Saturday, April 27, 2024
Come From Away at the Eccles
Friday, April 26, 2024
Challengers
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Abigail
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
How to Train Your Dragon in Concert
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Fiddler on the Roof at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse
The musical Fiddler on the Roof is an old favorite of mine and I honestly don't think I will ever get tired of seeing it (I have seen it so many times I have to stop myself from singing along to every song). Last night I saw the second of three productions of this show that I have scheduled this year at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse and it was delightful. Tevye (Duane Beesley) is a poor Jewish dairyman living in the small village of Anatevka in Tsarist Russia. He and his wife Golde (Logan Peterson) cling to their traditional way of life as a protection from the harsh realities of life until their three oldest daughters, Tzeitel (Bria Snow), Hodel (Candra Young), and Chava (Daphne Dixon), push against these traditions when it is time to find a match. This show features a large ensemble cast and they are utilized very well in the small space, especially in "Tradition," "Sabbath Prayer" (I loved the different groups of families located all over the theater), "Sunrise, Sunset," and "The Rumor" (having the action move around the different areas of the stage as the rumor spreads is really effective). Not only is the ensemble used very well but they do a really good job with the choreography, particularly in "To Life" and in the wedding scene (I always love the bottle dance). There was a tiny little boy who was concentrating so hard on the choreography in "Tradition" and I overheard one of the actors on stage near me whisper, "He did it!" This is why I love community theatre! The main cast is also outstanding. Beesley is much more soft-spoken than other Tevyes that I have seen but this made his version of "Do You Love Me?" with Peterson even more endearing and his version of "Little Bird" even more heartbreaking. Peterson is one of the sassiest Goldes I've seen and her facial expressions are hilarious. Other standouts for me are Carla Lambardo Bambo as Yente, Ethan Snow as Motel, Alex Young as Perchik, and Kelsey Porter as the Fiddler (she is integrated into the story a lot more in this production). My favorite part of the show was The Dream Sequence because Fruma-Sarah (Abbie Webb) suddenly emerges from the middle of Tevye and Golde's bed. I was laughing out loud because that was exactly how I appeared when I played Fruma-Sarah and it brought back so many fun memories (one night a little old man was so shocked when I suddenly appeared that he screamed out loud). The elaborate sets for Tevye's house (interior and exterior) and barn are impressive and I also liked all of the smaller set pieces, such as the village inn, Motel's tailor shop, and the railway station, that are located on the platforms on either side of the stage. I firmly believe that seeing all of the old favorites, like Fiddler on the Roof, when I was young is why I love musical theatre to this day and I really encourage people to take advantage of all of the many opportunities to see community theatre performances in the Salt Lake area. This production runs on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays through June 1 (go here for tickets).
Monday, April 22, 2024
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Timpanogos Community Theater's The Pirates of Penzance
Last year I was so impressed by Timpanogos Community Theater's production of The Sound of Music that I immediately vowed to come back for another show. I finally made good on that promise by seeing The Pirates of Penzance last night and I'm sorry that I waited so long because I really enjoyed myself! It is one of the funniest versions of this comedic operetta that I have ever seen! Frederic (Adam Moore) has reached his 21st birthday and wishes to leave the band of pirates to whom he has been mistakenly apprenticed. After leaving the pirates, Frederic meets Major-General Stanley (Brett Hansen) and his daughters, falls in love with the youngest daughter Mabel (Kyra Fowler), and enlists the Sergeant of Police (Aaron Bone) and his constables to arrest the pirates. Chaos ensues when the Pirate King (Aaron Williams) and Ruth (Vivian Mathias), Frederic's former nursemaid, tell him that he was born during a leap year and, since he has only had five birthdays, he must continue to serve his apprenticeship. The set is quite simple, consisting of a ship, the seaside, and a graveyard (there is also an amusing miniature ship that is used several times), and the costumes are a lot more straightforward than in other productions of this show that I have seen (the Major-General does not even have any medals) but it matters not because the comedy comes from the brilliant staging, choreography, and performances without having to rely on sight gags. I was laughing from beginning to end at the physicality in all of the scenes but my favorites were Frederic and Ruth's interactions "Oh! false one, you have deceiv'd me" when he learns that she is not as beautiful as she has claimed to be, Frederic hiding in plain sight from the daughters in "Climbing over rocky mountains," when the daughters feign disinterest in Frederic