Stage Capsule Reviews

Funny Money Ray Cooney's farce, another solid New Theatre show, is about a regular guy making off with illicit cash. This one stars William Christopher, best known as Father Mulcahy from M*A*S*H but hardly known at all for his mysterious work as "Additional Voices" on The Smurfs. How did we miss him? Was there some even-tempered blue minister we've forgotten who'd offer consolation whenever Brainy went off about "this smurfing war"? If you know, please write us, care of this paper. Through Feb. 5 at the New Theatre Restaurant, 9229 Foster in Overland Park, 913-649-7469.

Just Say Yes The TBA Players bring us only a show or so each year, but to their credit, it's always one nobody else is offering. This time it's the American premiere of Jack and Tom Sharkey's comedy Just Say Yes, the story of a self-help author forced to prove that his theories work by going all self-esteem Pygmalion on the biggest loser he can find. Word is that Tom Sharkey — who survives his co-writer brother — plans to fly out for the Friday, Dec. 2, premiere, so try to dress nice, people. Through Dec. 11 at Just Off Broadway Theatre, 3051 Central, 816-444-2459.

Painted Alice After kicking off the 2005 season with a pair of challenging but chilly dramas, the Unicorn lightens up with this William Donnelly comedy about an artist torn between creating for the love of creation and just doing it for the dollars. Then she goes to a wonderland — yeah, it's inspired by that Alice, here all grown and played by the talented Alyson Schacherer, whose crackerjack comic timing was the highlight of this summer's Blink Twice for Her. The Unicorn promises a "high-energy, multimedia production"; all we know is that director Joe Price recently brought us The Cripple of Inishmaan, 2005's best show by far, so it's safe to say that, opening weekend, we're on it like a bonnet. Dec. 2-31 at the Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main, 816-531-7529, ext. 10.

Stuart Little E.B. White's other book gets a loving, faithful treatment from the Coterie. Today's entertainment for kids would jeerily snot all over this story of a little mouse crossing this giant country, but it charms even those who aren't so little. Lessons to be learned: Being small doesn't mean you're unimportant, shows for kids can engage grown-ups, cats can kill you. Beverly Cleary's mouse may have a motorcycle, but White's story crushes her book like a grape. Through Dec. 30 at the Coterie Theatre, Crown Center, 2450 Grand, 816-474-6552.