Gingerbread Houses 2021

One of my family's favorite Christmas traditions is making gingerbread houses and, since we all needed a bit of Christmas cheer yesterday, we had our annual party and then played Shanghai rummy.

We had a lot of fun and, as always, we ate as much candy as we used on our houses!

Marilyn's house

My house

Tashena's house

Sean's house

I think they turned out pretty good this year!

After we made our gingerbread houses, Kristine and Trent joined us for Shanghai rummy.  It honestly felt good to relax a little bit after such a difficult month.  Trent won but the rest of us declared a rematch tonight!

Remembering My Dad

My Dad passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family last Wednesday after a courageous battle with multiple medical issues.  It is really difficult to lose your Dad but it is comforting to know that he is free from pain.  We held a visitation for family and friends last night and hearing so many lovely things about my Dad was also very comforting.

It was my Dad's wish to be cremated and we had a dear family friend make his urn.  We asked for the flowers to be red and white to honor his Canadian roots.

We had a display of pictures of when he was young (and very handsome) as well as pictures of him playing Santa Claus.  We also displayed all of his hockey jerseys.

We were so worried about how my Mom would handle seeing so many people, which can be overwhelming for her, but she did really well.  She was able to visit with most of her siblings as well as her cousin (pictured above) and she was able to recognize many neighbors and friends.

I was very touched by how many people came and I wish that I had been able to get more pictures.  The only time I lost my composure was when friends would talk about their memories of watching hockey with my Dad!

I am so happy that my niece Tashena was able to come home from college to be with us and I can't believe how handsome my nephew Sean looked (he was wearing my Dad's watch).

I want to thank everyone who came to the visitation because it really was wonderful to see and talk to all of you about my Dad.

A Christmas Carol at HCT 2021

I have a long-standing tradition of seeing HCT's production of A Christmas Carol every year (I like to joke that I have seen it so many times I could probably stand in for any role) and I had the chance to see it again last night. I love the well-known story by Charles Dickens of Ebenezer Scrooge's reclamation by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future and I think Hale's adaptation is absolutely beautiful. This year the cast includes many actors that I have never seen before (which is unusual because many actors return to the same roles year after year) and I particularly enjoyed Stephen Kerr as Scrooge, Ben Oldroyd as Bob Cratchit, Spencer Jackson Hohl as Fred, Jared Lesa as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and Patrick Despain as Tiny Tim. I loved Kerr's cantankerous and grouchy characterization of Scrooge and the subtle changes in his demeanor as he encounters each ghost and internalizes the lessons they teach him are incredibly effective. His interactions with Oldroyd during the final scene are so tender they brought a tear to my eye. Hohl is the perfect counterpoint to Kerr because he imbues Fred with a lot of cheerfulness and charm. I also really enjoyed Lesa's characterization because he is very merry as the embodiment of Christmas but he is also quite harsh with Scrooge. Despain is absolutely endearing and I loved his delivery of the iconic line at the end of the show. One aspect of Hale's production that I really love is the use of music in between scenes by an octet (Mindi Hansen, Samantha Paredes, Jessica Pearce, Emily Roh, Ryan Withers, Barton Sloan, Bryan Johnson, and Taylor Smith) and in certain party scenes by the characters. My favorite song is, of course, "Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella" which is sung during the Fezziwig's party. The elaborate Victorian sets are incredibly immersive (the projections are fantastic) and I particularly love Scrooge's bedroom (the wallpaper is amazing), Fezziwig's warehouse, and the rag and bottle shop. I usually sit on the extreme right side of the theater so I often miss out on some of the special effects but last night I sat on the front row in the center section so I was quite enchanted when Jacob Marley (Matt Kohler) comes through Scrooge's fireplace to visit him and when the Ghost of Christmas Future (Ren Cottam), who is quite scary, reveals Scrooge's name on the tombstone. I keep returning to see this show year after year because it fills me with so much cheer and I always leave the theater vowing to keep Christmas all year long. Unfortunately, every performance during the run is sold out but HCT has been known to add shows so keep checking the website (go here) for tickets.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

