Beguiling ‘The Tempest’ Makes A Little Magic in Hale Shakespeare Glen

Beguiling ‘The Tempest’ Makes A Little Magic in Hale Shakespeare Glen

By Lynn Venhaus On a remote island far, far away, a mischievous mix of magic and mayhem mark “The Tempest,” which is the St. Louis... Details
Voices and Visual Elegance Carry OTSL’s ‘The Light in the Piazza’

Voices and Visual Elegance Carry OTSL’s ‘The Light in the Piazza’

by CB Adams Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ production of “The Light in the Piazza” consistently achieves the atmosphere of operatic emotional depth, even if... Details
Disorienting ‘Backrooms’ Is Brilliantly Filmed Liminal Horror Film

Disorienting ‘Backrooms’ Is Brilliantly Filmed Liminal Horror Film

By Alex McPherson A masterpiece of experiential filmmaking that mines palm-sweating anticipation from what’s lurking around the next corner, director Kane Parsons’ “Backrooms” is an... Details
‘Fat Ham’ Flips a Family Tragedy to Free Characters Instead in Black Rep’s Spirited Interpretation

‘Fat Ham’ Flips a Family Tragedy to Free Characters Instead in Black Rep’s Spirited Interpretation

By Lynn Venhaus With a vivacious cast of relatable relatives, The Black Rep delivers a sassy, spirited and sometimes silly “Fat Ham,” which is a... Details
Inde Navarette Joins the Horror Greats in Ruthless Chiller ‘Obsession’

Inde Navarette Joins the Horror Greats in Ruthless Chiller ‘Obsession’

By Alex McPhersonDisappointing in its simplicity yet chock-full of savage set-pieces, and featuring an awe-inspiring performance from Inde Navarette, director Curry Barker’s “Obsession” leaves a... Details
History Repeats Itself in Sergei Loznitsa’s Mordantly Engaging Drama ‘Two Prosecutors’

History Repeats Itself in Sergei Loznitsa’s Mordantly Engaging Drama ‘Two Prosecutors’

By Alex McPherson Measured but pulsing with suspense, Ukrainian writer/director Sergei Loznitsa’s riveting new film “Two Prosecutors” underscores the all-seeing shadow of fascism in 1937... Details
Breathtaking Style Dominates David Lowery’s Latest ‘Mother Mary’

Breathtaking Style Dominates David Lowery’s Latest ‘Mother Mary’

By Alex McPherson Stunning, beguiling, and wholeheartedly its own thing, director David Lowery’s “Mother Mary” is a polarizing experience where pretentiousness is part of the... Details
Music Is Focus In ‘Michael’ Biopic from Jackson Family Perspective

Music Is Focus In ‘Michael’ Biopic from Jackson Family Perspective

By Lynn Venhaus In contemporary biopics, well-known artists are usually presented in a typical template – rags to riches, bumpy roads and triumphs during a... Details
‘Kontinental ’25’ is a Wry Satire of Modern Living from Romania

‘Kontinental ’25’ is a Wry Satire of Modern Living from Romania

By Alex McPherson Sharp, spare, and icy to the touch, director Radu Jude’s latest indictment of modern society, “Kontinental ‘25” confronts complicity and learned helplessness... Details
The Rep’s Brain-Teasing ‘The Enigmatist’ Exhilarates and Entertains Like the Best Game Night Ever

The Rep’s Brain-Teasing ‘The Enigmatist’ Exhilarates and Entertains Like the Best Game Night Ever

By Lynn Venhaus Mesmerizing and masterful, “The Enigmatist” is a mind-blowing, brain-teasing, cleverly constructed blend of magic, puzzles, cryptology, and history. This indelible one-man show... Details