This Is The Place Heritage Park

Yesterday Sean and I had one of our Friday outings to This Is The Place Heritage Park at the mouth of Emigration Canyon.  It was on my list of places to visit because I had never been there before!

The monument is named in honor of Brigham Young's famous statement that the Salt Lake Valley was where the Mormon pioneers should settle after trekking west.  It commemorates the Mormon pioneers as well as the settlers and explorers of the American West.  I liked reading about all of the people depicted on the monument and the views of the Salt Lake Valley were spectacular!

After wandering around the monument we visited the Heritage Village which is a living history museum featuring restorations or replicas of actual buildings from Utah's history.  It was a lot of fun to tour these buildings (it was a beautiful fall day with blue skies and cool temperatures) but some of the interactive pioneer exhibits, such as pony rides and the blacksmith demonstration, were not going on because of Covid-19.

Because some of the activities are limited right now, there is a special price for admission.  Tickets are $7.95 per person to tour the Heritage Village and they must be purchased online (go here).  The Heritage Village is open Monday-Saturday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  In addition to the Village, there is a Visitors Center and Gift Shop, a Restaurant, a Candy Store, and an Ice Cream Store.  Sean and I had a lot of fun visiting!

Utah Opera's The Human Voice and Gentleman's Island

The Utah Opera 2020-2021 season was meant to begin with Wagner's The Flying Dutchman but, since it is a large and complicated production, it was replaced by a more intimate double bill of The Human Voice by Francois Poulenc and Gentleman's Island by Joseph Horovitz in order to comply with Covid-19 guidelines.  I usually prefer the classic tragedies sung in German or Italian but I was very intrigued by the premise of both of these operas because they both explore the theme of isolation which is very appropriate for these times.  The evening began with The Human Voice which is based on the play La voix humaine by Jean Cocteau but updated to feature modern technology to emphasize the isolation between two people.  The audience overhears Elle's (Wendy Bryn Harmer) side of a phone conversation with her lover of five years who has called her to inform her that he is getting married to someone else the next day.  She goes back and forth between many different emotions as she professes her love for him, expresses remorse for hurting him, threatens suicide to manipulate him, rages against his betrayal, and then succumbs to sorrow as he hangs up.  Harmer conveys these emotions brilliantly with subtle variations in her voice and it is surprisingly very compelling.  The set consists of a bedroom in an apartment with a city skyline projected on a screen behind it.  At various points in their conversation, images from her iPad are also projected on the screen as she reminisces about their life together and one of the most poignant moments occurs when she deletes pictures of him.  The score, which features just the piano, is sometimes incredibly beautiful and sometimes strident depending upon Elle's mood.  After a brief pause to change the set (there is not an intermission to avoid gathering in the lobby) the evening continued with Gentleman's Island which is very different in tone but also explores the isolation that happens when social conventions are taken too far.  Mr. Gray (Brian Stucki), a tea taster, and Mr. Somers (Christopher Clayton), an indigo importer, are the only survivors of a shipwreck and land on a deserted island.  Since they have not been formally introduced, etiquette forbids them from talking to each other.  They each claim a portion of the beach, one where there is an abundance of oysters and one where there is an abundance of turtles, but they each prefer the other's food supply and cannot abide their own.  Rather than risk a social faux pas, they each resign themselves to starving to death.  Stucki and Clayton give incredibly playful performances as proper Victorian Englishmen and the music is quite light and airy.  The set is very minimal with the seashore projected on a screen with the musicians behind it instead of in the pit.  It was a delightful performance after the heightened drama of The Human Voice.  I was so happy to be back at Capitol Theatre and I was very impressed with the precautions taken to keep the audience safe (socially distant seating, contactless ticketing, mandatory masks, and digital programs).  I highly recommend this production which continues through October 18 (go here for tickets).