during "Oh, is there not one maiden breast" (Ciara Hulet's facial expressions killed me), when the daughters keep moving closer to overhear Frederic and Mabel in "How beautifully blue the sky," when the pirates and daughters dramatically gasp for breath during "I am the very model of a modern Major-General," and when the constables and the pirates hide in plain sight from the Major General in "Hush, hush! not a word." The ensemble, who all sing and dance as pirates, daughters, and constables, is outstanding and so much fun to watch and I also loved Fowler's beautiful rendition of "Poor wand'ring one" and Williams' enthusiastic version of "Oh! better far to live and die." My favorite performance, however, was that of Moore because he is incredibly appealing as Frederic! He has a beautiful voice, especially when he sings "Stay, Fred'ric, stay," "Ah, leave me not to pine," and "Oh, here is love, and here is truth" with Fowler, but his comedic timing coupled with his earnest expression (and rosy cheeks) is enchanting! Hurrah for this production for putting a big smile on my face! It runs at the Valentine Theater on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through May 4 and I highly recommend it (go here for tickets).
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Guitar Celebrations: JIJI Plays Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto
Friday, April 19, 2024
Big Fish at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Shakespeare in Love at West Valley Arts
Last night I went to see the stage adaptation of the movie Shakespeare in Love at the West Valley Performing Arts Center and I absolutely loved it! William Shakespeare (Josh Egbert) has writer's block and the deadline for his new play, which he has promised to both Philip Henslow (Stephen Kerr) and Richard Burbage (Joseph Spear), is fast approaching. He desperately needs inspiration and he finds it when a wealthy merchant's daughter named Viola de Lesseps (Jillian Joy) disguises herself as Thomas Kent in order to fulfill her dream of performing on the stage, which is illegal for women in Elizabethan England, and wins the role of Romeo in his unfinished play. When Will discovers that his talented leading man is really the woman he wooed on a balcony with the help of fellow playwright Kit Marlowe (Colton Ward) and when Viola discovers that Will is really her favorite playwright, they begin a passionate affair which is complicated by the marriage her father has arranged with Lord Wessex (Tyler Roberts). Art imitates life as their doomed love inspires Romeo and Juliet. I think this story is incredibly witty and clever (even if it takes liberties with historical accuracy) and I loved all of the references to Romeo and Juliet and other Shakespeare plays as well as the antics surrounding multiple mistaken identities and the backstage shenanigans at competing theatre companies. Egbert and Joy are outstanding as the leads and have tremendous chemistry with each other. Their performance of the final scene in Romeo and Juliet is absolutely heartbreaking and I had a tear in my eye (especially since it has a double meaning because of their imminent separation). I also really enjoyed the hilarious ensemble cast who portray the actors in Shakespeare's theatre company, especially Eliyah Ghaeini as the over-the-top actor Ned Alleyn who plays Mercutio, Angel Martinez as the actor Nol who plays Benvolio and takes every opportunity to display his prowess for fight choreography, and Sofia Paredes-Kenrick as the actor John Webster who is jealous when Thomas Kent is cast as Romeo. Speaking of choreography, this production features an intricate dance sequence at Viola's ball that is very well done as well as some fast-paced and highly entertaining stage combat. The use of original music, performed by various cast members, adds a lot to the Elizabethan setting as do the elaborate period costumes, particularly Queen Elizabeth's (Sonia Inoa-Rosado Maughan) gown. Finally, I was really impressed with the set, which is comprised of an elevated wooden platform made to look like a theatre, and the lighting design, consisting of a large rose projected on the stage and the outline of Shakespeare's writing projected during key moments. I really loved every aspect of this production and I highly recommend it (go here for tickets). It runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through May 4.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
La Chimera
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Civil War
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA
Friday, April 12, 2024
Bitter Lemon at Plan-B Theatre
