Hie thee to the Boo Cat Club. Carrie Houk, artistic director of Sudden View Productions, has brought us a rarely-produced play of the very young Tennessee Williams, on the very stage where his work was probably first put on the boards. "Stairs to the Roof" is clearly an early work, romantic and dreamy and with some rough edges. But the language clearly shows his hand, elegant despite its occasional wandering.
Nevertheless, it's a worthwhile evening – and if you want to see it, get a move on; this is its final weekend. Fine performances by Paul Cereghino and Em Piro as the young married guy who's an office drone and the girl he meets, in the leads, for instance. Smaller roles for the wonderfully glowering Peter Mayer and the winsome Bob Harvey charm.
In the midst of this, there's a musical score by Henry Palkes and dancers. It almost becomes magical realism, especially when one takes into account the remarkable set by Marcel Meyer, who not only doubled on costumes, he tripled with choreography. Houck and the production director Fred Abrahamse have brought together some fascinating elements.
And then there's the building itself. Circa 1908 and originally the St. Louis Artists Guild, it's fascinating, although way not wheelchair accessible, unfortunately, unless I missed a sign and ramps to be whisked out. This is one of those structures that one drives by, thinking I wonder what that was. Now you can explore. Parking is on a lighted and monitored lot just north of the building, behind the church.
Tonight, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m.
Stairs to the Roof
Sudden View Productions
Boo Cat Club
812 N. Union Blvd.