Psycho

I am a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock and I have seen Psycho many times but never on the big screen.  Last night I finally had the opportunity and it was amazing (the crowd cheered when the opening credits started rolling).  It is the perfect movie to watch in October because it is considered by many critics to be the original (and best) slasher horror film.  Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) laments the fact that she must conduct a clandestine relationship with her boyfriend Sam Loomis (John Gavin) because he can't afford to marry her.  She sees an opportunity for them to be together when her boss asks her to deposit $40,000.  She impulsively embezzles the money and goes on the run to meet up with Loomis.  On the road she decides to stop for the night at the secluded Bates Motel during a rainstorm.  When the lonely proprietor, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), invites her to dinner, his mother objects which leads to tragedy (and one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history).  The narrative then shifts to the investigation of Marion's disappearance, conducted by Loomis, Marion's sister Lila (Vera Miles), and a private investigator (Martin Balsam) hired to locate the money, and the discovery that Norman Bates may not be who he seems.  There are so many aspects of this movie that I think are brilliant!  The first time I saw it, I was surprised when Marion was murdered so soon into the runtime because Hitchcock takes great pains to establish her as the sympathetic main protagonist.  Then, all of the audience's sympathy is transferred to Norman as he frantically cleans up the murder scene and disposes of Marion's body to cover for his mother.  Finally, the revelations about Norman are so shocking because of the dramatic build up about Mrs. Bates!  Hitchcock is the master of manipulation!  Even though I have now seen it many times, I still think it is incredibly suspenseful and I discover something new every time!  The shower scene is absolutely terrifying for what you don't see rather than for what you do (the cutting of this scene is ingenious) and the iconic score featuring the screeching strings adds to the intensity.  I love the use of light and dark to foreshadow danger and the symbolism of the stuffed birds.  Both Perkins and Leigh give superb performances, especially in the scene where the two of them talk about being trapped by the circumstances of life.  It was so exciting to watch one of the best psychological thrillers ever made last night and I highly recommend seeing it as it was meant to be seen.  There is one more opportunity (go here for tickets).

Broadway Villains in Concert at CPT

Last night I spent a wonderful evening back at Centerpoint Theatre for a show called Broadway Villains in Concert. Like many theatres around the country, CPT has been dramatically affected by Covid-19 but I think they have done a marvelous job with creatively adapting so that they can still provide entertainment for their patrons while keeping everyone safe. Over the summer they held concerts in the parking lot which were so much fun and this month they are presenting another concert on the Barlow Main Stage featuring songs from the best villains in popular Broadway shows. They have many safety protocols in place, including contactless ticketing, socially distant seating, and mandatory masks. The show was a little over an hour without an intermission. The entire company performed "No One Mourns The Wicked" from Wicked, "The Mob Scene" from Beauty and the Beast, "Masquerade" from The Phantom of the Opera, and "Facade" from Jekyll & Hyde which featured dramatic black costumes, innovative choreography to keep the actors physically distant, and a minimal set comprised of different levels. My favorite performance of the evening was from my favorite musical Hamilton. Christian Johnston, a former student of mine, performed "You'll Be Back" as King George III.  I think he did such a great job, even rivaling some of the Georges I've see in Broadway productions! The concert also featured "No Good Deed" from Wicked with Sydney Stephan as Elphaba, "A Little Priest" from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with Tyler Hanson as Sweeney Todd and Brittany Bullen as Mrs. Lovett, "Dentist!" from Little Shop of Horrors with Craig Williams as Orin Scrivello, DDS, "Poison in my Pocket" from A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder with Colton Ward as Monty Navarro, "Stepsisters' Lament" from Cinderella with Kacee Neff and Sydney Stephan as Wicked Stepsisters, "Stars" from Les Miserables with Ricky Parkinson as Javert, "Alive" from Jekyll & Hyde with Ben Lowell as Hyde, "World Burn" from Mean Girls with Karina Gillette as Regina George, "Little Girls" and "Easy Street" from Annie with Camille Crawley as Miss Hannigan, Christian Johnston as Rooster, and Janessa Zech as Lily St. Regis, "The Hammer" from Matilda with Brittany Bullen as Miss Trunchbull, and "Stay with Me" from Into the Woods with Kimberly Holden as the Witch. As I mentioned, all of the actors are wearing black costumes but they each added a little flourish to represent their characters.  I especially loved King George's ermine cape, Elphaba's green eye shadow, and Regina's pink shoes. This show is extremely well done with incredibly talented performers and I really enjoyed it! It runs at CPT on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays until October 24.  Tickets are only $12.00 for the balcony and $15.00 for the main floor which makes it a great deal (go here for tickets). I highly recommend this show for the whole family (there were a lot of kids in the audience last night and they were cheering enthusiastically).

Note:  After watching Gillette perform "World Burn," I am so excited to see Mean Girls which is, fingers crossed, coming to the Eccles Theatre next year!

