Capsule Reviews

The Baltimore Waltz Paula Vogel's 80-minute assault on fear tells a surreal tale about a prim elementary school teacher (Michelle Hand) who copes with the impending death of her brother (B. Weller) to AIDS by concocting a fatal virus for herself called Acquired Toilet Disease — ATD, for short. In her bizarre fantasy, brother and sister tour Europe together, living every day with wild abandon and meeting an assortment of goofballs, all performed with relish by Will Ledbetter. Although some of the production seems earthbound, the climax, a dance between the living and the dead, is undeniably moving. Performed by Stray Dog Theatre through March 25 at Clayton High School's Little Theatre, 1 Mark Twain Circle, Clayton. Tickets are $18 ($15 for students and seniors). Call 314-865-1995 or visit www.straydogtheatre.org.
— Dennis Brown

Closer Than Ever Reviewed in this issue.

HamletReviewed in this issue.

Menopause The MusicalWho knew hormone shifts could be so much fun? An energetic cast of four women "of a certain age" sing and dance their way through parodies of popular '60s and '70s songs whose rewritten lyrics tackle night sweats, memory loss and mood swings. Laura Ackerman has great comic timing in her rendition of "Puff the Magic Dragon," while Rosemary Watts has almost too much fun with her ode to sex toys ("You Are My Destiny"). Rochelle Walker does a great Tina Turner impersonation, and Lee Anne Mathews sings a sultry "Tropical Hot Flash." Designed to amuse and empower women who have "gone through the passage," the show ends with the audience joining the cast for a raucous kick-line celebration. Open-ended run at the Playhouse at West Port Plaza, 635 West Port Plaza (second level), Page Avenue and I-270, Maryland Heights. Tickets are $44.50. Call 314-469-7529 or visit www.playhouseatwestport .com.

Woman Before a GlassReviewed in this issue.

Women's MinyanReviewed in this issue.