‘Treasure’ Never Connects In The Way It Sets Out to Achieve

‘Treasure’ Never Connects In The Way It Sets Out to Achieve

By Lynn VenhausAlternating light humor with traumatic memories, “Treasure” never really comes together as an effective homeland revisit by a Holocaust survivor and his well-meaning... Details
Albion Theatre’s ‘Woman in Mind’ Vividly Contrasts Fantasy Life with Harsh Realism in an Acting Showcase

Albion Theatre’s ‘Woman in Mind’ Vividly Contrasts Fantasy Life with Harsh Realism in an Acting Showcase

By Lynn Venhaus Something is noticeably off-kilter as “Woman in Mind” embarks on an exploration of mental illness, an unusual dramedy from one of England’s... Details
While Not As Innovative as Original, ‘Inside Out 2’ Is A Clever Revisit

While Not As Innovative as Original, ‘Inside Out 2’ Is A Clever Revisit

By Lynn VenhausNearly 10 years after Pixar Animation Studios raised the bar again with a mind-bending and rib-tickling “Inside Out,” which became an instant classic,... Details
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