I was supposed to see Spider-Man: No Way Home last Thursday (I even stayed up until midnight to get a ticket as soon as they went on sale) but I postponed it several days to be in a better headspace for it and, unbelievably, I managed to avoid seeing any spoilers.  I took my nephew to see it yesterday and I am so glad that I didn't know anything going in because I loved it!  It was one of the best movie viewing experiences that I have had in a very long time with scenes that made me cheer out loud and scenes that made me cry!  Immediately after the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home, J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) shows a doctored video accusing Peter Parker (Tom Holland) of murdering Mysterio and exposing his identity as Spider-Man on his sensationalist news website.  This makes Peter's life increasingly difficult and, by extension, it also adversely affects his friends M.J. (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon).  He turns to Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for a spell to make the world forget that he is Spider-Man but, when he realizes that those closest to him will also forget, he interferes with the spell.  When Peter encounters Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) wreaking havoc on a highway, Strange realizes that the spell has had the unintended consequence of summoning everyone who knows Peter Parker's identity from other parts of the multiverse.  Peter, with the help of M.J. and Ned, is tasked with capturing all of the displaced villains while Strange works on another spell to send them home.  However, Peter begins to have second thoughts about dooming them to their fates.  This installment expands upon the character development that began in Far From Home and shows Peter wrestling with both the responsibility and the consequences of being Spider-Man.  As much as I enjoyed Peter's awkward teenage antics in the first two films, I loved the grittier tone and higher stakes of this installment and Holland gives a brilliant performance.  I also enjoyed the character arcs of the various villains as well as the performances of the actors in these roles.  The final battle is both exciting, with lots of hand-to-hand combat, and surprisingly poignant.  As a fan of the Spider-Man franchise in all of its past iterations I absolutely loved the nostalgia of this movie (see the aforementioned reference to my tears) but my nephew loved it, too!  I cannot recommend this movie enough!

Holiday Pops Starring Jodi Benson

I didn't really feel up to going out last night but a Christmas concert featuring the Utah Symphony and Broadway star Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid) was exactly what I needed so I am glad that I made the effort!  The orchestra, under the baton of Larry Blank, began with a medley called A Christmas Festival featuring "Joy to the World," "Deck the Halls," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Up On the Housetop," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Silent Night," "Jingle Bells," and "O Come All Ye Faithful."  Then Jodi Benson came to the stage to sing "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "The Christmas Song," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."  She has such a beautiful voice and I had goosebumps during every song.  She continued with "Grown Up Christmas List" and then took a break while the orchestra performed another beautiful medley called Christmas Scherzo which I loved because it featured "Bring a Torch Jeannette, Isabella."  Then they played "Trepak" from The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky and the Overture to A White Christmas by Irving Berlin.  Benson returned to the stage for "Ordinary Miracles" by Marvin Hamlisch, which was beautiful, and then introduced her daughter Delaney who sang "Winter Wonderland."  I loved hearing her talk about her daughter because she is so proud of her and it was so endearing!  She concluded the first act with a rousing rendition of "Mary, Did You Know?" that just about blew the roof off Abravanel Hall!  After the intermission the orchestra played a really fun version of "Sleigh Ride" complete with the neighing of a horse (provided by a trumpet player wearing a horse mask).  Benson returned to sing "We Need a Little Christmas" and a sultry version of "Let it Snow."  Next the orchestra performed a Disney medley featuring songs from Pinocchio, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, and Aladdin.  Benson sang "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio and her daughter Delaney returned to sing "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music.  One of my favorite moments came next when Benson sang "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid!  It was absolutely magical to hear Ariel sing this song and I may or may not have giggled at the end of it!  The orchestra performed another medley called Christmas Fantasy which featured "I Saw Three Ships," "We Three Kings," and "Sing We Noel."  The concert concluded with my very favorite Christmas song "O Holy Night."  I recently heard an instrumental version by Kurt Bestor but it was so lovely to hear it sung by Benson!  For the encore, she sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" with her daughter.  I really loved this concert and, if you are in need of a little comfort and joy this season, I definitely recommend getting a ticket for tonight's performance (go here).

