Vengeance

Last night I finally got myself to the Broadway to see Vengeance and I think it is incredibly thought-provoking.  Ben Manalowitz (B.J. Novak) is a writer for the New Yorker who aspires to have a podcast to use as a platform for expressing his opinion on the cultural divide in America.  One night he receives a phone call from Ty Shaw (Boyd Holbrook) informing him that his sister Abilene (Lio Tipton) has died of a drug overdose while at a wild party.  Ben only hooked up with Abilene a couple of times but Ty is under the impression that they were much closer and insists that he come to her funeral in West Texas.  He reluctantly agrees and meets Abilene's family, including her mother Sharon (J. Smith-Cameron), sisters Paris (Isabella Amara) and Kansas City (Dove Cameron), brother Mason (Elli Abrams Beckel), and grandmother Carole (Louanne Stephens), who all think he is Abilene's boyfriend.  Ty asks Ben to help him get vengeance against Sancholo (Zach Villa), the man he believes is responsible for Abilene's death, but Ben thinks that Ty is creating a conspiracy because the family can't bear to accept that Abilene turned to drugs because of the hopelessness of her life.  He thinks this might be a great subject for a podcast and his producer Eloise (Issa Rae) agrees.  He stays in West Texas investigating Abilene's death and recording content for the podcast but he ends up discovering more than he bargained for.  This is a compelling murder mystery, with a resolution that I did not see coming, but it is also a razor sharp bit of social commentary.  Writer and director Novak explores quite a few thought-provoking ideas, such as the cultural divide between the red and blue states, exploitation for the sake of content, and the opioid crisis, but sometimes these ideas become a bit unwieldy.  The dialogue is highly amusing, especially in an opening scene featuring a cameo by John Mayer (who is essentially playing himself), and I laughed out loud during an extended joke at a rodeo.  Novak is great, even if he doesn't quite sell the idea that he is a player, and Ashton Kutcher gives one of the best performances I've seen from him as a record producer.  This dark comedy is very entertaining and I definitely recommend it.

A Murder is Announced at CPT

I had never been to Leishman Hall (the black box theatre at CPT) before but I can't resist an Agatha Christie murder mystery so I went to a production of A Murder is Announced last night. I really enjoyed the intimate theatre space but this particular show was a bit disappointing. An advertisement in a newspaper announces that a murder will be committed at a boarding house owned by Letitia "Letty" Blacklock (Marina Maxfield) on October 13 at 6:30 pm. Her guests, including Dora "Bunny" Bunner (Hillary McChesney), Patrick Simmons (Blake London), Julia Simmons (Katie Plott), Phillipa Haymes (Laryn Welch), Mrs. Swettenham (Kiersten Honaker), and Edmund Swettenham (Trevor Elmer), conclude that it must be a joke but her Russian cook Mitzi (Kryslin McBride) believes that she will be the victim for political reasons. At the appointed time the lights go out and a mysterious man ends up dead. Inspector Craddock (James Boley) and Sergeant Mellors (Chad N. Wilburn) investigate and learn that everyone involved is hiding something but, after another murder, it takes Miss Marple (Wanda Copier) to find the killer. Even though I have read the book (I read all of Agatha Christie's books when I was a teenager), I found the story to be really complicated because most of the characters have alternate identities and many pertinent events have already happened and require a lot of exposition. In addition, there are a lot of pacing issues that make it hard to pay as much attention as you need to in order to pick up on all of the clues. The action gets really bogged down, especially during the interrogation of all of the suspects, and even the revelation of the murderer is a bit anticlimactic. The performances are fine but McBride was my favorite because she steals every scene she is in with her dramatic and over the top gestures. I laughed out loud every time she entered the room! I absolutely loved the set featuring heavy Victorian furniture and lots of the fussy details that you would find in an English drawing room and I was very impressed with the sheer number of period costumes (I loved Miss Marple's hats). I usually love seeing stage adaptations of Agatha Christie's books (go here and here) but this felt off to me. I will, however, be back to see another production at Leishman Hall!  This show runs until August 20 (go here for tickets).

