St. Louis Theater Reviews

Review: SANDRA'S SON: A LIFE SKETCHED OUT WITH CBABI BAYOC at Greenfinch Theater And Dive Bar
by James Lindhorst - April 19, 2024

Bayoc, like the rest of us is just an everyday person finding his way in this world. He is talented, has enjoyed success in the art world, learned from his mistakes, and understands the importance of personal accountability. Bayoc shares many sensitive moments. None more exposing than the story of t...

Review: XANADU at Tower Groves Abbey
by Rob Levy - April 15, 2024

Based on the 1980 film starring Olivia Newton-John and, before that, the Rita Hayworth film, Down To Earth, this lively adaptation never takes itself too seriously. From start to finish the ensemble prances, preens, and mugs it up, giving audiences a sugary sweet over the top show filled with kineti...

Review: St. Louis Shakespeare's HAMLET is a Well Acted Gem
by James Lindhorst - April 14, 2024

This well-directed and remarkably acted version of HAMLET illustrates how entertaining and engaging Shakespeare’s works can be. Siler and his cast created a production that would meet the highest standards of a finicky bardolator while entertaining a casual theater goer who may wonder if Shakespeare...

Review: DON'T WAIT FOR THE MARLBORO MAN at The Kranzberg Black Box Theatre
by James Lindhorst - April 13, 2024

Boehm’s translation and direction tells a melancholic tale about life, choices, relationships, and death. His trio of actors create stylized characters to challenge beliefs and self-morality. DON’T WAIT FOR THE MORLBORO MAN uses different conventions to tell a somber story that penetrates your consc...

Review: THE CHER SHOW at The Stifel Theatre
by James Lindhorst - April 11, 2024

THE CHER SHOW is an eye-popping traipse down memory lane but suffers from drive-by storytelling. While far from perfect as a full-fledged Broadway musical, there are plenty of wildly entertaining moments that make this show more enjoyable than it should be. It is the casting, strong vocal performanc...

Review: DARK MATTERS at Union Avenue Christian Church
by James Lindhorst - April 08, 2024

Garner, Peters, and Richie’s performances all elevate a passable script that doesn’t quite reach the level of a disquieting and chilling story. Pierce’s directorial choice makes the production worth recommending, however go with the expectations that the aliens never materialize to create a chilling...

Review: SATE Presents THE 8TH ANNUAL APHRA BEHN FESTIVAL at The Chapel
by James Lindhorst - April 07, 2024

The entertaining 8th Annual Aphra Bren Festival successfully gave fresh female, transgender, and non-binary voices the medium to have their works professionally produced and be heard. Four playwrights presented new works as part of the Festival. Anne Valentino’s play THE THE stood out amount the pro...

Review: THE WHALE at The Gaslight Theatre
by James Lindhorst - April 06, 2024

This is an excellent production of a story that is difficult to watch. The direction is sharp, the acting is flawless, and the technical theatre quality is first rate. The artists at St. Louis Actors’ studio have milked every bit of emotion they can wring from a strong script with, what was for me, ...

Review: Karen Mason's Lovely Tribute to Kander and Ebb is All That (Jazz)
by James Lindhorst - April 05, 2024

Mason’s entrancing show is a love letter to the legendary songwriting team. Her warm memories of Kander and Ebb left the audience feeling as if they were also acquainted with the celebrated composer and lyricist.  ...

Review: AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY at Loretto-Hilton Center
by Rob Levy - March 29, 2024

The Rep’s August Osage County is a rough and tumble roller-coaster ride of anxiety, anger, and alienation that reflects on familial dysfunction with hostility and viciousness....

Review: JACEY'S JAZZ JOINT at The Blue Strawberry Showroom And Lounge
by James Lindhorst - March 28, 2024

Fresh off her win for Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical at Monday evening’s St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards, Eileen Engel took the stage in JACEY’S JAZZ JOINT. For the next 70-miutes, Engel treated her audience to jazzy renditions of some of the most loved American standards. Her set included ...

Review: The New Jewish Theatre's Production of ALL MY SONS is Explosive, Gripping, and Tragic
by James Lindhorst - March 22, 2024

The New Jewish Theatre picked up where they left off last season with a superior effort resulting in stellar storytelling. This well-acted production of ALL MY SONS is intense and riveting drama. Jayson Heil, Greg Johnston, and Amy Loui are outstanding as the members of the Keller family. Their simm...

Review: MOVIE MUSIC at The Blue Strawberry Showroom And Lounge
by James Lindhorst - March 21, 2024

MOVIE MUSIC is an entertaining and sometimes emotional walk down memory lane by three skilled theatrical professionals who know a bit about storytelling. Midnight Company’s Joe Hanrahan has created a formula with his theatrical cabaret productions that continues to fill seats at The Blue Strawberry....

