Archive for August, 2025

The Muny Takes a Thoughtful, Vibrant New Look at Modern Classic “Jersey Boys”

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Jersey Boys
Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music by Bob Gaudio, Lyrics by Bob Crewe
Directed by Maggie Burrows
Choreography by William Carlos Angulo
The Muny
August 19, 2025

Cast of Jersey Boys
Photo by Phillip Hamer
The Muny

The Muny is closing out its 2025 summer season with a show that’s become a modern classic, and is to my mind, the “gold standard” of one of the two main subsets of what are often called “jukebox” musicals–the bio-musical focusing on the story of a particular artist or band. With memorable songs by legendary pop-rock group The Four Seasons and an especially strong book, this show takes a close look at the group’s four original members and their relationships with each other and with the passage of time. It’s a great show, but the Muny is taking a slightly new approach with this production that lends a thoughtful new focus to the proceedings, all the while still delivering those show-stopping Four Season hits with top-notch vocals and energy.

In his on-stage intro before the show and in his note in the program, artistic director and executive producer Mike Isaacson talks about the concept of time, and how that element is such an important part of the Jersey Boys narrative. I’ve noticed that as well over the years, in that time just keeps moving, as does the action, and that much of the drama and intrigue of the show comes from watching the characters age, grow, and adjust to the changing times and situations. While following the four original Four Seasons, each gets to tell part of the story in turn, starting with guitarist and self-styled “leader” Tommy DeVito (Ryan Vasquez), and then by keyboardist/songwriter Bob Gaudio (Andrew Poston), eccentric bassist Nick Massi (Cory Jeacoma), and finally by lead vocalist Frankie Valli (Pablo David Laucerica). The story follows these four from their beginnings as struggling young musicians in their tight-knit New Jersey neighborhood, to world-famous celebrities with a trove of memorable hits that topped the pop charts–including “Sherry”, “Walk Like a Man”, “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)”, and many more. It also deals with their personal triumphs and tragedies, including marriage and family issues, interpersonal conflicts, trouble with the law, and the overall effects of fame on these four boys from Jersey. 

It’s already a well-told story, and I’ve enjoyed every production of this show I’ve seen (this one is my fourth), but this one takes a new angle that adds even more to the reflective nature of the show and the emphasis on the passage of time. For this version. older versions of the four leads (Michael James Reed as Tommy, John Leone as Bob, Drew Battles as Nick, and Jerry Vogel as Frankie) to start off the narration and appear again at the end for the final segment after a time jump in the story. This convention works well, and all of the actors do an excellent job of portraying the characters as recognizable older versions of the younger “main” actors. It also adds an element of emotion to the already stunning conclusion of the show, as we see the older Four Seasons look back on how they used to be, while hearing the strong, soaring voices of the band in their prime. 

The casting is fantastic, with the main roles ideally cast. Vasquez as the tough-talking DeVito, Jeacomo as the quieter and somewhat peculiar Massi, Poston as the ambitious, business-minded and more “clean cut” Gaudio, and Laucerica as the vocally impressive, magnetic Valli are all excellent in vocals and stage presence. Their older counterparts are also memorable, also playing various other roles in the story as needed, with Leone standing out as gangster Gyp DeCarlo. There’s also a strong turn by Tristen Buettel as Frankie’s first wife, Mary Delgado. The whole ensemble is strong, full of energy and enthusiasm, performing the dazzling vocals and vibrant choreography by William Carlos Angulo with vigor and style.

This Jersey Boys is also a great looking show, continuing the trend this summer of finding the ideal staging for the Muny rather than simply following what’s been done elsewhere, or even previously at the Muny. The production makes the most of all the technological improvements that the company has added over the past few years, with a stylish, versatile set by Krit Robinson that makes the most of the giant Muny stage and its turntable, screens, and movable platforms. The dynamic, always-moving tone of the show is augmented by means impressive video design by Kylee Loera and Greg Emetaz that also highlights the eras and changing times. Rob Denton’s dazzling lighting adds to the glitz and glamour and occasional grit of the rock ‘n roll lifestyle, as well, along with the superb sound design by by John Stivers and David Patridge. There’s also excellent musicianship by all involved, especially the excellent Muny Orchestra conducted by music director Paul Byssainthe Jr. 

If you love Jersey Boys and/or the Four Seasons, you will probably love this show. Even if you aren’t as familiar with the show or its subject, there’s a lot to love here, from the music to the energy to the well-crafted book and dynamic story. It’s a new approach to this show that also adds an extra element while keeping the vibe and spirit of the show intact. It’s a strong tribute, and a memorable show in its own right. It’s also a fitting closer to a truly fantastic 2025 season at the Muny.