I loved Melissa Leilani Larson's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice so I was very excited to see her take on a minor character from Macbeth (one of my favorite Shakespeare plays) in Plan-B Theatre's production of Bitter Lemon last night. It is absolutely brilliant and I loved it just as much as the earlier play. Lady Helen Macduff (Yolanda Stange) has been alone for an indeterminate amount of time in a liminal space between life and the afterlife longing to be reunited with her children. She is suddenly joined by Finlay Macbeth (Bobby Cody), the man she holds responsible for her death and the death of her children, and she is justifiably angry. At first he doesn't remember her or the circumstances of his death but, when his memories do return, they are of their romantic relationship from long ago. As more memories return, they engage in a tense back and forth as they try to figure out why they have both been left in purgatory together and what they can do to escape. As Helen lashes out at Finlay, he blames her for turning him into who he became by deserting him and pushing him into the arms of the ambitious Marion and then he blames her husband Andrew Macduff (I love that all of the characters now have first names) for betraying him before he finally takes responsibility for his actions and begs her to forgive him. It is very intriguing when marginalized characters from literature are reimagined and given some agency and this play presents Lady Macduff as not just a strong character but one that is integral to the whole narrative. Stange is outstanding at portraying her righteous anger and her grief but I also enjoyed seeing her eventually come to the realization that she must forgive her enemy for her own sake (the final moment is so dramatic). Cody plays Macbeth as a charismatic leader who was justified in doing what he did because he believed that would be a better king and it is fascinating to see that facade break down bit by bit as the play progresses. The moment he asks for forgiveness is so affecting. The minimal set, featuring a series of neutral panels as a backdrop and randomly placed stone blocks which are used as seating, makes the subtle changes in the lighting even more dramatic and the sound design, which reminded me of white noise, is quite unsettling. I wish that the costumes were period rather than contemporary but this did not detract from my enjoyment in the least. This is an incredibly powerful and thought-provoking piece about the nature of forgiveness and I highly recommend getting a ticket. It runs in the Studio Theatre at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts through April 28 with Thursday and Friday evening performances and Saturday and Sunday matinee performances (go here).
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Wicked Little Letters
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Jazz vs. Nuggets
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Gone with the Wind
Sunday, April 7, 2024
Of Mice and Men at Parker Theatre
Last night I went to a stage adaptation of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men at the Parker Theatre and I loved seeing this American classic come to life in the very capable hands of this theatre (I have yet to see a performance here that I haven't enjoyed). George Milton (Lucas Charon) and Lennie Small (Brinton M. Wilkins) are migrant workers trying to save money for their own piece of land with a cow, pigs, chickens, and, most importantly, rabbits which George has promised Lennie he can tend. However, Lennie, who is very big and strong but mentally challenged, keeps getting into trouble because of his naive love of everything small and soft. After being run out of their last job, they find work on another ranch near the Salinas River in California and soon discover that many of the inhabitants, including and old-timer named Candy (Brook Robertson) who is forced to part with his dog, Curley's wife (Ashley Slater) who is unhappy in her marriage, and Crooks (Kiirt Banks) who is segregated from the other workers because he is Black, are suffering from a crushing loneliness. Even though George laments the fact that his life would be so much easier without Lennie, he knows that it is this friendship and their dream that keeps him from the same loneliness. Events eventually conspire against them when Lennie is once more tempted by something soft and George loses both his friend and his dream. It is an incredibly tragic story because it is a realistic portrayal of the plight faced by many during the Great Depression and I always find it to be very thought-provoking because the American Dream is still often unattainable for those who are marginalized. This production provides a very sensitive and moving portrayal of these dark themes. Wilkins gives a brilliant performance as Lennie because he is always believable as the character with many subtle bits of business that allude to his diminished capacity, such as looking off in the distance, never making eye contact, and stimming with his fingers. His interactions with Charon are also believable and incredibly touching (I had tears in my eyes during the final scene). I was also very impressed with Robertson, because his response to the death of his dog (which foreshadows future events) is another poignant moment which brought tears to my eyes, and with Slater, because her characterization as Curley's wife is much more sympathetic than I have seen before (she is usually portrayed more coquettishly). I also have to give a shoutout to Apollo, making his stage debut as Candy's dog, because he is very well-behaved and so adorable. I loved the use of Aaron Copland's music, because it is very beautiful and evocative, and I also loved the use of corrugated tin and wood in the sets for the bunkhouse and the barn, because it feels so authentic to the time and place. The entire production is outstanding and I highly recommend taking advantage of this rare opportunity to see one of the great novels of American literature performed on stage. It runs on Fridays and Saturdays through April 27 (go here for tickets).
