Ann Lemons Pollack
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Mamma Mia
A theatrical success story like few others, "Mamma Mia" made a triumphant return to St. Louis last night with a fast-paced, charming production that displayed its usual fine song and dance, but also offered a script and action that rapidly passed risque and nestled next to ribald on a number of occasions. It will run
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Why Torture Is Wrong and the People That Love Them
Playwrights' minds are a little off center. Christopher Durang's is closer to the outside edge, and he happily takes large-caliber ammunition to arguments and diatribes about patriotism, terrorism, butterflies, marriage, motherhood and a host of other topics. Dysfunctional people are his favorite kind, and he lines up a goodly number for "Why Torture Is Wrong
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The Diary of Anne Frank
Anne Frank was 13 years old in June, 1942, when she and her family went into hiding in an attic space in an office building in Amsterdam. They were hiding from the Nazis who had conquered the Netherlands and were busy putting Jews to death, as they did in all the countries they overran. The
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Speech and Debate
High school students trying to be funny is practically a definition of "sophomoric humor," and there's an awful lot of that in "Speech and Debate," a production of the Stray Dog Theatre affiliate, [insert name here] Theatre Project. The satiric comedy, by Stephen Karam, opened last night at Tower Grove Abbey and will run through
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35 Shots of Rum
Two relatives. Four friends. All neighbors in Paris in a charming, convoluted tale beautifully and mysteriously directed by Claire Denis, who shares the screenplay credit with Jean-Pol Fargeau. Agnes Godard's cinematography makes the strange tale more of a visual treat. Lionel (Alex Descas), an African-born driver of a commuter train (think Metro in St. Louis)
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Tyne Daly
She owns a Tony and six Emmys, and she's just 10 days ahead of her 64th birthday, but Tyne Daly is out among 'em, wearing bright red, high-heeled pumps and showing a splendid repertoire during her bright, tuneful and well-received cabaret show, a visit she explained by saying, that as a career reaches a certain
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Cafe Affton Sports Grill & Bar
Everyone needs a lunch place, even if it's dinner time. And St. Louis has a lot of little neighborhood spots that attract mostly regulars, but strangers, too. We always enjoy finding such places, whether locally or on the road. What we want is food that's better than average, pleasant service and some good people
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Steel Magnolias
When barbed wit, well-wrapped in Southern charm, is the order of the day, as in the first act of "Steel Magnolias," the excellent cast rocks. In the second act, however, when it's time to bring forth some tears, predictability reigns and begins to take its toll. Overall, however, Robert Harling's play is worthy entertainment, even
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Police, Adjective
Combining a detective story with political philosophy and a dictionary makes "Police, Adjective," a delightful motion-picture experience. The fascinating, low-key film from Romanian writer-director Corneliu Porumboiu uses its slow pace and interesting camera work to examine the police world in Eastern Europe in clinical detail, with the dictionary as a vital prop. Like many European
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Chez Leon
Is it the old Chez Leon? Well, yes and no. How much has the move from the quiet end of the Euclid strip to Clayton's main thoroughfare affected the neighborhood bistro? Is it the same group of diners? Who's in the kitchen and has the menu changed? Here's what we found at the new digs