Andrew Poston, Cory Jeacoma, Ryan Vasquez, Pablo David Laucerica
Photo by Phillip Hamer
The Muny

The Muny is presenting Jersey Boys in Forest Park until August 24, 2025

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SDT’s Evocative “Second Hurricane” Highlights Young Talent, Memorable Score

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , on August 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Second Hurricane
Composed by Aaron Copland
Libretto by Edwin Denby
Directed by Gary F. Bell
Stray Dog Theatre
August 15, 2025

Cast of The Second Hurricane
Photo: Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is venturing into a new artistic area with their latest production, Aaron Copland’s 1937 youth opera The Second Hurricane. Featuring simple but striking staging, excellent vocals, and a promising cast of talented young performers, it’s an intriguing and musically impressive production that highlights its cast and Copland’s score. It’s also something of a trip back in time, considering how its tone and sense of theming effectively evoke the era in which the work is set.

This was well-known composer Copland’s first venture into opera, and it was intended as a youth show, that I could easily imagine being done by high school choir groups. The show features a youth chorus and an adult chorus, with some spoken parts but mostly focusing on the music. The story follows a Midwest community in the 1930s after a devastating tornado. When a pilot arrives at a local high school trying to recruit volunteers to help distribute supplies to those affected by the catastrophe, an assertive girl named Gwen (Bryn Sentnor) steps up and volunteers, and soon five more are recruited to join her–Butch (Soren Carroll), brothers Fat (Wesley Balsamo) and Gyp (Ben Hammock), radio enthusiast Lowrie (Jabari Boykin), and Queenie (Nadja Kapetanovich). The six are dropped off at an area of high ground near the affected area, and then find themselves stranded when another hurricane strikes. They group of six also has grown to seven, since they are joined by Jeff (Cece Mohr), a younger boy who lives nearby. The rest of the show follows the group’s “adventure” as they struggle to survive and form a bond as a result of their shared struggle.

The choruses serve the purpose of narrating the action as well as carrying the soaring notes of the melodic score. There are also strong vocal turns from all of the featured young performers, and everyone is excellent. It’s an ideal showcase for this group of talented and highly promising young singers. The acting is good, but there isn’t much in the way of dialogue, and I also found myself occasionally wishing for supertitles–as local opera companies are known to use–because it’s not always easy to understand the lyrics. Still, it’s a compelling story and a strong, memorable score, lushly played by a superb orchestra led by music director John Gerdes.

Another especially notable aspect of this production is its lighting and costumes. The set by director Gary F. Bell is simple but all that is necessary, as much of the atmosphere is achieved by means of music and by Tyler Duenow’s stunning lighting. There are also excellent period-accurate costumes by Colleen Michelson that add to the overall ambience and 1930’s vibe. 

This is a very 1930’s show, but its message is also a timeless one, of community and working together in a crisis, as well as the focus on young people as hope for the future. It’s a stirring theme for Depression-era audiences as well as today. It’s a fine new venture for Stray Dog Theatre. 

Jabari Boykin, Soren Carroll, Bryn Sentnor, Wesley Balsamo, Ben Hammock
Photo: Stray Dog Theater

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting The Second Hurricane until August 30, 2025

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Glittery, Campy “La Cage” Entertains in Style at the Muny

Posted in Snoop's Soapbox, St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

La Cage aux Folles
Book by Harvey Fierstein, Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Based on the Play by Jean Poiret
Directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge
Choreographed by Richard J. Hinds
The Muny
August 9, 2025

Michael James Scott, Norm Lewis
Photo by MaryKatherine Patteson
The Muny

The Muny is currently revisiting a show it hasn’t staged in almost 40 years. La Cage aux Folles has been staged and revived many times around the world since its Broadway debut in 1983, and its catchy Jerry Herman score features well-known songs such as “I Am What I Am” and “The Best of Times”. It’s so catchy, in fact, that the songs have been playing in my head on repeat since I saw the Muny’s sparkling, dazzling production in Forest Park last night. Featuring a top-notch cast of Broadway and Muny veterans, this is a show that entertains in flashy, campy style, while also communicating heartfelt themes of family, individuality, and belonging.

