Capsule Reviews 

A Clockwork Orange This stage telling of Anthony Burgess' 1962 novella is enough to make you want to beat your groody in strack. As mounted without a shred of smech by HotCity Theatre, this satire of the lascivious Alex and his close encounter with the pressovie State is so much shoom. We'd like to be shammy and sladky here, but how a production this baddywad, bordering on oozhassny, ever got staged leaves us shriking our gullivers. Performed through May 5 at the ArtLoft Theatre, 1529 Washington Avenue. Tickets are $20 ($15 for students and seniors). Call 314-289-4060 or visit www.hotcitytheatre.org.
— Dennis Brown

The Dance on Widow's Row Reviewed in this issue.

Knives in Hens Reviewed in this issue.

Menopause The Musical Who 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. 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.
— Deanna Jent