Stage Capsule Reviews

King Henry V Under director Sidonie Garrett, this show is the tightest, most exciting production I've seen at the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival — crisp in its action, plush in its pageantry and all aclang with speeches and swordplay, with a fine brace of actors taking hacks at the most ringing martial poetry in the language. But, like always, the park itself is a distraction, and everything comes out simple, including too many speeches from Henry (Nathan Darrow). Responding uncritically, we applaud a war of choice and mistake Henry's diplomatic wooing of a French princess whom he's never met (the wonderful Ingrid Andrea Geurtsen) as true love. We come not to contend with great art but to dip our toes in it. Through July 16 at Southmoreland Park, 47th Street and Oak, 816-531-7728. Reviewed in our June 29 issue.Menopause, the Musical Let's see: hot flash strife, Lot's new wife —what else rhymes with change of life? Find out when Kansas City's cheeriest theater, the American Heartland, makes penance for last month's god-awful Duck Hunter Shoots Angelby reviving its well-received 2004 hit about women's lives after 40. The Heartland has scheduled a long run for the popular show — girls born this week will be able to identify with it before it closes. Through Oct. 29 at the American Heartland Theatre at Crown Center, 2450 Grand, 816-842-9999.

Tick, Tick ... Boom! Thin but engaging, this autobiographical musical by Rentcomposer Jonathon Larson is an all-singing-and-dancing portrait of the artist hitting 30 and feeling sorry for himself. The story is insular, and not all the songs register, but fine performances elevate everything. As Jon, John-Michael Zuerlein brings a shrugging charisma to a character that could seem self-involved, and Sarah Crawford and Tim Scott shine as a host of supporting characters. And the band comes as close as musical theater can to actually rocking without sounding like Meat Loaf. It's all proof that, with time, experience and a willingness to seek inspiration outside his own life, Larson might have become as great as Rent fans proclaim him. Through July 16 at the Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main, 816-531-7529, ext. 10. Reviewed in our June 22 issue.