The show, based on a popular French play that has been the inspiration for several films (including 1996’s The Birdcage), is set in St. Tropez, France, in a nightclub known for its popular drag shows. The shows are emceed by Georges (Norm Lewis), who lives in an apartment above the club with his longtime partner Albin (Michael James Scott), also known as “Zaza”, the club’s headlining star, who is backed by a memorable chorus of dancers and performers known as “Les Cagelles” (Julia Feeley, Cory Hammond, Kodiak Thompson, Michael Milkanin, Aaron Graham, Gordon Semeatu, Cooper Stanton, Michael Di Leo, Duncan B. Smith, Owen Kent Ing, Kaylee Olson, Kyle White). The two have also raised Georges’s son Jean-Michel (Mason Reeves), who has recently arrived after a time away with surprising news. He’s getting married, and not only that, but his fiancée, Anne (Cameron Anika Hill) is the daughter of an ultra-conservative politician. Also, her parents, the Dindons (Terence Archie, Allison Blackwell) are coming to visit so they can meet Jean-Michel’s parents, but there’s a catch that throws the whole family dynamic out of balance and hurts Albin deeply, although this is a comedy, so I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that things get better, and there’s also a lot of glitter, colorful costumes, and fantastically campy nightclub routines to the tune of those super-catchy Jerry Herman melodies. 

This production looks a little different than I had been expecting, since I usually associate this show with lots of pink and gold and glitter. Here, the glitter is there, but the palate is much more colorful. There is a fair amount of pink, especially in the restaurant run by Georges and Albin’s bubbly friend Jacqueline (Meghan Murphy), but there’s also a lot of blues, greens, purples, and more. The costumes, designed by Bobby Pearce are simply spectacular, outfitting Zaza and La Cagelles in a series of eye-catching outfits, and with the rest of the characters outfitted in suitable style. There’s also memorable work from wig designer Tommy Kurzman. The set by Matthew Buttrey is also colorful, dazzling, and versatile, adding to the atmosphere in the nightclub scenes and the outdoor scenes in the sunny French Riviera. There’s also marvelous lighting by Jason Lyons, and excellent video design by Kylee Loera and Greg Emetaz. The Muny Orchestra, led by music director Darryl Archibald, brings lush energy to the classic score, as well. 

As for the cast, they shine as bright as the set, if not more. Lewis is charming as Georges, and in great voice on numbers like “Song On the Sand” and “Look Over There”. His chemistry with Scott’s equally marvelous Albin is excellent, as well. Scott makes the most of every moment as Albin/Zaza, from the campier moments to the more emotional scenes like the stellar, show-stopping “I Am What I Am”. These two are the heart of the show, but they are surrounded by a memorable cast of characters, led by Reeves as the earnest, if misguided (at first) Jean-Michel, who has strong chemistry with Hill’s likable (but underwritten) Anne. Archie and Blackwell are suitably stuffy as the Dindons, with Blackwell showing an underlying desire to break free of her husband’s restrictions, and displaying a marvelous operatic soprano in moments when she gets to sing. There’s also a scene-stealing turn from Troy Iwata as Georges and Albin’s butler/maid Jacob, who desperately wants to be in the show at the club. There are also memorable turns from Murphy as the vivacious Jacqueline, Michael Hartung as the club’s stage manager, Francis, and Milkanin as the forceful Hanna, one of the more prominent Cagelles who is in a relationship with Francis. The rest of the cast, including Les Cagelles and an energetic Teen Ensemble, add to the energy and spark of this fun production.

Ultimately, La Cage aux Folles is a lot of fun. It’s been a long time since it’s appeared on the vast Muny stage, and it fits well. With style, heart, energy, and that timeless classic score, this is another memorable hit for the Muny’s 2025 season. 

Norm Lewis (Center) and Cast
Photo by BreAnna Kay Creative
The Muny

The Muny is presenting La Cage aux Folles in Forest Park until August 14, 2025

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“Streetcar” Has Returned at TWSTL, Bringing With it Intense Characterizations, Stunning Performances

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on August 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

A Streetcar Named Desire
by Tennessee Williams
Directed by Michael James Reed
Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis
August 7, 2025

Eric Dean White, Beth Bartley
Photo by Suzy Gorman
Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis

One of Tennessee Williams’s most famous plays is back in St. Louis, and it’s making a profound impact. The Tennessee Williams Festival has staged this play before, with a stunning, award-winning production in 2018, and now it’s back for the festival’s 10th Anniversary, in a striking new staging that emphasizes “otherness” in a way that I don’t remember as much from the last (fantastic) production. Highlighting a marvelous, quirky and heartbreaking performance in the role of Blanche and surrounding her with a first-rate cast in the rest of the roles, this production–directed by Michael James Reed–focuses largely on Blanche’s role as an outsider, and her refuge in fantasy as a striking contrast to brutal reality as personified especially by her sister’s husband, Stanley.