Yellow Rose

I'm not a huge fan of country music but I thought the trailer for Yellow Rose looked good so I saw it last night.  I ended up really liking it!  Rose Garcia (Eva Noblezada) is a seventeen-year-old Filipino girl who is an aspiring singer-songwriter.  She lives in a motel in a small Texas town where her mother Priscilla (Princess Punzalen) works as a maid.  They are both undocumented but Rose does not know the true extent of their immigration troubles.  Knowing her love of country music, her friend Elliott (Liam Booth) invites her to a Western bar called the Broken Spoke in Austin.  When she returns home, she sees her mother arrested by ICE in the middle of the night but she is able to get away.  She spends the next few months trying help her mother while bouncing between her aunt Gail (Lea Salonga) who doesn't want her intruding into her life, the kindhearted owner of the Broken Spoke (Libby Villari) who takes pity on her, and country singer Dale Watson (himself) who sees her talent and wants to mentor her.  Ultimately, she must make peace with her mother's decisions, learn to survive on her own, and channel all of her heartache into her music.  Rose's story is incredibly affecting (there were a few moments where I had tears in my eyes) and Noblezada gives an outstanding performance.  I was especially impressed with her singing and guitar playing and I actually really enjoyed all of the original songs.  I know that immigration is a really sensitive subject with no easy answers but I was quite upset about Priscilla's inhumane treatment while in custody and I think this portrayal is an appropriate indictment of current policies.  My only complaint about this movie is the ambiguous ending.  While I did love the triumphant scene featuring Rose playing a gig of her own songs, I was left wondering about her fate because nothing about her immigration situation has changed.  After such an emotional journey with Rose I wanted her to be more settled.  It is, however, a very poignant coming-of-age of age story and I highly recommend it.

Note:  This movie reminded me of Wild Rose.  We just need one more story about an aspiring country singer with rose in the title to complete the trilogy!

A Call to Spy

I absolutely love movies about espionage during World War II so I was pretty excited when I saw the trailer for A Call to Spy which is based on actual events.  I finally had a chance to see it last night and I really enjoyed it.  After the Nazi occupation of France, Churchill is feeling desperate and authorizes the training of female spies because he thinks they will be more inconspicuous.  Vera Atkins (Stana Katic), a glorified secretary for the SOE (the newly formed spy agency), is tasked with finding suitable candidates.  She finds Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas), an American working at the U.S. embassy in London who wants to be a diplomat but is constantly turned down because she has a prosthetic leg, and Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Apte), a Muslim from an aristocratic Indian family who is a pacifist but also a skilled radio operator.  They are given minimal training and dropped into France with almost no support but Virginia is able to develop a vast network of local resistance fighters and Noor is able to send messages to London while on the run before narrowly evading discovery time after time.  Meanwhile, Vera struggles to be taken seriously within the SOE because she is hiding a dangerous secret.  They overcome many hardships but it is when the women are betrayed that they become true heroes and change the course of the war.  I love the fact that this is a story that has not been told before, but definitely deserves to be, and I found it to be incredibly compelling.  The pace moves quickly with a lot of tension and, because all of the characters are so sympathetic, I was very invested in the outcome.  In fact, I felt genuine distress during moments of peril and a lot of admiration for what these women go through.  Even though many of the actors in this movie are not very well known (at least to U.S. audiences), all of the performances are great and I was especially impressed with Thomas who is very affecting.  I highly recommend this inspirational story of bravery and perseverance.

Note:  After watching this movie I really wanted to know more about these three women.  I found out that Miss Moneypenney from the Bond movies is based, in part, on Vera Atkins. 

Friday the 13th

I wasn't allowed to see Friday the 13th on the big screen when it was first released but I had the chance last night!  It was back in theaters to celebrate its 40th Anniversary and it was a lot of fun because, for some reason, I really enjoy seeing slasher movies in October!  While at Camp Crystal Lake, a young boy named Jason Voorhees (Ari Lehman) drowns due to the negligence of the camp counselors who were supposed to be watching him.  The following year, two counselors, who are also negligent in their duties, are brutally murdered leading many to believe that the camp is cursed.  Twenty years later, the owner, Steve Christy (Peter Brouwer), decides to open the camp once again and a group of counselors arrive on Friday the 13th.  One counselor named Annie (Robbi Morgan) is killed by an unseen assailant as she hitchhikes to the camp.  Steve is called away during a severe storm which cuts off the power and most of the other counselors, including Ned (Mark Nelson), Jack (Kevin Bacon), Marcie (Jeannine Taylor), Brenda (Laurie Bartram), and Bill (Harry Crosby), are killed in an incredibly gruesome manner (an ax is involved).  Alice (Adrienne King) is left alone to face the killer, who has a surprising connection to Jason, in an epic confrontation (a decapitation is involved).  This movie is pretty low-budget with abysmal acting but there are some really suspenseful sequences that are enhanced by an atmospheric score.  I actually had a great time watching this on the big screen with a rowdy crowd (someone screamed out loud during a particularly tense moment) because it is such a cult classic.  If you enjoy celebrating Halloween by seeing scary movies, go here for two more opportunities to see Friday the 13th as well as other great options during the month of October.