West Side Story

I am a huge fan of the old Hollywood musicals, such as The Sound of Music, South Pacific, The Music Man, and Fiddler on the Roof, because I have very vivid memories of watching them on VHS at my Grandma Anderson's house.  My all-time favorite is West Side Story.  I know that it is problematic when viewed with a modern lens but I love the songs and the dancing so much!  I was, therefore, a bit concerned when I heard that Steven Spielberg was directing a remake because I didn't think anything could compare to the original.  I was wrong!  I finally had the chance to see it last night and I absolutely loved it!  The story revolves around the forbidden romance between Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Maria (Rachel Zegler) and the animosity it stirs up between the Jets and the Sharks, two rival street gangs who are vying for territory.  I really enjoyed some new additions to the story.  The gentrification of the neighborhood raises the stakes for both the Jets and the Sharks because they are not just fighting for territory but for a place to live. The backstory of Tony as a former gang member trying to go straight after serving time in prison for assault provides more motivation for his desire to stop the fighting.  The new character of Valentina (Rita Moreno), the Puerto Rican widow of Doc who now runs his drug store, becomes an important mentor for Tony because she shows him what is possible (Moreno provides one of the most poignant moments in the movie).  The entire cast is absolutely brilliant but the standouts for me are Mike Faist as Riff and Ariana DeBose as Anita because their singing, dancing, and acting are amazing (this is what happens when you cast Broadway stars in movie musicals).  I also really liked Elgort, despite his tumultuous personal life, because he is an endearing Tony and has great chemistry with Zegler.  His rendition of "Maria" gave me goosebumps!  Speaking of Zegler, I loved her voice and she imbues Maria with a strength that I appreciated.  I absolutely loved the new staging of the musical numbers, particularly "America," which happens more organically on the street, "Gee, Officer Krupke," which happens inside the police station as the gang members are questioned about the upcoming rumble, and "Pretty," which happens in the window displays of the department store where Maria works as a cleaner.  I really loved that "Cool," one of my favorite numbers, is changed so that Tony sings it to convince the Jets not to rumble with the Sharks.  (The only number that I prefer from the original movie is the prologue because the hostility between the gangs is conveyed entirely through dance rather than a fight as is the case in this version).  All of the costumes are fantastic but the ones at the school dance are especially striking because the Jets and their girls are primarily in blue and the Sharks and their girls are primarily in red.  Finally, I loved the cinematography and shot composition, especially all of the overhead shots because they are so dramatic!  I went into the theater last night feeling a bit skeptical but left it loving this movie.  I highly recommend it!

A Flicker in the Dark

My Book of the Month selection for December was A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham (the other options were Olga Dies Dreaming  by Xochitl Gonzalez, A History of Wild Places by Shea Earnshaw, Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford, and The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox). It is an atmospheric psychological thriller that is almost impossible to put down! It has been twenty years since Chloe Davis provided the evidence leading to the arrest of her father for murdering six teenage girls in the small town of Breaux Bridges. She is now a successful psychologist in Baton Rouge about to be married but she still has difficulty reconciling the loving father she once knew with the serial killer that he is and, as a result, she has had problems trusting people, especially men, and often self-medicates with prescriptions she writes herself. When several young girls go missing in a manner eerily similar to her father's modus operandi, she fears that history is repeating itself and that, once again, she has placed her trust in a monster. I really enjoyed the structure of this novel because the narrative takes place in the present with Chloe having flashbacks when events in the present seem to mimic those of the past. It is a really effective device because it shows how much Chloe is still traumatized by the past despite her best attempts at normalcy. I also enjoyed all of the many twists and turns as Chloe comes to suspect everyone in her life and then begins investigating each of them when her suspicions go unheeded because of her drug use and paranoia in past relationships. I predicted one of the major twists early in the proceedings but started to doubt myself as the narrative went on and I have to admit that I didn't see the final one coming (I love it when that happens). Finally, the writing is fantastic and I especially enjoyed the lyrical descriptions of the setting because it is so eerie and contributes much to the tension. This kept me reading during every spare moment I could find this weekend and I highly recommend it to fans of the genre.

Note:  It is hard to believe but this is Willingham's debut novel! As a fan of psychological thrillers, I am now eagerly awaiting more from this talented author!

Orli Shaham Plays Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2

I couldn't attend the Utah Symphony concert on Friday night because of a family responsibility but I was able to exchange my ticket for the same program last night and I am so glad I did because it was amazing!  The orchestra began with the Prelude and "Liebestod" from the opera Tristan and Isolde by Richard Wagner.  I have never seen this opera before but I found the music to be incredibly dramatic, especially in the "Liebestod" when the intensity builds and builds until Tristan and Isolde are reunited in death.  I particularly loved the harp at the conclusion.  Next, the orchestra was joined by pianist Orli Shaham for Frederic Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 and I absolutely loved this piece!  I especially loved the second movement because it is unbelievably lyrical and romantic!  It is believed that Chopin was inspired by Konstancja Gladkowska, a fellow student at the conservatory he attended in Warsaw for whom he pined but could not work up the courage to speak to, for this movement.  Shaham gave a dazzling performance and I loved the rapport that she seemed to have with the orchestra.  She received a well-deserved standing ovation and then performed a lovely encore (I didn't recognize the piece she played but it was beautiful).  The concert concluded with Symphony No. 7 by Antonin Dvorak.  The Czech composer wanted to write a symphony that would rival those composed by Germans so that Austrian Germans would acknowledge Czechs as their equals (there were rising ethnic tensions in Austria-Hungary during the late 1800s) and this piece is very stirring.  I especially loved the third movement because it features a Czech folk dance that is repeated by several different instruments.  I enjoyed this concert immensely and it was much needed after a long week!