The world here, set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, is more stylized, with a striking set by Patrick Huber that emphasizes open spaces and lack of privacy, although also maintaining a colorful mid-Century vibe. The audience is introduced to this world by a cacophony of sound, of animals and trains and yelling neighbors, as outsider Blanche DuBois (Beth Bartley) arrives from Mississippi to see her younger sister, Stella (Isa Venere), who is married to the loud, possessive Stanley Kowalski (Todd D’Amour). Blanche is somewhat evasive about why she has left her position as a school teacher and come to New Orleans, but the Kowalskis take her in and while Stella is initially happy to see her sister, there is immediate friction with the increasingly suspicious Stanley, who asks around and digs into Blanche’s past. Meanwhile, at one of Stanley’s raucous poker games, Blanche meets Mitch (Eric Dean White), who is decidedly less crude than Stanley and the others, and who takes an interest in Blanche. For a time, there’s reason to hope that these two can make a life together, but this is a tragedy, and as Stanley reveals more and more of his brutish nature, hope for the increasingly self-deluded Blanche grows dim.

That’s all I will say, but if you know the story, you know what happens. The tone of this production emphasizes the contrast between Blanche’s world (which is fueled by her regret and imagination) and Stanley’s, which is harsh and increasingly brutal, and with the bold but tenderhearted Stella caught in the middle, and with Mitch as something of a bewildered suitor. The tone is at turns fantastical and harsh, hopeful and bitingly cynical, with an ultimate weight of pervasive regret and sadness. 

The cast is simply stellar, led by Bartley in a quirky, old-Hollywood influenced turn as Blanche. There are touches of Judy Garland, as well as influences of a few other famous screen legends (Crawford, Swanson, Davis), but also an increasing sense that this air is something of an act, which starts to fall apart visibly in a key scene with Mitch. It’s a stunning, fascinating, ultimately heartbreaking performance. D’Amour is powerfully primal as the insistently brutal Stanley, and his scenes with both Bartly and Venere–excellent as a tough-but-vulnerable Stella–are highlights. The always excellent White is an ideal Mitch, bringing a mixture of gentleness, hope, and eventually a bit of obtuse bewilderment to the role. There’s also excellent support from Isaiah Di Lorenzo (repeating his role from 2018) and Emily Baker as the Kowalskis’ neighbors Steve and Eunice, as well as Cedric Leiba Jr. as poker buddy Pablo, and small but well-pitched turns by Jeremiah King as a young man collecting money for the newspaper, along with David Wassilak as a doctor and Gwynneth Rausch as a nurse, and Jocelyn Padilla as a flower seller. It’s a fantastic cast in a stunningly realized, highly emotional production.

Huber’s excellent set is augmented by Matthew McCarthy’s occasionally stark, occasionally otherworldly lighting and excellent sound by Phillip Evans. The costumes by Shevaré Perry are colorful, period specific, and memorable, highlighting contrasting colors as well as the sometimes realistic, sometimes stylized tone of the show. There’s also strong work by props designer Mikhail Lynn, fight choreographer Jack Kalan, and intimacy coordinator Jocelyn Padilla. 

A Streetcar Named Desire is a timeless tragedy, with themes that are at once highly specific and universal. As TWSTL has shown even on its own, it can be staged in various ways while still being profoundly affecting. This latest version is emotional, visceral, and intense, with emphasis on the contrast between hope-and-regret-fueled fantasy and tragic, brutal reality. It’s a truly remarkable production. 

Isa Venere, Todd d’Amour
Photo by Suzy Gorman
Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis

Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis is presenting A Streetcar Named Desire at the Grandel Theatre until August 17, 2025

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FNT’s Revised “Madam” Makes a Memorable Impression at the Greenfinch

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , on August 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Madam
Music, Lyrics, and Book by Colin Healy
Directed by Sam Hayes
Choreographed by Cady Bailey
Fly North Theatricals
August 2, 2025

Avery Lux, Adrienne Spann, Liallian Cooper
Photo by Cady Bailey
Fly North Theatricals

Madam, an original musical from Fly North Theatricals penned by the company’s artistic director Colin Healy, has been in process for a few years, having begun with a production in Hannibal, MO and its last iteration having been staged here in St. Louis in 2020. I remember it making a strong impression when I saw that production five years ago, led by a dynamic performance by leading lady Kimmie Kidd, who still headlines the new version now being staged at FNT’s current home base, Greenfinch Theater & Dive. Now, with a new cast surrounding Kidd and a revised script and score, and now directed by Sam Hayes, the show still stands out as a strong character piece, with a lively score and tighter plotting than before. It also fits into its new space especially well.

