Sure, best musical: With the passing decades, it becomes ever more clear that Meredith Willson's 1957 romantic comedy about a two-bit thimble rigger of a con man who tries to hornswoggle the good people of River City, Iowa, is an essential American musical. From its very first song, The Music Man challenges convention, challenges its performers, even challenges its audience, obliging us to pay strict attention. The first act, especially, is probably as tightly written as any show in our time. So yes, best musical. But also best temperature, best low humidity, best moon. Best overall outdoor summer theater experience. What a delight it was to sit in Forest Park and rediscover this lovable show from the past — in a staging that at the same time brought something fresh to the mix. Kate Baldwin's Marian the Librarian was no meek soprano. She was a well-rounded character, prim and proper perhaps, who nevertheless made the conscious decision to engage in a brief fling with Harold Hill that she knew would go nowhere. Baldwin's modern Marian was but one of the components that came together in this felicitous evening. And when everything comes together in Forest Park, as it did here, you find yourself wondering why you'd ever want to see a play indoors.
Be More Chill, New Line Theatre
| Oct 2, 2019
The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre
| Sep 30, 2015
Cabaret
| Sep 25, 2014
South Pacific
| Sep 26, 2013
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
| Sep 27, 2012
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
| Sep 22, 2011
Ragtime
| Sep 29, 2010
Oklahoma!
| Sep 24, 2008
A Little Night Music
| Sep 26, 2007
A New Brain
| Sep 27, 2006
Falsettos
| Sep 29, 2004
Falsettos
| Sep 29, 2004
Damn Yankees!
St. Louis Black Repertory Company
| Sep 24, 2003
Damn Yankees!
St. Louis Black Repertory Company
| Sep 24, 2003
Miss Havisham's Fire
| Sep 26, 2001
Miss Havisham's Fire
| Sep 26, 2001