Ch-ch-changes!

Apparently this business of love has been troubling humanity for millennia. Ovid tackled the essence of love — the ability to change one's inner self to better match a loved one's desires — in his Metamorphoses, a cycle of stories still familiar after almost 2,000 years. Narcissus' fatal self-involvement, Midas' greed and Phaeton's desire to assume his father's role are stories familiar, if only in passing, to us witty gentleman scholars. Mary Zimmerman adapted ten of Ovid's myths for the modern stage, blending the ancient tales with updated language and dashes of humor to create a compelling piece of storytelling that examines that essential mystery — what makes us change for someone else? Zimmerman's adaptation is also noteworthy for a dramatic piece of scenery, a large pool of water that dominates the stage and provides visual and thematic focus for the tales. St. Louis Shakespeare presents Zimmerman's Metamorphoses, complete with that mysterious body of water, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday (July 21 through 30) at the Grandel Theatre (3610 Grandel Square; 314-361-5664 or www.stlshakespeare.org). Tickets are $15 to $22.
Fridays-Sundays. Starts: July 21. Continues through July 30