The story is a highly fictionalized, almost mythologized tale set in St. Louis in the 19th Century and featuring some characters loosely based on real people. The intro, narrated by “working girls” Billie (Adrienne Spann), Tennie (Lillian Cooper), and Ripley (Avery Lux), tells the story of Madam Eliza Haycraft (Kidd), who operates a highly successful brothel in the city, and how she built her “Empire”. Eliza has strict rules for her house, including respect, consent, and paying up front, but most of the employees are not there to stay, as they have other goals–Ripley to go to medical school, Tennie to join her activist sister, and Billie (who has often disguised herself as a man to serve in the army and to play baseball) to make her fortune out West. There’s also Callista (Rachel Bailey), who is seen by the rest of the girls as Eliza’s heir apparent, and who has become essentially the regular client of a greedy, narcissistic local man known only as The Benefactor (Dustin Petrillo). Soon, a new young woman is brought into the picture, as the ailing, down-on-her-luck Mercy Jones (Jade Cash) shows up one night and is taken in by Eliza, whom Mercy in gratitude offers to help in managing her finances and organizing her will. Unknown to Eliza and most of the other girls, though, Mercy has a secret which ties her to the Benefactor, and which Callista–who was once an aspiring actress like Mercy–has little trouble figuring out at least partially. Meanwhile, the hard-drinking Eliza is in poor health, and isn’t expected to live much longer, while the Benefactor is scheming to get her to sell her house to him, since it’s on extremely valuable property.

The story is an intriguing one, and the characters are well defined, with a memorable score and catching songs like the notable “Empire” as well as Billie’s baseball song “Another Fence”, Mercy’s hopeful ballad “Star” and Eliza’s tour-de-force solo “Dinner For One”. Also, the tweaks to the plot–and especially the nature of the relationship between Mercy and the Benefactor–work well and add energy and coherency.

It’s an entertaining show overall, and an excellent showcase for its superb cast, although I can’t help but see it as ultimately a sad story, even though it means to be empowering. I don’t want to go too much into why since that would spoil some plot elements, but I do think it’s well worth seeing, and I think others may view the story differently. I also think the show still needs to figure out who its main protagonist is–Eliza or Mercy. It’s called Madam but despite Kidd’s powerhouse performance, the story often plays out like Mercy is at the center, with Mercy being the one who has the main dilemma and whose story drives the plot most, although she is also missing for large stretches of the story. Also, as important as Callista seems sometimes, and as excellent as Bailey is in the role, Callista’s role isn’t as well-defined as it could be, and the Benefactor is essentially a cartoon villain even though the talented Petrillo makes the most of the role.

The cast is fantastic, with Kidd and Cash both excellent as the ailing Eliza and conflicted Mercy. Spann, Cooper, and Lux are also terrific as Billie, Tennie, and Ripley, with Spann leading two of the more memorable songs (“Another Fence” and “Joy”). It’s a strong cast all around, both acting and singing, and bringing much energy to the atmosphere and period tone of the show. There’s also a great band led by music director Healy and energetic choreography by Cady Bailey.

The show also looks great, with the set–designed by Bradley Rohlf and Healy, and painted by Katie Orr–being probably the most elaborate set I’ve seen in a show in this venue. The creative team and technical crew have put their all into fitting the show into the Greenfinch, and it works especially well. The 19th Century look and atmosphere is well maintained, also by means of Hayes’s colorful and detailed costumes, Rohlf’s atmospheric lighting, and Kel Rohlf’s props. 

Ultimately, I think Madam is an entertaining show that’s still a bit of a work in progress but works even better now than the last time I saw it, when I also enjoyed it and thought it deserved the several St. Louis Theater Circle nominations it received. This is a fine showcase for an excellent cast, and an intriguing look at a side of St. Louis history that isn’t talked about a lot. Its run has recently been extended as well, so there’s still plenty of time to check it out. 

