Young Voices, Seasoned Hands in ‘Joshua’s Boots’ from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and COCA

Young Voices, Seasoned Hands in ‘Joshua’s Boots’ from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and COCA

By CB Adams There’s swagger aplenty in “Joshua’s Boots,” along with a cattle stampede, a lynching and the complicated business of growing up Black in... Details
Virtuoso Jacob Flekier Elevates Alex Edelman’s ‘Just For Us’ at New Jewish

Virtuoso Jacob Flekier Elevates Alex Edelman’s ‘Just For Us’ at New Jewish

By Lynn Venhaus A virtuoso performance by Jacob Flekier elevates funny and fearless comic Alex Edelman’s remarkable gift for storytelling to engage, charm, amuse and... Details
Dull, Slow, Dreary, and Drippy ‘Verity’ Is Unconvincing Absurd Thriller

Dull, Slow, Dreary, and Drippy ‘Verity’ Is Unconvincing Absurd Thriller

By Lynn Venhaus Beware the unreliable narrator(s). Not giving any spoilers away, but “Verity” is turgid trash, and toys with truth, trust and too many... Details
Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis Lets the Secrets Speak in ‘Appropriate’

Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis Lets the Secrets Speak in ‘Appropriate’

By CB Adams Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis has lavished Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ “Appropriate” with an extraordinary amount of artistry, care and, yes, love. Director Benny... Details
Brad Pitt’s Brutal Buddy Survival Tale ‘Heart of the Beast’ Melts Hearts

Brad Pitt’s Brutal Buddy Survival Tale ‘Heart of the Beast’ Melts Hearts

By Lynn Venhaus A heart-tugging unbreakable bond between a man and his best friend, a German Shepherd, gives “Heart of the Beast” its sincere emotional... Details
Family Confronts Past and Present in TWSTL’s Explosive ‘Appropriate’

Family Confronts Past and Present in TWSTL’s Explosive ‘Appropriate’

By Lynn Venhaus With its complex characters, fractured family dynamic and multi-layered storyline, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ explosive drama “Appropriate” has much to unpack. At their peak,... Details
Love and Sisterhood Shine in Black Rep’s Glorious ‘The Color Purple’

Love and Sisterhood Shine in Black Rep’s Glorious ‘The Color Purple’

By Lynn Venhaus A story of uncommon courage and grace while facing deeply rooted cruelty and oppression, “The Color Purple” is a momentous achievement for... Details
Ethan Hawke Steadies Old-Fashioned Action Adventure ‘The Weight’

Ethan Hawke Steadies Old-Fashioned Action Adventure ‘The Weight’

By Alex McPherson Bringing to mind a range of influences including “The Wages of Fear,” but never fully capitalizing on the intensity of its premise,... Details
‘Chronovisor’ Is A Stunning, Genre-Bending Occult Sci-Fi Mystery

‘Chronovisor’ Is A Stunning, Genre-Bending Occult Sci-Fi Mystery

By Alex McPherson A quietly bananas experience dripping in studious authenticity and a passion for research, directors Kevin Walker and Jack Auen’s “Chronovisor” provides a... Details
Taut Tensions in Edgy Relationship Drama ‘The Mercy Seat’ at STLAS

Taut Tensions in Edgy Relationship Drama ‘The Mercy Seat’ at STLAS

By Lynn Venhaus Messy and unflinching, “The Mercy Seat” is a complicated relationship play between two New Yorkers in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11,... Details