Million Dollar Quartet at HCT

I had a lot of trepidation when I found out that HCT was reopening after the Covid-19 lockdown. They had some safety protocols in place, such as requiring patrons to wear masks and the use of contactless ticketing, but they were still seating patrons shoulder to shoulder and that gave me pause so I requested (and received) a refund for my ticket to Mary Poppins. However, I eventually made the decision to use my ticket to Million Dollar Quartet last night and I am so glad that I did! I saw the Broadway touring production of this show several years ago so I knew that it would be a lot of fun and I think fun is something that we all need right now. On December 4, 1956, an impromptu jam session took place at the Sun Records recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee, involving Jerry Lee Lewis (David Paul Smith), Carl Perkins (Bryan Matthew Hague), Johnny Cash (Benjamin D. Hale), and Elvis Presley (Michael D. Potter). Sam Phillips (Bryan Dayley), the owner of Sun Records, recorded the session and dubbed them the "Million Dollar Quartet." The show, based on this actual event, begins with Phillips recounting how each of the musicians were discovered and signed to Sun Records as they arrive at the studio. There is a loose narrative interspersed between the musical numbers about the rivalries between the musicians and future of Sun Records but what makes this show so great is the aforementioned performances of some of the best known music in rock and roll including "Blue Suede Shoes," "Real Wild Child," "Matchbox," "Who Do You Love?," "Folsom Prison Blues," "Fever," "Memories Are Made of This," "That's All Right," "Brown Eyed Handsome Man," "Down By the Riverside," "Sixteen Tons," "My Babe," "Long Tall Sally," "Peach in the Valley," "I Walk the Line," "I Hear You Knocking," "Party," and "Great Balls of Fire." The show ends with individual performances by each of the musicians:  "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley, "Ghost Riders" by Johnny Cash, "See You Later Alligator" by Carl Perkins, and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Jerry Lee Lewis. There was definitely a whole lotta shakin' goin' on in the theater as the audience danced in the aisles during these songs! It was so much fun! The cast also includes studio musicians Jay (Isaac Erickson) on bass and Fluke (Todd Mitchell, who looks like he is having the time of his life) on drums, as well as Elvis Presley's girlfriend Dyanne (Brigitta Teuscher).  In my opinion, Smith, Hague, Hale, and Potter are absolutely phenomenal because they play their own instruments and sound just like the musicians they are portraying.  I especially enjoyed Potter's swiveling hips as Elvis and Smith's exuberant piano playing (even behind his back!) as Jerry Lee Lewis. My favorite singer in this group is Johnny Cash so I absolutely loved "Folsom Prison Blues" and I may or may not have have sung along (one advantage of wearing a mask is that your neighbors don't know that you are the one singing). The minimal set depicts the real Sun Records recording studio and the costumes are informed by a photograph of the actual recording session (which is projected on the LED screens around the theater at the end of the show) so it feels very authentic, almost like being transported back to this era. It is a great production and I highly recommend it!  Million Dollar Quartet runs through October 24 on the HCT Main Stage (go here for tickets).

Note:  I wish that, like other performing arts venues around Utah, there had been more social distancing in the seating arrangement but I was happy to see that the ushers were very vigilant in making sure that masks were worn throughout the whole performance.

Transcendent Kingdom

This month's Barnes & Noble Book Club selection was Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi and, based on the description, I didn't think that I would like it but I ended up loving it! I really enjoy belonging to a book club because I get a chance to read books that I wouldn't necessarily choose for myself!  Gifty's family emigrated to the United States from a small village in Ghana before she was born but her father went back to Ghana, never to return, shortly thereafter. To cope with her husband's departure, Gifty's mother becomes increasingly more involved with an evangelical church in Alabama. In order to please her mother, Gifty also immerses herself in the church but her faith is tested when her brother dies of an overdose and her mother succumbs to a deep depression. She prays fervently to God for answers about why these hardships have befallen her family but God remains silent. She eventually turns her back on religion and seeks answers from science. As a doctoral student in neuroscience at Stanford University she conducts experiments on the brains of mice to study reward-seeking behavior as it relates to addiction and depression. Even though she has a breakthrough in her research, she still longs for the simple faith she had as a child and realizes that she doesn't need to understand her mother's depression in order to have a relationship with her. The narration alternates between Gifty's memories as a child in Alabama and her experiences as a student at Stanford and I think this is an effective device because her memories of the past keep intruding into the present and they keep her from finding peace. I loved Gifty as a character because, even though her experiences and losses are so heartbreaking, she finds a way to persevere. I also really enjoyed the poignant discussion about religion and how people lose and rediscover their faith.  This really resonated with me and made me confront some of my own issues with organized religion. This novel tackles some major themes such as racism, immigration, addiction, depression, grief, loss, and isolation so it is not easy to read but the prose is absolutely beautiful and the ending is, ultimately, very hopeful. My only complaint is that the ending is a bit rushed. I was hoping that the author would address this in the virtual Q&A on Facebook yesterday but no one brought it up (I need to be braver and ask a question next time). However, I found Gyasi's comments on identity to be fascinating, especially the notion that Gifty's search for answers is the same sort of reward-seeking behavior as her brother's drug use. This novel is definitely thought-provoking as well as emotionally resonant. I highly recommend it!