Kimmie Kidd
Photo by Cady Bailey
Fly North Theatricals

Fly North Theatricals is presenting Madam at Greenfinch Theater & Dive until August 17, 2025f

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First Run’s “Details” is a Low-Key, Well-Cast Look at Lonelines, Loss, and Personal Connection

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on August 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Details
by James Larson
Directed by Darrious Varner
First Run Theatre
August 1, 2025

Jaz Tucker, Bill Burke
Photo: First Run Theatre

First Run Theatre is focused on staging new plays by Midwestern playwrights. Their latest production, The Details by James Larson, is a somewhat low-key, intimate look at a new and unexpected relationship between two neighbors. As staged at Kranzberg Arts Center under the direction of Darrious Varner, the play served as a showcase for a pair of fine performances, and there are interesting characters and some good ideas, although it did come across as somewhat talky with little in the way of action.

In this show, lonely widower Mr. Hoffmann (Bill Burke) is home alone, talking to his late wife as if she is still there, and the sense of her absence is lingering. There are pictures on the bookcase and other remnants that suggest a couple had lived here for a long time. Hoffmann goes about his evening in a matter-of-fact manner, then goes upstairs. Soon, there are knocks on the door, and Hoffmann doesn’t answer. The knocker, neighbor Bucky Jackson (Jaz Tucker), notices the door is unlocked and lets himself in, whereupon he is soon discovered by Hoffmann and a confrontation ensues that leads to a series of revelations, reflections, and challenges covering the areas of loneliness, loss, various types of dependence, and perhaps most of all, the longing for community.

Although the script is slow moving and rather talky, and there isn’t a lot of action, the performances make the story interesting. Both actors have a measured air of relatability and secrecy, and their guarded attempts at reaching out toward one another give this play its emotional weight. Tucker, as the initially more outgoing Jackson, has a likable presence, making his personal story credible as it unfolds and adding to a believable developing bond with Hoffmann’s equally intriguing but more reticent Hoffmann. The halting but surely developing sense of connection between these two is what gives this play its drama, and ultimately, its sense of hope despite some sad revelations. 

The production has a consistent look, with Brad Slavik’s set ably representing a long-lived-in suburban house. The costumes by Tracy Newcomb suit the characters well. There’s also fine work from Mike Gasaparich on lighting and Jenn Ciavarella on sound. The pacing is even and somewhat subdued, highlighting the performances, and although the show is on the slower side, it’s never boring. 

For the most part, I would say that The Details is a promising new play that could use a little work on dialogue and plotting, but that features a memorable character relationship that is well highlighting in this production. Its strongest point was clearly the acting, and the two leads are to be commended for creating and maintaining such a believable rapport. I’m curious to see where future revisions may lead this show.

Bill Burke, Jaz Tucker
Photo: Fly North Theatricals

 

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Eclectic “Dollhouse” Challenges and Entertains at ERA

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 5, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Dollhouse by Three Manufactures
Adapted from A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibssen
Directed by Miranda Jagels Félix, Spencer Lawton, and Jimmy Bernatowicz
Equally Represented Arts
July 31, 2025

Frankie Ferrari, Hailey Medrano
Photo: ERA

 

ERA is at it again. This wildly inventive theatre company is re-examining a classic work as usual, with their characteristic experimental lens. This time, they’re doing something new, even for them. With Dollhouse by Three Manufacturers, the challenge is to present a coherent adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House with each act directed by a different person, with notably contrasting approaches. Although there are a few issues with coherency in moments, for the most part I would say that this experiment is a bold, provocative success. 

I will say that this is one of those shows that works best when the audience is somewhat educated about the source material. If you’re never seen A Doll’s House, it would be useful to find a synopsis online and familiarize yourself with the basic plot, because that will make the madcap, high-energy tone of (especially) Act 1–directed by Miranda Jagels Félix–easier to follow. The story of the pampered housewife Nora Helmer (Hailey Medrano) and her doting but oddly paternal husband, Torvald (Frankie Ferrari) is at first framed as something of a fever dream, introduced by a lounge-singer type “Mistress of Ceremonies” (Molly Wennstrom) who sings classic pop and jazz standards before the story begins that work to call attention to the subject matter of the show and add a satirical air, like “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” and others. The characterizations are played as fairly over-the-top, as the central dilemma is introduced–bank manager Torvald is about to fire longtime employee Nils Krogstad (Andrew Bayer), but Krogstad has a secret he shares with Nora involving how she was able to help Torvald during a health crisis, and he Krogstad threatens to expose Nora if she doesn’t help him. Meanwhile, Nora’s old school friend Christine (Victoria Thomas) shows up also looking for a job after being widowed, and Nora struggles with the expectations of what it means to be a wife and mother in a society in which men have all the power. This is a stylized act, where much of what Torvald says is recited by the entire cast together (minus Nora), and much of the staging is symbolic and briskly paced. It’s something of a farce, but with a highly satirical edge. There are laughs, but some of the dialogue can be hard to follow at times, especially during the group recitations.

