Driven to ...

If only pills really were little buttons filled with magic cures and all of the answers we seek, then life certainly would be less complicated. Though the colorful capsules can work to relieve a headache or provide a bit of focus to an unfocused mind, they might not be the lone remedy to all that ails us -- or perhaps they are every now and again. Who really knows? Doctors do their best to guide the less learned, but sometimes it just comes down to opinion, and everyone's got one. No one understands this better than Jesse's parents. Their nine-year-old son seemingly has no natural ability to take it down a notch, and they just want to do what's best for their kiddo, and for the family unit. Distracted, a play by Lisa Loomer, tells this family's story, which certainly is bound to hit home with lots of parents, and it ought to resonate with friends of parents, neighbors and community members alike. Just like life, the poignant play is sometimes funny and sometimes contemplative, so get ready for a bit of a ride. Stray Dog Theatre stages Distracted at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (February 3 through 19) at the Tower Grove Abbey (2336 Tennessee Avenue; www.straydogtheatre.org); there's an additional 2 p.m. show on the final day of the run. Tickets cost $18 to $20 (at 314-865-1995), and feel free to bring along some canned goods to donate to the St. Louis Area Foodbank.
Thursdays-Saturdays. Starts: Feb. 3. Continues through Feb. 19, 2011