Merry Ensemble Enlivens Shakespeare’s Frisky Frolic ‘As You Like It’

Merry Ensemble Enlivens Shakespeare’s Frisky Frolic ‘As You Like It’

By Lynn Venhaus Need a vacation? Escape to Forest Park’s Shakespeare Glen for an idyllic summer treat, for “As You Like It” is a robust,... Details
‘Dracula’ Musical Embraces the Myth’s Mystery and the Macabre

‘Dracula’ Musical Embraces the Myth’s Mystery and the Macabre

By Lynn Venhaus The children of the night are making some lusty music in the musical “Dracula,” a different take on the gothic horror classic... Details
Stages St. Louis’ ‘Steel Magnolias’ Effusive In Heart and Humor

Stages St. Louis’ ‘Steel Magnolias’ Effusive In Heart and Humor

By Lynn VenhausWith its Dream Team of actresses eliciting all the feels, a sterling “Steel Magnolias” is a warm and wry reminder about the connective... Details
Opera Theatre Renders A Beautifully Heartfelt ‘La Boheme’

Opera Theatre Renders A Beautifully Heartfelt ‘La Boheme’

By CB Adams I shouldn’t admit this, but during the intermission at opening night of Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ production of “La Bohème,” I... Details
Comical Family Dynamics Mark New Jewish’s Heartfelt ‘We All Fall Down’

Comical Family Dynamics Mark New Jewish’s Heartfelt ‘We All Fall Down’

By Lynn Venhaus Whether you have a family that always puts the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional or is going through a temporary rough patch, you will... Details
Sparks Fly Between Two Great Actors, But ‘The Judge’ Is Over-Stuffed

Sparks Fly Between Two Great Actors, But ‘The Judge’ Is Over-Stuffed

Editor's note: This review originally appeared in the Belleville News-Democrat on Oct. 10, 2010. We are running this review because of its resurgence streaming on... Details
Opera Theatre’s ‘Barber of Seville’ Dazzles With Spirited Melodies and Comedic Brilliance

Opera Theatre’s ‘Barber of Seville’ Dazzles With Spirited Melodies and Comedic Brilliance

By CB Adams The poppy, exuberant experience of Opera Theatre of St. Louis’s production of “The Barber of Seville” begins well before the opening notes... Details
Stunts Dazzle, Story Fizzles In Grisly ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ Prequel

Stunts Dazzle, Story Fizzles In Grisly ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ Prequel

By Lynn Venhaus Another thunderous full-throttle fever dream from visionary filmmaker George Miller, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” repetitively smashes and crashes a megaton of... Details
‘I Saw the TV Glow’ Is a Singular, Hypnotically Engaging Look at Identity and Loneliness

‘I Saw the TV Glow’ Is a Singular, Hypnotically Engaging Look at Identity and Loneliness

By Alex McPherson Director Jane Schoenbrun’s “I Saw the TV Glow” is a dreamlike, thought-provoking, and emotionally gutting experience that’s at once personal and universal... Details
Imaginative ‘IF’ Misses Mark to Spark Magic Because of Darker Themes

Imaginative ‘IF’ Misses Mark to Spark Magic Because of Darker Themes

By Lynn VenhausOn the surface, “IF” looks warm and fuzzy, a relatable story about the power of imagination and how it affects our childhoods. And... Details