Review: WEDDING BAND at The Catherine B. Berges Theatre At COCA
by James Lindhorst - March 17, 2024

Jones collaborates with his cast and crew to mount an artful production of Alice Childress’ important story. He captures the grievous nature of oppressive racism and the fears of mixed-race couples in doomed relationships. This outstanding production of Wedding Band is being presented by The Black R...

Review: MOLLY SWEENEY at The Kranzberg Black Box Theatre
by James Lindhorst - March 17, 2024

Albion delivers another first-rate production with MOLLY SWEENEY. Ashton, the artistic director, and his staff carefully select quality theatrical assets to increase the probability of sensational storytelling. Albion’s production of MOLLY SWEENEY is just that, outstanding storytelling through exqui...

Review: SPECTRUM 2024 - A FESTIVAL OF SHORT PLAYS at The Chapel
by James Lindhorst - March 05, 2024

Of the Playwrights included in the Festival, Marilyn Zerlak’s two scripts were the best of the lot. FARE TO MIDDLIN’ is a tongue-in-cheek look at what judgment day may look like for folks who think that they may have been just good enough to receive their heavenly reward. Neither of the deceased can...

Review: COMPANY at Fox Theatre, St. Louis
by Rob Levy - February 28, 2024

Company is a fun romp about looking for love in all the wrong places. Filled with great performances and delightful musical numbers, it is a relentless roller coaster ride of emotions whose themes of romance, sex, marriage, and divorce remain just a s relevant today as whenit debuted in 1970. our cr...

Review: Marilyn Maye Returned to St. Louis for a Nostalgic Evening of Standards from the Great American Songbook
by James Lindhorst - February 23, 2024

Marilyn Maye kept the capacity room leaning into her every note as she allowed her audience to reminisce with medleys of standards from the great American songbook. For two hours she sang, mugged, and tossed funny zingers that kept the audience laughing. Maye is a hard-working chanteuse, and her aud...

Review: AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS at West End Players Guild
by James Lindhorst - February 19, 2024

All 7 of the plays were tightly directed to create engaging and interesting storytelling using limited set pieces on a nearly empty stage. The transition between each show occurred quickly and seamlessly, and at no point was the audience left waiting for an extended set change. There is no doubt tha...

Review: FLY at Hotchner Theatre on the Washington University Campus
by James Lindhorst - February 18, 2024

Edwards script if filled with humor but it does not shy away from taking on the current realities of unfairness, inequality, and discrimination in the United States today. His script is layered and complex. The text is foreboding with an admonitory tone, and Edwards realism reaches his audience beca...

Review: MEN ARE FROM MARS WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE! at The Playhouse At West Port Plaza
by James Lindhorst - February 15, 2024

Amadeo Fusco is a skilled actor and comedian who has kept decades old material funny and fresh with newer topics that are relevant to today’s relationships, Whether you are single, dating, married, or have been married, Fusco’s humor, wit, and magnetic charm will provide a lot of laughs. If you’re l...

Review: THE SOUND INSIDE at Robert G. Reim Theatre
by James Lindhorst - February 12, 2024

Moonstone’s THE SOUND INSIDE is a well-constructed piece of theatre but has a story that simply did not resonate. Rapp’s story left me flat. Walking away from the theatre, and reflecting on the overall production, I wanted to like THE SOUND INSIDE more than I did.   Despite the criticism of the ove...

Review: MOBY DICK at Loretto-Hilton Center
by Rob Levy - February 12, 2024

The Rep’s Moby Dick isn’t just a cleverly staged reinvention of a stodgy classic, it’s an emotionally driven theatrical voyage that challenges, engrosses and captivates audiences. This is breathtaking and jaw dropping theater....

Review: COPENHAGEN at The Gaslight Studio
by James Lindhorst - February 12, 2024

The script is rich with scientific banter, repetitive and very talky. The running time with intermission exceeds 2-½ hours but the show flies by thanks to Salomon’s brisk direction and the tremendous performances of the three actors. Do not dissuade yourself from seeing this production based on the ...

Review: HAIRSPRAY at Stifel Theatre
by James Lindhorst - February 09, 2024

What did our critic think of HAIRSPRAY at Stifel Theatre?The current national tour of HAIRSRAY is visiting The Stifel Theatre in St. Louis with two performances on February 8th and 9th. This production is led by St. Louisan Caroline Eiseman with an effervescent performance as the optimistic Tracy Tu...