Act 1, which is somewhat frantic, eventually gives way to Act 2, directed by Spencer Lawton, which slows down to a calmer, more somber pace, for the most part. The characters are played much closer to the “traditional” tone of A Doll’s House, making the story and the emotional weight of the proceedings a bit easier to understand. The cast keeps up the pace and transition well here, and the tone shift works especially well considering that it serves as something of a “rest” between the much more stylized first and third acts while also communicating the story and themes with clarity and emotion.

And then comes Act 3, directed by Jimmy Bernatowicz, which is the most obviously polished and precisely choreographed of the thee parts, in which the story suddenly becomes a fully realized 1950s live sitcom, complete with actual cameras as the story is filmed and projected onto the curtain at The Chapel as the story plays out. The characterizations are a bit broader again, and the sitcom format brings a good deal of laughter, as does the inclusion of live commercials integrated into the plot, as old TV and radio shows often used to do. What’s especially brilliant here is how the commercial narratives are blended with the themes of Nora’s story, particularly toward the conclusion as the commercials come to be about dolls, emphasizing the doll-like existence Nora has endured, and her increasing desire to break out of that. It’s an impeccably staged act, featuring  well-integrated live music (particularly the Buddy Holly classic “True Love Ways”), marvelous special effects, and top-notch performances by the cast. 

As for the cast, everyone is excellent and on-point, adjusting their performances to the tone of the different acts, but also keeping their characters recognizable throughout. Medrano is at turns hilarious, heartbreaking, timid, and bold as Nora, and Ferrari’s Torvald is suitably paternal and frustratingly upbeat until the devastating conclusion. There are also impressive portrayals by Bayer as the insistent Krogstad, Thomas as the somewhat enigmatic Christine, Ross Rubright as the gentle and ailing Dr. Rank, and Morgan Schindler as the family’s nanny/maid Ann-Marie, who is essentially a blend of two characters in the original play. Wennstrom makes for a memorable Mistress of Ceremonies, as well, and all of the players work well with the shifts in tone between the acts, keeping up the energy of the story as the styles change throughout.

The technical qualities of this show are also excellent and memorable, with a strong sense of “dollhouse” theming and and a versatile set by Lucy Cashion and Bernatowicz. There are also fantastic costumes by Meredith LaBounty, dazzling lighting by Jayson Lawshee, and terrific video and A/V work by Joe Taylor, especially in Act 3. 

This is unmistakably an ERA show, with emphasis on satire and critical examination of its source material–here featuring a critique of patriarchy and roles of men and women in society. It’s a new approach from a company that keeps coming up with fascinating new approaches. It may not appeal to all tastes, but I find it fascinating and especially entertaining. It’s worth a look especially if you love experimental theatre. 

Morgan Schindler, Molly Wennstrom, Andrew Bayer
Photo: ERA

Equally Represented Arts is presenting Dollhouse by Three Manufacturers at The Chapel until August 9, 2025

 

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“Austen’s Pride” is An Entertaining, Promising Look at a Famous Author and Story

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 5, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Austen’s Pride: A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs
Directed by Igor Goldin
Choreographed by Lisa Shriver
STAGES St. Louis
July 30, 2025

Dan Hoy, Olivia Hernandez, Delphi Borich
Photo by Phillip Hamer
STAGES St. Louis

The latest offering from STAGES St. Louis is a pre-Broadway showcase performance, the second they’ve done after The Karate Kid three years ago, and at least for me, this effort is even more promising than the last one. I’m admittedly a big Jane Austen fan, having read her novels and seen many of the film, television, and stage adaptations. This latest new musical, though, is more than just an adaptation. Austen’s Pride: A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice, is about Austen herself as much as it is about her most well-known novel. And while there are some aspects that could use a little bit of work, for the most part it’s an intriguing, entertaining showcase for a great cast and excellent melodic score. 

