Friday, March 31, 2023
Harvey at the Grand Theatre
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Return to Seoul
Sunday, March 26, 2023
A Good Person
The Lost King
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Thierry Fischer Conducts Bruckner 5
Friday, March 24, 2023
John Wick: Chapter 4
Thursday, March 23, 2023
The Last Russian Doll
My March Book of the Month selection was The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch (the other options were The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner, Weyward by Emilia Hart, The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth, Rootless by Krystle Zarah Appiah, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, and Lone Women by Victor LaValle). I have been defaulting to the thriller for the past several months so I thought it was time to pick a historical novel and this is a good one. In 1991 Rosie (Raisa) and her mother have been living in England since they defected from the Soviet Union in 1977 after her father and sister were brutally murdered. She has always wanted to understand what happened on that fateful day so, when when she finds a cryptic clue about her family's past inside a porcelain doll after her mother's sudden death, she contrives to return to the Soviet Union as a research assistant for a famous author. In 1915 Antonina (Tonya) is trapped in a loveless marriage to a wealthy nobleman in St. Petersburg who treats her like the porcelain doll he had made especially for her. She begins a passionate and scandalous affair with Valentin, one of her husband's workers, at the beginning of the Bolshevik revolution but events conspire to separate them. The narrative alternates between the two timelines as Rosie's investigation leads her to Tonya. I really loved the mystery aspect of this novel because every single clue that Rosie finds leads her to another mystery, just like a nesting Matryoshka doll, and, even though I knew the two storylines would eventually converge, I was completely engaged until the final resolution. As someone who loves Russian history, culture, literature, and music, I was fascinated by all of the historical references to the 1917 revolution, the Russian Civil War, Stalin's purges, the siege of Leningrad during World War II, and the fall of communism. I also loved the use of Russian fairy tales at the beginning of every chapter because they very cleverly inform what is happening in the main plot. All of the characters are interesting and well-developed but I especially enjoyed Tonya's arc because she begins the novel as little more than an ornament without autonomy but she is transformed by events into an incredibly resourceful and resilient woman. She is the perfect personification of Russia itself (beautiful but formidable) and I was enthralled by her journey. This is a beautifully written multi-generational saga set against the backdrop of 20th century Russian history so I literally couldn't help but love it. This is definitely my favorite book of 2023 so far and I highly recommend it!
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Champions
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Matilda at CPT
Both of my sisters, my brother-in-law, my nephew, and I went to see Matilda at CPT last night and we had so much fun. This production features some innovative staging and I am always really appreciative when a show that I have seen several times does something to surprise me. Matilda Wormwood (Charlotte Witt) is a precocious five year old with a penchant for reading, telling stories, and being just a little bit naughty. She is ignored by her mother (Jaycee Harris), an amateur Latin ballroom dancer, and father (Caydin Bell), an unscrupulous used car salesman, and is terrorized by Miss Agatha Trunchbull (J.R. Moore), the former champion in hammer throwing who is now the headmistress of her school. With the help of a sympathetic teacher named Miss Honey (Amanda Frisby) and a story about an Escapologist (James Duncan) and an Acrobat (Keely Parry), Matilda triumphs over the neglectful adults in her life. I was incredibly impressed with the elaborate set because it is very different from the ones I have seen before. It features a large multi-level school made of bricks with barbed wire at the top of the walls, loudspeakers on poles, and a large iron gate (it looks like a cross between a medieval castle and a prison). There is a turntable which is used to bring in set pieces for the Wormwood's house and Miss Honey's classroom with other pieces brought on from the wings. As I mentioned, I really liked the staging of many of the numbers in this production, particularly "Miracle," because it includes the addition of a gospel choir backing up the Doctor (Garret Frazier), "School Song," because it features the use of typography with projections on an interactive chalk board, and "When I Grow Up" (my favorite song in the show), because, in addition to the usual swings, the choreography includes a seesaw, a hopscotch, a jump rope, fishing poles, hula hoops, and bubble blowers which give it a very playful feel. I also really enjoyed "The Smell of Rebellion" and "Revolting Children" because the children in the ensemble are absolutely fantastic! Other crowd favorites were "Loud," because Mrs. Wormwood (Harris is my brother-in-law's niece and we all loved her performance because her facial expressions are hilarious) and her dance partner Rudolpho (Caleb Birth) are completely over the top, and "Chokey Chant," because there is a fun effect involving throwing a child into the chokey. Witt does a great job and her renditions of "Naughty" and "Quiet" are wonderful but I sometimes couldn't hear her during "Escapologist Story." Frisby has a beautiful voice and her version of "My House" is very powerful and moving. However, Moore steals the show as Miss Trunchbull because his performance is a cross between Miss Hannigan and an East German Olympic athlete! I laughed and laughed at all of his antics during "The Hammer" and "The Smell of Rebellion," especially all of his facial expressions and gestures. Miss Trunchbull's costume in this show is probably my favorite of those I've seen for the character and I was also impressed by the attention to detail on the school uniforms worn by the children. So many elements of this show stood out to me as new and exciting and I really enjoyed it! This show runs on the Barlow Main Stage through April 15 (go here for tickets) and I highly recommend it!