Saturday, April 6, 2024
The First Omen
Monkey Man
Friday, April 5, 2024
Pretty Woman at the Eccles
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
The Lehman Trilogy at PTC
Last night I went to the new Meldrum Theatre (a really cool venue) for its inaugural production of The Lehman Trilogy and it was an incredible experience, both being in the intimate new space and watching this epic story. In 1844 Henry Lehman (Jeff Talbot) arrives in New York City from Bavaria with the hope of living the American dream. He ends up opening a small fabric and clothing shop in Montgomery, Alabama and is soon joined by his brothers Emanuel (William Connell) and Mayer (Seth Andrew Bridges). From these humble beginnings a vast financial institution known as the Lehman Brothers is established. The narrative spans 164 years and three generations of the Lehman family while chronicling the vicissitudes of capitalism in three acts. In Act I, the first generation of brothers eventually consolidate their shop into a go-between for cotton growers in the South and factory owners in the North until their business is derailed by the Civil War. In Act II, the next generation reinvents the business as an investment banking and commodities trading firm until it is almost destroyed by the stock market crash of 1929. In Act III, the third generation achieves spectacular successes but also devastating losses through speculation until they are forced to declare bankruptcy. What I loved most about this play is that the history of 19th and 20th century America is told through the filter of one family and, even though it sounds like it might be tough to sit through (it is over three hours long with two intermissions), it is fast-paced and exciting. I was never bored! In addition to the three Lehman brothers who emigrate to America, Talbot, Connell, and Bridges also portray their progeny and all of the other characters with whom they interact and the performances are absolutely remarkable (just the stamina involved alone is very impressive because the characters are constantly moving). The actors provide both dialogue and narrative descriptions and I really enjoyed this technique because it seemed like I was watching a book about the Lehmans being brought to life right in front of me. The actors also move the minimal props (suitcases, tables, chairs, bales of cotton, ledgers, etc.) around the stage themselves and I especially liked the evolution of their sign over the years. The costumes change to reflect the prevailing fashion of the time depicted in each act but they also include fun additions for the minor characters (my favorite was the fan used to portray Emanuel's wife). Finally, the intimate theatre, which features a thrust stage, is perfect for this production because it gives the audience a chance to get up close and personal with these characters who had such an impact on history (my seat was on the second row and there were moments when I could have touched the actors). I don't think I have ever seen anything like this on stage before and I cannot recommend it enough! In runs in the new Meldrum Theatre through April 13 (go here for tickets and here for more information about the theatre).
Note: PTC recently announced the 2024-2025 season (Jersey Boys, Prayer for the French Republic, Souvenir, Dial M for Murder, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, A Case for the Existence of God, and Waitress) and I couldn't be more excited! Go here for more information.