Washington University South Campus Theatre
6501 Clayton Road
Clayton, MO 63105
8:00 p.m. every Thu., Fri., Sat. until June 20
Price: $15-$25Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera opens with a jaunty song about an unrepentant murderer and ends with the bad guys winning. Why? Because if you’re going to satirize both opera and a corrupt society, you go all the way. Macheath is our charming killer, and he’s currently toying with Polly Peachum’s tender affections. Mr. Peachum, the king of the beggars, isn’t happy with his daughter’s taste in men and plans to set up Macheath for arrest. Mr. Peachum doesn’t know, however, that the chief of police is Macheath’s bosom friend. Crooked cops, murderers getting away with murder and backstabbers getting stabbed — it’s all very familiar to modern audiences. Not bad for a musical written in 1928. New Line Theatre closes out its season with what is arguably (there is no argument) the best musical of all time.
The Threepenny Opera is performed at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (May 28 through June 20) at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (6501 Clayton Road; 314-534-1111 or http://www.newlinetheatre.com). Tickets are $15 to $25.
PAUL FRISWOLD
Luke Steingruby 