Monday, March 20, 2023
The Quiet Girl
Sunday, March 19, 2023
Inside
Saturday, March 18, 2023
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Utah Opera's Rigoletto
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Tuck Everlasting at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse
Last night I went to see Tuck Everlasting, a musical adaptation of the beloved novel by Natalie Babbitt, at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse and I really enjoyed it. Winnie Foster (Jenna Francis) feels trapped in a house where her mother Betsy (Tracie Davies) and her Nana (Juliene Snyder) are in mourning for her dead father and she longs for adventure. One day she sneaks into the woods and meets Jesse Tuck (Jace Fawcett) near a stream. He stops her from taking a drink from the stream and inadvertently reveals that the water has made his family immortal. Jesse is happy to have made a friend but the rest of the Tuck family, including Mae (Hailey Jasper), Angus (Sheldon Cheshire), and Miles (Max Fawcett), worry that their secret will be revealed. Little do they know that the Man in the Yellow Suit (David Hales) has overheard Jesse and has evil plans for the water. Eventually Jesse asks Winnie to drink the water when she turns seventeen but his family warns that being immortal is not as enchanting as it appears. Francis and Fawcett are incredibly endearing as Winnie and Jesse, respectively, and I especially enjoyed their renditions of "Top of the World" and "Seventeen." Some of the performances from the rest of the main cast are definitely better than others but they are all filled with tremendous heart. Throughout most of the show I was really confused as to why there were so many seemingly extraneous people on stage because they often pulled focus from the action. However, this staging made a lot more sense at the end of the show during "The Wheel," where Angus tells Winnie that she doesn't need to live forever she just needs to live, and "The Story of Winnie Foster," which shows the joys and sorrows as Winnie lives out the remainder of her mortal life, because these extra characters are actually revealed to be the people in Winnie's future life who have been shadowing her as she makes the decision of whether to drink the water or not. This is an interesting, but ultimately very effective, choice because it led to several major a-ha moments for me! I also really enjoyed the choreography, especially in "Partner in Crime" where Winnie and Jesse sneak away and go to the fair, the set, which includes a large tree with a stream in front of it in the middle of the stage, and the costumes, particularly the iconic yellow suit. This production is so charming and heartwarming that I couldn't help but love it and I highly recommend it, especially to families! It runs through April 8 and tickets may be purchased here.
Note: I saw this show on Broadway a few years ago and it closed two days later!
