Love Story

Theater Carousel The story of a summer romance that leads to hardship & heartache. Closes 4/22. Villanova University - Vasey Hall, 800 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova; 610-519-7474. $23-$25. Crowns A woman moves in with her Southern aunt & is introduced to the role hats play in the local culture. Closes 4/29. Delaware Theatre Company, 200 Water St., Wilmington; Box Office: 302-594-1100. $35. Curse of the Starving Class Dark comedy about a farm family dealing with financial ruin & ruthless debt collectors.

Theater Professional/semi-professional A Reptile Dysfunction Musical comedy. Closes 3/30. The Mask and Wig Club, 310 S Quince St.; Box Office: 215-586-3729. $30; $15 students. Azuka Theatre: Hope Street & Other Lonely Places Five Philadelphians united in loss & love search for answers in the big city. Closes 4/1. First Baptist Church, 123 S. 17th St.; 215-733-0255. www.azukatheatre.org. $22-$27. Brat Productions: Let's Start a War Satirical punk-themed cabaret show about a cocktail party where the kitchen staff are plotting to overthrow the rich.

Shakespeare's plays contain lyrics or references to more than 100 songs. Today, the Bard no doubt would have written Twelfth Night as a musical. That's the sense given by Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre's enchanting production. From its first line - "If music be the food of love, play on" - Fabian Obispo's original music accentuates the melancholic theme in a duke's rejoinder to a fool's question: "Would you rather have a love song or a song of good life?" "A love song. I care not for good life.

FOR ONE, brief shining moment, we Catholics found common ground. It was as solid as the thinnest layer of spring ice, but it was still real. And then, with one carefully-crafted "compromise," President Obama sent us flying back to our separate corners to glare at our enemy siblings. That might sound a bit melodramatic for those who have no understanding of what it means to grow up in the Church of Rome. The only other group of "religionists" who make such a big deal about their heritage are the Jews, and even they have ethnicity to bind them together beyond the dogma.

When I was in my first year in college, Rob Shutler lived across the hall. He was an architecture student and had many fine qualities, but of course what impressed me was he could do a handstand for two minutes, and when we went skiing once, I saw him with my own eyes do a flip off a ski jump. He said his father was from Northfield, Vt., and that's where Rob had also learned to ski so well. I met his dad back then, but he was a busy guy, a three-star general in the Marine Corps.

A mind-twisting cable film and a mind-blowing movie top this week's new DVD releases. The Sunset Limited, Grade B-plus: The film, which originally aired on HBO, is based on the play by Cormac McCarthy. It's an example of how a production can be sparse in setting and action and still be powerful and moving. After a suicide attempt by White (Tommy Lee Jones) is thwarted by Black (Samuel L. Jackson), the two men go to Black's sparse apartment to talk. The entire film is their discussion of life, death, and the existence of God. Their opinions are as much a contrast as their names.

Months after her husband was killed by the Nazis, an emotionally torn Kate Schmid fell in love. Hermann Hoerlin was a tall, rugged mountain climber who helped her through a crisis. But Schmid was Jewish. The man she loved was not. Yet against the backdrop of Nazi Germany, they found a way to marry when their union was forbidden by law. For years, only the bare bones of their story were known to their daughter, Bettina Hoerlin of Chestnut Hill. Then, about eight years ago, she opened a suitcase that had belonged to her parents, long dead.

This Valentine's Day, abandon the obvious gestures (roses, chocolates) in favor of design-conscious gifts that won't wilt or melt. - Caroline Tiger Share something sweet Give your ice cream lover (and her flavor of choice) special attention with Alessi's "Big Love" ice cream bowl and spoon ($56) and "Love" set of ice cream bowls ($64). Available at alessi-shop.com . A piece of his art Design junkies will heart the Kaj watch ($110)

IF CUPID were Catholic, this would never have happened. Saint Joseph's University showed its conservative side yesterday when it prevented a lesbian couple from entering a Valentine's Day contest run by its alumni association. Thanks to an outpouring of support for the two women over Facebook, the decision was later reversed. "Our alma mater . . . told us that we are not really, fully part of the SJU community," Megan Edwards and Katie MacTurk wrote in a Facebook post. "Words cannot express the disappointment and sadness we felt after hearing this.

American TV has been overrun by fantasy shows: We've rarely had as many ghosts, trolls, vampires, werewolves, witches, and warlocks. And we love it! The delicious deluge continues this month with two imports: Lost Girl , a slick, steamy story about a sexy Canadian succubus, and the BBC's superior The Fades , a uniquely terrifying and humorous take on the ghost story. Created by Skins writer Jack Thorne, The Fades premieres Saturday at 9 p.m. on BBC America with a six-episode first season.