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St. Louis Shakespeare's off-season company, Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre, wowed us last year with their sensitive interpretation of K.I.S.S. Meets The Phantom of the Park. In fact, they have been wowing us each and every Spring since 1996 with sensitive interpretations other time-burnished classics including Glen or Glenda, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Reefer Madness.
With all due respect to Tolkein -- and Peter Jackson -- I think this is the version of Lord of the Rings we've all been waiting for. It opens tonight at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar, with two shows nightly at 8 and 10 p.m. Tix are $15, $10 for students and seniors; they can be had through Metrotix. They've added another weekend to the run, through May 9. But oh, hobbitses, even there's a long way to go, yet, it will be gone before you knows it. --Stefene Russell