ST. LOUIS THEATER REVIEWS

If most of the cast survives, and there's no 'King' in the title, then you must be watching one of William Shakespeare's comedies. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE is one such example. And, while it may not be as highly regarded as some of his other work, it's an amusing and intriguing play nonetheless....

In addition to showing us the relationship between an aspiring young writer and her teacher/mentor, COLLECTED STORIES also examines issues of ownership regarding ones' own life story. It's a compelling and engaging tale, and The Orange Girls have put together a wonderfully realized production that f...

The Muny is presenting a very good production of GODSPELL that's buoyed by a talented and energetic cast. Even if you're not a particularly religious person, you'll still find plenty to appreciate in this family-friendly show. ...

These good looking gentlemen with their operatic voices definitely have that certain 'something' that appeals to a wide range of people. And, judging by the response of the crowd at the Fox Theatre (July 10, 2009), they're likely to be around for a while....

KATHY GRIFFIN'S talent is not only her ability to talk non-stop for nearly two hours, but to make it all seem so effortless. You imagine that she's making it all up on the spot, but comedy requires a lot more work than that to appear that way. And, on this particular evening, she was absolutely hila...

Adam Szymkowicz's nightmarish comedy NERVE tackles the subject of online dating in hilarious fashion, with its creepy tale of a hookup gone horribly askew. The Echo Theatre Company's presentation is a must-see production that features two of the St. Louis's finest actors. ...

I remember seeing THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the old Varsity Theatre before it closed down. There was a mood generated by the grungy atmosphere of that old movie house, with fans packed in and dressed for the occasion, that's difficult to recreate when you can just pop in the DVD and watch it ...

The Muny's current production of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS offers the opportunity to relive the nostalgia of those golden days at the turn of the 20th century. ...

Luce's play creates the fictional device of having the aging Barrymore in preparation for a comeback performance as Richard III. Essentially a one man show, the only other actor is a man Barrymore has hired to help him with his lines. Though this incident never actually occurred, it provides an oppo...

The Muny's family-friendly, and utterly charming production of ANNIE continues their 2009 season. ...

Over thirty years later, this charming and delightful work by Thomas Meehan, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, still maintains its humor and heart with it's simple search for love and acceptance. The Lyceum Theatre is presenting a solid, tuneful production, perfectly suitab...

Good theatre makes you think, and Albee has given the audience a lot to chew on here. Issues concerning death and the ways in which we identify ourselves are keys to figuring it out, but don't expect to decipher it all, even Albee doesn't fully explain what he's getting at. At times, it's rather mes...

42ND STREET, the 'all talking, all singing, all dancing' extravaganza, is precisely the kind of colorful and splashy entertainment that the Muny does so well....

Though it may have seemed more shocking when it was originally written and staged during the 1960's, Edward Albee's adaptation of Giles Cooper's EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN still packs a healthy punch. Stray Dog Theatre closes their 2008-2009 season with a wonderfully dark and funny production of Albee...

The French-infused concoction, MEDRANO, provided my son and I with our first experiences witnessing the magic that this one ring circus conjures up each summer in our own backyard. To quote John Lennon, who was himself referencing an old circus poster he'd found in a junk shop: 'A splendid time is g...

BLUES IN THE NIGHT is a delightful compilation of material that celebrates the many styles associated with the music known as the blues. As conceived by Sheldon Epps, this musical follows three women and a saloon singer as they recall memories from their past in song form. The Black Rep's current pr...

Continuing their tradition of quality entertainment, Stages St. Louis's production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is a blast - a campy and tune filled flashback to the early 60's...

What makes this touring company of RENT so special is the presence of Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp reprising their leading roles as Roger and Mark, respectively. The electricity that the pair generates is reason enough to check out this very special production. ...