The Sound of Music at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre

I had never been to the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre before so I was really excited to see The Sound of Music last night (even though it was my third production of this musical this year). I ended up enjoying the show, and the venue, immensely! The story about an aspiring nun named Maria (Anya Wilson) who is sent to care for the children of Captain von Trapp (James Duncan) is one that I can see over and over again but I loved the addition of so many fun details in this particular version. Maria comes to the stage from the middle aisle during "The Sound of Music" (which is absolutely perfect because the audience is sitting on a hill). Sister Berthe (Tricia Christensen) and Sister Margaretta (Hannah Thomas) physically argue with each other during "Maria." Maria and the Mother Abbess (Sarah Neipp) are very playful in "My Favorite Things." The von Trapp children, Liesl (Savannah Carrasco), Friedrich (Cole Hixson), Louisa (Addie Armstrong), Kurt (Koen Greene), Brigitta (Hannah White), Marta (Gemma Sanders), and Gretl (Naomi Sharette), have a great rapport with Maria in "Do-Re-Mi" and "The Lonely Goatherd," especially when they imitate Maria's gestures. The choreography between Liesl and Rolf (Charles Price) is a lot of fun in "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" and involves interactions with a bench, a gazebo, and a fountain. Maria and Captain von Trapp have great chemistry while dancing at the party and during "Something Good" which is important because I sometimes think the romance between the two of them is rushed in the stage version. A word is changed in the reprise of "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" which makes the song so much more palatable for a contemporary audience (at least in my opinion because that song has always really bothered me).  Having Nazi guards patrolling the aisles during the festival and then searching the audience with flashlights when the von Trapps do not appear at the end of the concert is incredibly effective at portraying the terror felt by the family (this was also done during a production I saw at Tuacahn and several people in the audience screamed). The von Trapps start their journey to Switzerland by climbing up the hill through the middle aisle and it is so dramatic! Wilson, Neipp, and Emily Duncan (as Baroness Schraeder) have beautiful voices, the young actors playing the von Trapp children are very charismatic (especially White who really plays up Brigitta's sass), and Daniel Bradley (as Max Detweiller) oozes charm! The set is absolutely beautiful, and quite elaborate, with moving panels showing the mountains through arched windows at Nonnberg Abbey and a view of Salzburg (which is very realistic because I compared it to a photo I took on a trip there when I got home) at the von Trapp Villa. Large set pieces for the von Trapp Villa could be turned to show the interior for scenes inside (I loved the fire in the fireplace but I wish that the staircase had been more prominent) and the exterior for scenes on the terrace. The costumes are wonderful, especially the uniforms and the play clothes (made out of curtains!) for the children and Maria's wedding dress, but I felt that the costumes for the Baroness are a bit too contemporary. As I mentioned, this was my first visit to the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre (I've seen The Drowsy Chaperone and Catch Me If You Can at the indoor theatre) and I loved this venue! There are reserved seats and separate sections on the grass for people who bring their own chairs and for those who bring blankets. There are bathrooms and concessions available but you can bring your own snacks, as well. Every usher that I came in contact with was incredibly friendly and helpful (which is not always the case). I highly recommend both this show and this venue (I will be back next summer). The Sound of Music runs through August 13 (go here for tickets).

Note: I have enjoyed all three productions of this musical (including those at the Empress and the Utah Shakespeare Festival) for different reasons. I don't think I could pick a favorite!

Josh Groban at the Vivint Arena

I had a ticket to see Josh Groban the last time he was in town but I was sick and couldn't go.  I really wanted to see him and was incredibly sad that I had to miss the concert so, when a new tour was announced, I got a ticket immediately!  The show last night was absolutely amazing and I am so glad that I was able to go this time!  The opening acts were Eleri Ward, who sang beautiful arrangements of "Send in the Clouds" from A Little Night Music and "Children Will Listen" from Into the Woods, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who I really enjoyed despite the fact that I am not a big fan of jazz.  Groban performed many songs from Harmony, his latest album of covers, including "The World We Knew (Over and Over)," "Angels," "Celebrate Me Home," "Shape of My Heart,"  "She," and "Both Sides Now" with Ward.  I really love Frank Sinatra's version of "The World We Knew" but Groban absolutely blew me away with his arrangement and this set the tone for the whole concert.  He has such an amazing voice and his interpretations of these songs are beautiful and gave me goosebumps!  He also sang "Alla Luce Del Sole" while playing the drums, "Cinema Paradiso (Se)" with a violin solo by Lucia Micarelli, and "Alejate" with a fabulous Spanish guitar arrangement by his Music Director Tariqh Akoni.  He performed a beautiful rendition of "Not While I'm Around" from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with Micarelli, which I especially enjoyed because I just saw this musical at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and his original songs "February Song," "Granted," and "The Fullest."  He ended his main set with my favorite Josh Groban song, "You Raise Me Up," and it was incredible because the entire audience was singing along!  For the encore, he performed "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha and it was such a great interpretation.  Groban was in full rock star mode with black jeans and a black leather jacket and he was quite the raconteur telling lots of amusing anecdotes and stories before every song.  I didn't really expect him to be so funny!  I loved every minute of this concert and I will definitely try to see him any chance I get!

Utah Shakespeare Festival 2022

I love going to the Utah Shakespeare Festival and I try to see at least one show every summer.  I especially enjoy it when my sister Marilyn is able to come with me and I was so happy that it worked out for her to come this year.  We were literally counting down the days because we were so excited!