Note:  The last time I exchanged my ticket for another performance the cute ladies who sit by me wondered where I was and told me they missed me!  I hope they weren't worried!

A Kurt Bestor Christmas at the Eccles

I have attended Kurt Bestor's annual Christmas concert many times over the years and, when last year's concert was canceled, I really missed it.  When this year's concert was announced I bought a ticket immediately and I've been looking forward to it ever since.  I love hearing Christmas music performed live and the concert last night was wonderful!  Bestor began with "Let It Snow" which was very appropriate considering the snowstorm we had in SLC yesterday (it was a lot of fun driving to the Eccles Theatre from my house).  He continued with "Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella" which is one of my favorites because I sang it in choir in college.  He performed a beautiful rendition of "Still, Still, Still" on flugelhorn which he dedicated to his father.  He continued with an arrangement called "Christmas Cubanismo" which featured a Latin beat and this got the audience dancing in their seats!  The special guest for this concert was Alex Boye and he came out to perform "Christmas Time Is Here" and I loved his rendition of this song.  Next came "The Coventry Carol" and then "Sing We Noel" in which each section of Bestor's band was featured as he introduced them.  The first set concluded with "Prayer for the Children," one of Bestor's best-known songs, featuring vocalists from the One Voice Children's Choir.  It was really lovely and it brought a tear to my eye as it always does.  After the intermission he performed arrangements of "Carol of the Bells" and "What Child is This."  Then he performed another one of my favorite Christmas songs, "In the Bleak Midwinter."  My favorite version of this song is Sarah McLachlan's but Bestor's arrangement was also really beautiful.  Boye returned to the stage for a rousing rendition of "Go Tell it on the Mountain" which basically turned the Eccles Theatre into an old time gospel revival!  Then Boye performed an original Christmas song called "Newborn" and I really loved this, especially the African drums!  He continued with "I Pray on Christmas" and his moves rivaled those of James Brown!  It is just not Christmas until I hear "O Holy Night" performed live and Bestor played the flugelhorn on a lovely arrangement that gave me goosebumps!  He continued with a really cool Celtic version of "Ding Dong Merrily on High" featuring his concert master on fiddle.  It is a tradition at Bestor's Christmas concerts to have an audience member read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas while he performs his amusing accompaniment but this year, because of Covid, he had Boye read it and to say that it was entertaining would be an understatement!  I laughed and laughed at his antics!  Bestor concluded the concert with "Joy to the World" and had Boye return to sing a stirring rendition of "Silent Night."  There is just something about Christmas music that makes me happy so, of course, I really loved this concert!  Bestor's music is always beautiful but last night he seemed delighted to be back in front of an audience and was especially charming so I highly recommend getting a ticket to one of the remaining shows (go here) because this might be his best concert yet!

C'mon C'mon

As a big fan of Joaquin Phoenix, I was really excited to finally have the opportunity to see C'mon C'mon last night.  It took me some time to get fully on board with the vibe of the narrative but, once I did, I found it to be an incredibly moving story about what kids can teach adults and how adults can help the kids in their lives.  Johnny (Phoenix) is a radio personality who is currently traveling around the country interviewing children about their views on the state of the world and their future place in it.  He receives an unexpected call from his sister Viv (Gaby Hoffman), from whom he is somewhat estranged, with a request to watch her nine-year-old son Jesse (Woody Norman) while she travels to care for Jesse's father Paul (Scoot McNairy) who is having a mental breakdown.  Johnny is completely unprepared to care for such a precocious and imaginative child and, even though he makes his living asking questions, he becomes uncomfortable when Jesse asks him pointed questions about his personal life.  They eventually form a bond and, through their relationship with each other, Johnny is able to process his emotions and forge a reconciliation with his sister and Jesse is able to express his fears for his father.  As I mentioned, the pacing is incredibly slow (it almost feels like a documentary about a family) and there were times when my mind wandered a bit until I suddenly became completely invested in the characters during one particular moment (it mirrored an experience I had with my own nephew).  Once I finally figured out the concept (and it is a very low concept film), I basically fell in love with it.  Phoenix gives such a warmhearted performance and his chemistry with Norman, who is extraordinary, feels really honest and natural.  At first I found the black and white cinematography to be a bit hazy and out of focus but I eventually realized that it represents the way in which children might view the world so it is highly effective and I loved the use of ambient sound.  I also really enjoyed the integration of Johnny's interviews with the children.  Not a lot happens but this is a beautiful film about human connection and it is one that I definitely want to watch again.

