The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre

Through 7/4/2007
Reviewed by Chris Gibson

Mark Twain's classic tale, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, has been adapted for the stage as a musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, best known for the oft-performed Lend Me a Tenor, and music and lyrics by Don Schlitz. Ludwig's libretto remains fairly faithful to Twain, if a bit sanitized.

Washington University's Performing Arts Department

Through 10/14/2007
Reviewed by Chris Gibson

As a person who happens to love 40's era swing music, and as a collector of the vintage radio broadcasts of comedians like Jack Benny and Fred Allen, I found myself completely delighted with the Washington University Performing Arts Departments production of The 1940's Radio Hour. It's a marvelous trip back in time to the days of live radio during World War II.

The Lyceum Theatre

Through 7/18/2007
Reviewed by Chris Gibson

The Lyceum Theatre's latest production is the 1972 adaptation of Billy Wilder's classic film Some Like It Hot. Sugar is an upbeat and breezy musical with Peter Stone's book retaining much of the original script's humor. The pseudo 1930's era music by Jule Styne, with clever lyrics by Bob Merrill, is charming and easy to listen to. And this production is entertaining and well performed.

Stray Dog Theatre

Through 9/22/2007
Reviewed by Chris Gibson

Gary Bell, artistic director of Stray Dog Theatre, introduced this production as "Tennessee on Tennessee", making reference to the playwright as well as the company's new home. Suddenly Last Summer, Tennessee Williams' 90 minute one-act, opens this first season in Tower Grove Abbey (2336 Tennessee Avenue.) in excellent fashion. And with a plot that revolves around a proposed lobotomy and an act of cannibalism, it's just my cup of tea as well.

The Lyceum Theatre

Through 9/16/2007
Reviewed by Chris Gibson

Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming is a delightful show filled with bluegrass, folk and gospel tunes that's fit for the whole family. A sequel to Smoke on the Mountain Christmas, this play, written by Connie Ray, with musical arrangements by Mike Craver, continues the story of the Sanders Family Singers.

Center Stage Theatre at St. Charles Community College

Through 7/29/2007
Reviewed by Chris Gibson

Miklos Lazslo's play Parfumerie has a plot that will seem very familiar to anyone who's ever seen the movies The Shop Around the Corner or You've Got Mail, since they were adaptations. Various elements stripped from it have also appeared on television as well, especially when you consider the feisty love/hate relationships between characters like Sam and Diane on Cheers or David and Maddie on Moonlighting. Center Stage Productions is presenting the 1963 musical adaptation of Lazslo's play, She Loves Me.

The Fabulous Fox

Through 10/21/2007
Reviewed by Chris Gibson

The late Jonathan Larson's loose adaptation of La Boheme, Rent, makes its way to the Fabulous Fox for a weekend run (October 19th - 21st , 2007). This is a wonderful and moving show filled with drama, humor and memorable musical numbers.

Act II Community Theatre

Through 8/12/2007
Reviewed by Chris Gibson

Act II Community Theatre continues its season with Neil Simon's play, Plaza Suite. Utilizing a three act structure, Simon tells three different stories that all occur in suite 719 of New York's famed Plaza Hotel. I'm not especially of fond of that structure, especially where comedy is concerned, as I feel it takes away a lot of momentum when you have multiple intermissions.

The Orange Girls

Through 10/28/2007
Reviewed by Chris Gibson

The Orange Girls end their 2007 season with April De Angelis' Playhouse Creatures, an entertaining and sharply performed work that explores a time in history when women were finally allowed to act on stage by benefit of a royal decree. Set in London in 1670, the play follows the rise and fall of five pioneering performers.

The Kirkwood Theatre Guild

Through 11/11/2007
Reviewed by Chris Gibson

I've always liked Steve Martin's comedy, dating back to the "wild and crazy guy" days of the late 1970's, and even further back with his work as a writer for Sonny and Cher and the Smothers Brothers (Did I just immediately date myself with that remark?). Picasso at the Lapin Agile is a very witty 90 minute piece by Martin that's like a more surreal version of Steve Allen's Meeting of the Minds. The Kirkwood Theatre Guild begin their 77th season with an amusing and mostly successful production of the play.