We drove down Friday morning and got to Cedar City at noon.  We wandered around for a little while, attended a seminar, and then saw our first show in the Randall L. Jones Theatre.  I didn't really know what to expect from Clue but it was one of the funniest plays I have ever seen!  Even Marilyn (who is very reserved) was laughing out loud!  Six guests, including Colonel Mustard (Rex Young), Mrs. Peacock (Bree Murphy), Professor Plum (Michael Sharon), Mrs. White (Melinda Parrett), Mr. Green (Michael Doherty), and Miss Scarlet (Cherita Armstrong), are invited by Mr. Boddy (Andrew Fehrenbacher) to his manor on a dark and stormy evening.  Mr. Boddy has been blackmailing each of them and, after providing them with weapons, he tells them that he will return the evidence he has against them...if they kill his butler Mr. Wadsworth (Aaron Galligan-Stierle).  Murder and mayhem ensue!  I loved the staging!  There are two doors which open up to reveal the lounge, the study, the kitchen and the billiards room at various times with set pieces for the library and the conservatory coming from above.  There is very elaborate choreography as the characters move from room to room and it is hilarious.  The entire cast has outstanding comedic timing but Doherty's physicality, especially when a chandelier falls on him in slow motion, was my favorite part of the show.  We loved it!

Friday night we saw Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in the Engelstad Theatre.  After being unjustly convicted and sent to a penal colony in Australia by the unscrupulous Judge Turpin (Tim Fullerton), a barber named Sweeney Todd (J. Michael Bailey) returns to London hoping to be reunited with his wife Lucy and daughter Johanna (Lucy Austin) but, when he learns their fate, he vows revenge against the judge.  He is aided by Mrs. Lovett (Bree Murphy), who has a pie shop below his former barbershop, but things take a sinister turn when he begins killing all of his customers and she begins using his victims in her meat pies.  This is an amazing production with a phenomenal cast.  Bailey and Murphy, especially, have beautiful voices that are well-suited to the operatic score but they also give sympathetic performances even though their characters become more and more depraved.  I really loved their rendition of "A Little Priest."  The set and costumes vividly bring Victorian London to life and the dramatic red lighting emphasizes the horror of what is happening.  I loved the staging of the murders with Sweeney's barber chair in the balcony and a large lever sending the victims down to the bake house through a chute.  It was a little bit too macabre for my sister but I loved it!

Saturday morning we saw The Sound of Music at the Randall L. Jones Theatre.  The story of a spirited nun named Maria (Daria Pilar Redus) who is sent to be the governess to the children of Captain von Trapp (Michael Sharon) never gets old for me and I loved this production.  Redus is wonderful as Maria!  She has a beautiful voice in "The Sound of Music" and "My Favorite Things" but she is also just a little bit sassy in her interactions with the von Trapp children, Liesl (Julia Kuzmich), Friedrich (Brooks Mellen), Louisa (Shelby Fawson) Kurt (Mack Lawrence), Brigitta (Liv Harter), Marta (Penny Hodson), and Gretl (Gwynn Christ), in "Do-Re-Mi" and "The Lonely Goatherd" and she has tremendous chemistry with Sharon in "Something Good."  I was also impressed with Lisa Strum as the Mother Abbess because she almost blows the roof off of the theatre with her rendition of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain."  I really enjoyed the choreography, especially for "Do-Re-Mi," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," and "The Lonely Goatherd," because there are a lot of really fun and unexpected details. My only complaint is the set because a large curved staircase is on stage during the whole show and it is sometimes a bit confusing, particularly during "The Sound of Music" because it seems like Maria is inside the abbey rather than on the mountain and during "I Have Confidence" when Maria travels from the abbey to the von Trapp residence because there is very little difference between the two, but this didn't detract from my enjoyment.  This show is lovely and is sure to appeal to everyone as a nostalgic favorite (Marilyn and I had tears in our eyes because it reminded us so much of our Mom).

Our final play was King Lear in the Engelstad Theatre Saturday night.  It was my most anticipated show at the festival and it definitely did not disappoint!  King Lear (Anthony Heald) divides his kingdom between his daughters Goneril (Lisa Strum), Regan (Stephanie Lambourn), and Cordelia (Kendall Cafaro) with disastrous results while the Earl of Gloucester (Chris Mixon) is fooled by his illegitimate son Edmund (Philip Orazio) into denouncing his legitimate son Edgar (Freedom Martin) which leads to tragedy.  Heald is absolutely brilliant as Lear and I really loved his characterization because he is incredibly arrogant at the beginning of the play and imperious when he visits his daughters so his downfall and descent into madness is even more dramatic!  Orazio is an absolute hoot and I loved his knowing looks at the audience every time he is about to do something despicable.  I also loved Strum's performance because she is the perfect embodiment of exasperation and Aidan O'Reilly's performance as the Fool (he was brilliant in Richard III last year) because he has such a presence.  The costumes in this show are exquisite with lots of jewel tones, patterns, and embellishments and this provides a huge contrast to the tattered rags worn by Lear and Gloucester when they come undone.  The lighting and sound design is very effective at creating an oppressive atmosphere (I wrote a paper about the use of weather in this play in college) and the staging of certain scenes is incredibly dramatic, especially the blinding of Gloucester (the audience gasped).  This is the best production of King Lear I have seen and my sister, who struggles with the Shakespeare tragedies, really enjoyed it!

This was a great trip, despite the heat and my disappointment with the tarts this year, and I had so much fun!  I am already excited for the festival next year!