SEAFARER plays like a Irish, whiskey-soaked poke at The Seventh Seal, with cards replacing the chess pieces. It's a wry (or should it be rye?), funny little piece, that's as dingy looking and feeling as it is raw in McPherson's approach to its dialog. The West End Pl...
BWW Reviews: Black Rep's Excellent Production of ON GOLDEN POND
I remember seeing the movie version of ON GOLDEN POND, and though it's very well done, it's awfully mawkish and sentimental. I've kind of avoided the movie ever since, just because I really didn't feel like having a cry fest. But, the actual play by Ernest Thompson is surprisingly amusing and touchi...
BWW Reviews: Rep's Dazzling and Intense Production of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is a fascinating and visually dazzling examination of painter Georges Seurat and his unique style, which art books call pointillism. Stephen Sondheim has crafted an entertaining score, but it was at the suggestion of book writer, James Lapine, that this artful and deli...
Videos
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The Light in the Piazza Loretto-Hilton Center (5/30-6/28) |
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God of Carnage New Jewish Theatre (NJT) (6/11-6/28) |
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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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The Wasp by Morgan Lloyd Malcom Albion Theatre (6/12-6/28) |
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Guns N’ Roses at Busch Stadium Busch Stadium (8/16-8/16) |
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Jake’s Leg - June 27, 7:30pm The Wildey (6/27-6/27) |
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The Book of Mormon (Non-Equity) Fox Theatre (2/02-2/07) |
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Miles at 100: A Centennial Celebration Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center (6/27-6/27) |
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Kauffman Stadium Kauffman Stadium (7/15-7/15) |
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Liverpool Legends 'The Complete Beatles Experience!' Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center (6/27-6/27) |
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