Elf The Musical at PTC

Last night I went to see Elf The Musical at Pioneer Theatre and it gave me another big dose of Christmas cheer!  This musical is based on the popular movie starring Will Ferrell and it is a lot of fun.  Buddy (Max Chernin) has been raised as an elf at the North Pole because he crawled into Santa's bag when he was a baby.  After discovering that he is really a human instead of an elf, he decides to travel to New York City to find his Dad, Walter Hobbs (Christopher Gurr), and he ends up bringing Christmas cheer to his new family, his new girlfriend Jovie (Antoinette Comer), and all of the people of New York City.  The choreography is fantastic and I especially enjoyed "Happy All The Time" as the elves at the North Pole make the toys for Santa, "Sparklejollytwinklejingley" as Buddy helps the tap dancing employees at Macy's decorate the store, and "A Christmas Song" as Buddy takes Jovie ice skating in front of Rockefeller Plaza (it is really clever how this is staged).  I also liked having a curmudgeonly Santa Claus (Jason Simon) narrate the story as if he was reading from a book while sitting in an arm chair.  He was the source of much amusement with lots of fun references to popular culture.  Chernin is really endearing as Buddy and I loved his exuberance in "Just Like Him."  Comer is also strong as Jovie and I liked that she showed a bit of vulnerability in "Never Fall In Love (With An Elf)."  However, my favorite performances were by Mary Fanning Driggs as Emily Hobbs and Grant Westcott as Michael Hobbs.  Their voices blended really well together in the songs "I'll Believe In You" and "There Is A Santa Claus."  The costumes for Santa, Buddy, the elves at the North Pole, and the employees at Macy's are elaborate and colorful and the sets, which look like they are inside of a giant snow globe, are impressive.  I also noticed the lighting design (which doesn't always catch my attention) because it is used very effectively to create shadows and outlines to tell the story.  You would have to be a cotton-headed ninny-muggins not to enjoy this production and I recommend it for the whole family.  It runs at PTC through December 18 (go here for tickets).

Ballet West's The Nutcracker 2021

One of my favorite holiday traditions is attending Ballet West's annual production of The Nutcracker.  I had the opportunity to see it last night and I think it was even more magical than usual (probably because I missed it so much last year).  I love everything about this ballet and I await every scene with great anticipation, especially the party scene where the Christmas tree is revealed to all of the children and Clara is given a nutcracker by Dr. Drosselmeyer, when everything is magically transformed to an enormous size and the nutcracker defeats the Mouse King with Clara's help, when the nutcracker becomes a handsome prince and takes Clara to the land of the Snow Queen and the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and all of the various divertissements arranged for Clara's entertainment.  My favorites are the Arabian dance because it is so exotic and the Russian dance because of the sheer athleticism of the leaps and spins (this dance received the loudest applause).  My favorite scene in the entire ballet is the Grand Pas de Deux between the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.  The choreography is so iconic and Emily Adams and Adrian Fry danced it beautifully last night.  I love every bit of Tchaikovsky's incomparable score but the music during this dance is so romantic it gives me goosebumps (I especially love the harp).  The costumes and sets were updated a few years ago and I love the addition of the jewel tones in the party scene and the pastels in the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy (the set looks very tropical).  The young dancers in the cast are fantastic and I especially enjoyed Frtiz and all of his antics (he seemed even more mischievous than usual) and Mother Buffoon's children.  The special effects in this production are absolutely enchanting, most notably the falling snow during the Snow King and Queen's Pas de Duex (some of the flakes were really big), the fireworks after all of the divertissements, and Clara's flying sled.  No matter how many times I see this show it always puts a huge smile on my face and I definitely recommend getting a ticket.  There are evening and matinee performances at the Capitol Theater through December 26 (go here for tickets).

