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In the Spotlight: No socks, no sex

Newly engaged artist Arthur should be walking on air. But as a fetishist who's missing his favorite footwear, he's in a quandary.

So begins "Psychopathia Sexualis," a comedy revolving around an anxious soon-to-be groom, his wealthy socialite fiancee and his father's argyle socks.

Only within proximity to the socks is Arthur able to make love. However, in an unorthodox therapeutic move, his psychiatrist snares the potent pair.

As Arthur's wedding night to Texas tart Lucille approaches, he turns to his friend and best man Howard to help snatch back the socks from Dr. Block.

When Howard fails to retrieve the goods, Lucille goes toe-to-toe with the sneaky shrink, using common sense and a sharp wit tempered by a Texas twang.

"Psychopathia Sexualis" was written by John Patrick Shanley, who also penned "Doubt: a parable."

The CitiLites production is directed by Marsha Hollander Parker, and features Sarah Cannon, Tom Lehmann, Stephen Peirick, Susan Arnold-Marks and Michael Juncal.

Nancy Fowler Larson regularly writes about theater for the St. Louis Beacon, where this article originally appeared.

Nancy is a veteran journalist whose career spans television, radio, print and online media. Her passions include the arts and social justice, and she particularly delights in the stories of people living and working in that intersection.