St. Louis Theater Capsules

The Faculty Room Fontbonne University alums want to help raise money for the undergrads' trip to the American College Theatre Festival. Rather than put on a bake sale or car wash, the grads are staging a play. Nifty idea. As the title suggests, Bridget Carpenter's very dark comedy is set in the faculty lounge of a high school no one should have to attend. The action focuses on three teachers: English (Robert A. Mitchell), drama (Bess Moynihan) and history (Craig Hinders). As you might expect, lots of secrets get revealed by evening's end. But in a setting where the professors are more infantile than the students, there's nothing in the preceding two and one-half hours to justify the play's final line: "Everything's gonna be OK." Presented by Fontbonne University Performing Arts Alumni through August 17 at the Fine Arts Center Theater, 6800 Wydown Boulevard, Clayton. Tickets are $8 ($5 for students and seniors). Call 314-889-1425. — Dennis Brown