Theater That Makes You Think

If you live in St. Louis, go see this show. The script is terrific.

But see this one first. The acting is stupendous. And the script in this show is like nothing I've ever seen before on the stage: a show entirely performed in monologues, from three different perspectives, with absolutely no interaction among the actors. This is not an easy thing to pull off.

I always like shows that make you think, rather than shows that merely entertain, and both these pieces are worth a watch, because they do both.

When Legally Blonde opens on Broadway, do you think it's going to spur a lot of deep thought?

***

This spring, I saw two broadway shows in one day in New York. I only mention this because neither show, by a long shot, is better than the top shows I've seen in St. Louis during this time.

Dirty Rotten Scoundels was fun enough, but the performance we were at was one of the technically sloppiest shows I've ever seen. At one point, they had to stop the performance. Moreover, at some points, the actors seemed to be delighting themselves ... more than they were delighting me. Sort of like those morning radio DJ's who are laughing more at their own jokes than you know anybody in the audience is.

The second show we saw was 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Again, enjoyable to watch, but the minute the show is over, you're not going to give this show any more thought. It's like waffles for breakfast: It won't stick with you very long.

***

My whole point in this, if I have a point, is that you don't need to go to New York to see good theater. Regional theater and local professional companies can deliver the goods. (And season tickets at either of the companies I link to above are cheaper than a pair of seats to any single Broadway show.)

So support the arts locally!

And especially so the shows that are based on original and challenging scripts, like The Pillowman and Molly Sweeney, and not rewarmed ideas based on old movies.