Ambition Facing West, Thunder and Lightning Ensemble, through June 24. Anthony Clarvoe’s saga of eager children and ambivalent parents pursuing new frontiers makes for riveting drama in this fledgling company’s auspicious second production. MSB
The Boy Detective Fails, House Theatre, through July 1. The House shows it can play romantic as well as raucous in this sweet story of a whiz-kid sleuth facing the mysteries of adulthood. Experience the great string trio and harpsichord score, played live. MSB
Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Goodman Theatre, through June 25. It’s an imperfect play about an upward-bound but fragile Negro family in 1950 New York, told with high style, bountiful humor and dazzling performances. Great character writing and great acting abound. JA
Sweet Smell of Success, Circle Theatre, through June 25. A fine cast masters Marvin Hamlisch’s demanding jazz score in this musical version of the 195’s noir movie about a young press agent squeezed by a slimy, powerful gossip columnist. JA
—By Abarbanel and Barnidge