This is an intellectual vaudeville that uses some songs, lots of supporting music, even a casual dance or two to augment its witty examination of serious ideas. So "The History Boys" is right up director Alan Patrick Kenny’s alley. And what a scampering pleasure he makes of it, raucous scene after raucous scene, right up to a powerful closing moment when the boys turn “Bye, Bye Blackbird” into a singularly appropriate dirge.   

"The History Boys" makes it four in a row for wunderkind Alan Patrick Kenny of New Stage Collective. Four less similar items are difficult to imagine. Now comes the roistering local premiere of the Alan Bennett play that took six 2006 Tony Awards, including Best Play. Thursday-Sunday through Nov. 16.  

For his handsome, new, close-focused production of Hamlet at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC), Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips has distilled and intensified the drama’s stark internals, stripping away affairs of state, concentrating on family conflict and reducing the running time to about three hours (four is the norm).  

For his handsome, new, close-focused production of Hamlet at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC), Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips has distilled and intensified the drama’s stark internals, stripping away affairs of state, concentrating on family conflict and reducing the running time to about three hours (four is the norm). This isn’t a Hamlet for all time, but it’s dandy for Halloween. Thursday-Sunday through Nov. 16.  

The estimably able Michael Shooner assays the role in New Edgecliff Theatre's production. His Willy is a hard-edged, hammering bully blinded by his own shoeshine. He ignores an adoring wife. He pumps his sons full of delusions while neglecting to ground them with a moral compass.  

When Reefer Madness: The Musical is cooking, it cooks. Know Theatre is kick-starting its season with a rowdy, just-for-the-hell-of-it musical that decries (wink, wink) the evils of smoking marijuana. Runs through Nov. 14 at the Know Theatre.  

When Reefer Madness: The Musical is cooking, it cooks. Know Theatre is kick-starting its season with a rowdy, just-for-the-hell-of-it musical that decries (wink, wink) the evils of smoking marijuana. Review by Tom McElfresh. 8 p.m. tonight.   

Cincinnati’s Showboat Majestic, owned by the city and operated by Landmark Productions, is 85 years old. It first floated out from an upriver boatyard on the spring rise in 1923.   

It's 15th anniversary time at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and they're launching the celebration with a classic more recent than Will's best stuff -- that being Peter Shaffer's Tony-winning 1980 comedy-drama "Amadeus." They've made quite a stylish affair of it with dozens of sumptuous costumes glittering on a grand set with multiple white and gilt arches that imply Imperial Vienna.  

New Stage Collective has opened its eight-play 2008-09 season with another dazzler, the regional premiere of Conor McPherson's 2006 Tony nominee, "Shining City." Prediction: When CEA ballots are assembled next July, this show likely will be in the running for "outstanding local premiere" and Randy Lee Bailey certainly will be nominated for his outstanding performance.