With book, music, and lyrics by Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs, Austen’s Pride starts out on a mostly dark stage, with Jane Austen (Olivia Hernandez) trying to figure out what to write next after the success of her novel Sense and Sensibility. Her devoted sister Cassandra (Dianica Phelan) suggests Jane revisit an old draft of hers, a novel called First Impressions, but Austen isn’t sure she wants to write another love story. Then she starts reading through the story and the characters appear, with Austen making changes as it goes along and reflecting on incidents from her own life which influence the story in various ways. She also interacts directly with the characters at times, especially heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Delphi Borich), as Elizabeth’s story becomes influenced by Austen’s own experiences, and Austen herself becomes affected by the story that seems to have a life of its own.

The Pride and Prejudice story is familiar to many, and all the well-known characters are here, from the lead character Elizabeth to her suitor Mr. Darcy (Dan Hoy), and her whole family, including parents Mr. Bennet (Kevyn Morrow) and Mrs. Bennet (Sally Wilfert), and sisters Jane (Addie Morales), Mary (Sarah Ellis), Kitty (Cali Noack), and Lydia (Kate Fahey). We also meet the various suitors, including the kindly, effusive Mr. Bingley (Cole Thompson), the oafish Mr. Collins (Paul Castree), and the charming but rakish Mr. Wickham (Michael Burrell). Several of the cast members also play other characters as needed, with notable examples being that Wickham’s actor also plays Austen’s former suitor Tom Lefroy, and Mrs. Bennet’s performer also plays the imperious Lady Catherine DeBourgh.

Of course there’s a lot of condensing here, and the blending of Austen’s personal life with the story is easier to follow if you know more about the author’s history. Also, some of the character cuts affect the tone of the story in ways I’m not sure work as well as they should–especially in terms of Lady Catherine, who comes across as even more unreasonable than in the book, since all reference to her daughter Anne has been removed (without even one mention), which makes Lady Catherine’s objections to Darcy’s interest in Elizabeth even more ridiculous than they are in the novel. Also, some characters seem like the writers didn’t always know what to do with them, like Cassandra, who has some excellent moments but also disappears for long stretches to the point where it’s easy to forget she was there in the first place. There’s also little suspense in whether the story will actually be finished, because we know that it was in “real life”, and some of the efforts to add conflict come across as clumsy (especially at the end of Act 1). 

Still, those are issues that can be worked on, and for the most part, Austen’s Pride is an intriguing, thoroughly entertaining show, with a broadly witty sense of humor and a believable connection between Austen and her story, as well as an excellent treatment of the growing relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy. The casting is first-rate, as well, with Hernandez showing excellent presence as Austen, with a bit of a Mary Poppins vibe and marvelous vocals. Borich is also fantastic as Elizabeth, working especially well with Hernandez’s Austen and Hoy’s note-and-book perfect Mr. Darcy. The rest of the cast is also strong, with Phelan making the most of the underwritten role of Cassandra, Morrow and Wilfert memorable as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and all the Bennet sisters being especially well-cast. Special note goes to Ellis, who makes the most of three roles–the stuffy, socially awkward Mary Bennet, the priggish Caroline Bingley, and Elizabeth’s kindly aunt Mrs. Gardiner. Cole Thompson as Mr. Bingley, Castree as both Mr. Collins and Mr. Gardiner, and Burrell as Wickham and Tom Lefroy all give strong turns as well. It’s a strong ensemble all around, with a good deal of energy and enthusiasm in the production numbers and dances choreographed by Lisa Shriver with a fun blend of Regency styles and modern Broadway flair. 

The set and technical aspects of the show are deceptively simple, with little in the way of actual set pieces and a lot being done with lighting and projections. Josh Zangen’s set is notable for its economy, with a few furniture pieces that move on and off as needed, and excellent projected backdrops. Jason Lyons’s lighting adds much to the atmosphere and whimsical quality of much of the story, and Phillip Peglow’s sound is crisp and clear. There’s also excellent work from Emily Rebholz on the marvelously detailed costumes, and by Tommy Kurzman on wig and hair design. The orchestra, led by music director Sheela Ramesh, is in fine form, as well, lending a lush sound to the sweeping new score by Baker and Jacobs. 

Ultimately, there’s much to love about Austen’s Pride, even if aspects of it could stand some revision. Especially for Jane Austen fans, this is a fun, fascinating story. It also works as a great showcase for it’s talented cast, and especially its leads, Hernandez and Borach. It’s a promising show given a memorable staging at STAGES St. Louis.

Cast of Austen’s Pride
Photo by Phillip Hamer
STAGES St. Louis

STAGES St. Louis is presenting Austen’s Pride at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center until August 24, 2025

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