Sunday, March 12, 2023
Emma at Parker Theatre
Creed III
Saturday, March 11, 2023
Scream VI
Friday, March 10, 2023
65
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Putting It Together at PTC
I like to call myself a big fan of Stephen Sondheim but the truth of the matter is the only shows that I am really familiar with are West Side Story, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Into the Woods. I have seen A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum but it was a long time ago and I don't remember much (beyond the togas) and I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't seen Sunday in the Park with George, Merrily We Roll Along, A Little Night Music, Follies, Assassins, Anyone Can Whistle, or Company (I will be remedying this very soon). I was, therefore, really excited to see PTC's new production of Putting It Together, a musical revue showcasing the works of Stephen Sondheim, last night because it features many songs from these other shows. A concert consisting of Sondheim's music would be worth the price of admission on its own but there is a loose narrative tying it all together (and a set featuring a luxury penthouse apartment, glamorous costumes, and fun choreography) involving a dinner party with a Husband (Nicholas Rodriguez) and Wife (Judy McLane), who are experiencing marital difficulties, a Young Associate (Brent Thiessen) and His Date (Cayleigh Capaldi), who are awkwardly navigating a new relationship, and an Observer (Tyrick Wiltez Jones), who narrates the goings-on. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between McLane (I absolutely loved her in Next to Normal which is one of my favorite productions at PTC) and Rodriguez in "Country House" from Follies and the harmonies between McLane and Capaldi in "There's Always a Woman" from Anyone Can Whistle because I had never heard those songs before. However, my favorite numbers were McLane's version of "The Ladies Who Lunch" because she just about blew the roof off the theater, Thiessen's heartfelt rendition of "Marry Me A Little," McLane's hilarious take on "Getting Married Today," and the entire cast's incredible performance of "Being Alive," all from Company. The theater was only about 2/3 full last night which is really a shame because it was an amazing evening of music performed by an insanely talented cast! I highly recommend it to everyone (go here for tickets) because those who are fans of Sondheim will love it and those who are not just might become ones after seeing it!
Note: As I mentioned, I will be attending a performance of Company at the Empress Theatre next month and I am even more excited for it after seeing this show!
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
One Fine Morning
All Quiet on the Western Front
Monday, March 6, 2023
RRR
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Dear Evan Hansen at the Eccles
Saturday, March 4, 2023
Dvorak's Symphony No. 5
Friday, March 3, 2023
Go Home Come Back at Plan-B Theatre
I was so excited to see Plan-B Theatre's production of Go Home Come Back in the Studio Theatre at the Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts last night because the playwright is my dear friend (and former colleague) Darryl Stamp. It is a heartwarming and humorous take on second chances and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Will (Calbert Beck) and James (Lonzo Liggins) find themselves in a waiting room of sorts with no explanation of where they are or how they came to be there. There are flashbacks to when Will met his future wife Janice (Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin) and to an awkward encounter between James and his estranged daughter Monica (Marilyn Melissa Salguero) as well as periodic announcements (thanking them for their patience which is, rather amusingly, repeated in Spanish) over an intercom. They are eventually directed to enter to an office where they each meet Llecenia (Kris Wing Peterson), the replacement for the retired St. Peter. It turns out that both Will and James have recently died but, in a new promotion called "Go home come back," they have each been given the opportunity to go home for an hour before they return for permanent placement. Will uses his time to make sure Janice knows how much he loves her while James attempts to make amends for being an absentee father to Monica. There is a thought-provoking twist when they once again find themselves back in the waiting room. I loved so many things about this show! Heaven is portrayed as a corporation and it is a lot of fun, especially all of the references to marketing, but I also found Llecenia's final monologue about loving her job because of all of the happy reunions she gets to witness to be especially comforting after recently losing both of my parents. I also found it hilarious that, despite some questionable behavior in his past, Will is granted a place in Heaven because he taught middle school for ten years and I found it incredibly poignant that the ne'er-do-well James is offered a chance at redemption. The cast is wonderful (I was particularly impressed with the chemistry between Beck and Darby-Duffin), the simple set in the intimate space is highly effective, and the lighting is very dramatic (especially the pillar of light as the characters move from the waiting room to the office). This is such a lovely play (my audience responded very favorably) and I would definitely recommend getting a ticket but, unfortunately, all of the remaining performances are sold out!
Note: Darryl also curated a playlist of music for the show which can be heard before it begins. I especially liked "Once in a Lifetime" by the Talking Heads.