Note:  The next Barnes & Noble Book Club selection is Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam.  I am really excited to read this because it is a thriller!  The author will be available for a virtual Q&A via Facebook on October 27.  Go here for more information.

Celebracion Sinfonica

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Utah Symphony performed a series of concerts this weekend called Celebracion Sinfonica which were free to the public.  Guest conductor Enrico Lopez-Yanez, who was incredibly charming and entertaining, took us on a musical journey through Latin America with stops in Peru, Brazil, Costa Rica, Argentina, Bolivia, and Mexico.  It was wonderful!  The orchestra began with La muerta del angel by Astor Piazzolla and I enjoyed it because it was very dramatic, especially the theme played by the piano.  Next came Danza festiva by Jose Carlos Campos and I thought it was very fiery and passionate.  Concerto para cordas e percussao by Camargo Guarnieri was my favorite piece of the night because it featured an improvisational performance by the percussion (timpani and snare) in the middle of it and, as you can imagine, it was awesome.  The concert continued with Suite Latinoamericano by Vinicio Meza, which was very seductive, and Malambo by Jose Bragato, which was incredibly stirring.  The orchestra continued with two movements from Las cuatro estaciones portenos by Astor Piazzolla.  I really liked Invierno (Winter) because it was beautiful but a little bit mournful (I'm not sure why I am always drawn to the sad pieces).  Lopez-Yanez had the audience clap along with Viva mi patria Bolivia by Apolinar Camacho and I'm not sure how the orchestra was able to keep the correct tempo because we were really off!  The concert concluded with a beautiful piece called Estrellita by the Mexican composer Manuel Ponce.  It was so tender and romantic and it received a standing ovation from the audience.  As an encore the orchestra played La Llorona which is a traditional piece arranged by Lopez-Yanez based on the legend of a woman who died of sorrow after killing her children so now she appears as a ghost.  It was very atmospheric and spooky so it was perfect for this time of year.  I had never heard any of this music before and I really enjoyed all of it!  It was such a great concert and I'm so glad that I was able to get a ticket because it was a hot item!

Utah's Hogle Zoo

Yesterday Sean and I went to Hogle Zoo and we had a really great time.  I hadn't been there for a long time and I was really impressed with some of the new enclosures.

I really liked the African Savanna enclosure which is where the giraffes, zebras, and ostriches live.  You can purchase an opportunity to feed the giraffes.

The lions are also found in the African Savanna enclosure.  When we first got there all of the lions were sleeping but eventually some of them got up and walked around which was fun to see.

This cute little monkey just walked over to this rock and sat on it with his arms crossed.  He sat there for quite a while just looking at us.

My favorite enclosure is the Elephant Encounter because elephants are my favorite animals.  This is Christie with her daughter Zuri.  I remember when Zuri was born and she has gotten so big!

I was happy to see the rhinoceros because they are so endangered.

In the Asian Highlands enclosure this tiger was really active and he was fun to watch.

In order to visit Hogle Zoo you must purchase a ticket for a specific time online (although I did see people at the ticket booth) and the number of people allowed inside is limited, which has become the new normal because of Covid-19.  There is a new temporary entrance through the pavilion so people can be socially distant while entering and masks are highly encouraged.  There were some areas which were closed because of Covid-19 but we were able to see a lot.  Go here for more information.  We had the earliest entry time, which was 9:00 am, and we basically had the zoo to ourselves for several hours.  When we left it was starting to get a bit more crowded.

Nebo Loop

Yesterday was the first day of my favorite month so, of course, I had to take another one of my favorite fall drives.  This time I drove the Nebo Loop which is a 32 mile scenic byway between the cities of Payson and Nephi.  The weather was absolutely perfect and the scenery was spectacular!  The leaves are so pretty right now!

Once again it was so nice because it wasn't crowded (most recreation areas in my neck of the woods are packed on the weekend) so I could stop on the side of the road for pictures.  I only saw a few cars on the entire drive.  I'm planning a few more drives for next week!