Inmo Yang Plays Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto

I always love starting the weekend with a Utah Symphony concert and the one last night was amazing!  The orchestra began with Le chant du rossignol (The Song of the Nightingale) by Igor Stravinsky.  I have heard this piece performed before and I love it because it is so dynamic.  Stravinsky originally intended it as an opera but it was eventually used as the basis for a ballet by George Ballanchine (I definitely imagined movement in my mind as I listened).  The story follows a nightingale who sings for the Emperor of China but is forgotten when the Emperor favors a mechanical one given to him as a gift.  The nightingale flies away but feels pity when the Emperor is near death and returns again in order to restore him to health.  The nightingale is represented by a solo flute while the mechanical bird is represented by a solo oboe and it was really interesting to try to distinguish between the two of them.  Next, the orchestra was joined by soloist Inmo Yang to perform the Violin Concerto by Felix Mendelssohn.  This piece is incredibly romantic and atmospheric and I especially loved the sustained note played by the bassoon to transition from the first to the second movement.  Yang gave a thrilling and passionate performance and it was so much fun to watch his bow flying across the strings of the violin with seemingly impossible speed.  The appreciative audience leapt to their feet at the end of the concerto and Yang rewarded us with a beautiful encore.  The concert concluded with Symphony No. 3 by Johannes Brahms.  This piece is very dramatic and emotional and I particularly enjoyed the third movement because, to me, it sounded like the movie score of an epic historical romance that ends tragically.  I loved all of the back-and-forth themes played by the horns, the oboe, and the violins in the third movement and I also loved the muted ending of the final movement after all of the intensity that preceded it.  This concert was so beautiful and, in my opinion, it was the perfect way to unwind after a long week.  The same program will be performed again tonight and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here).

Mean Girls at the Eccles

I have to admit that I wasn't very enthusiastic when Broadway at the Eccles announced that the musical Mean Girls would be making a stop in SLC.  However, after hearing a live performance of "World Burn," I changed my mind and I've actually been looking forward to seeing it ever since.  I had the chance last night and, as a former high school teacher, I absolutely loved it!  Cady Heron (Danielle Wade) has recently moved to Chicago from Kenya, where she was home schooled, and is finding North Shore High School to be as brutal as the African plains.  Two social outcasts, Damian Hubbard (Eric Huffman) and Janis Sarkisian (Mary Kate Morrissey), attempt to help her fit in and advise her to avoid The Plastics, a clique made up of Regina George (Nadina Hassan), Gretchen Wieners (Megan Masako Haley), and Karen Smith (Becca Peterson).  Regina shows an interest in Cady and allows her to sit with her and her friends at lunch until she discovers that Cady likes her former boyfriend, Aaron Samuels (Adante Carter), and takes him back.  Cady devises a plan for revenge against Regina and, when it is successful, she takes her place as the leader of The Plastics.  However, she eventually alienates her real friends Damian and Janis, angers Aaron, disappoints her Calculus teacher Ms. Norbury (April Josephine), and loses her identity.  When she decides to participate in a math competition, she shows all of the students that it is much better to be yourself than to pretend to be someone else to fit in.  This show has such a great message and I honestly wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did!  I especially loved the songs "Where Do You Belong?' as Damian describes all of the cliques (my favorite is the show choir) at school to Cady, "Apex Predator" where Janis compares Regina to an animal at the top of the food chain, "Fearless," during which Gretchen and Karen stand up to Regina, and the aforementioned "World Burn" where Regina distributes her Burn Book to make Cady look bad.  I really enjoyed the use of projections to depict the classrooms (complete with subject specific bulletin boards), hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria, and gym at the school and the choreography involving moving desks and cafeteria tables is incredibly clever.  I liked the entire cast but Hassan (as Regina) was my favorite because she can really belt out a song and she has such an attitude as the ultimate mean girl.  I think the narrative loses a bit of momentum in the second act and some of the songs, especially "Sexy," might be too risque for some but I highly recommend this show!  It runs at the Eccles Theater until Dec. 5 (go here for tickets)

A Christmas Story at CPT

I saw the Broadway touring production of A Christmas Story several years ago and I thought it was delightful so I was excited to see it again last night at CPT. The musical is very much informed by the iconic movie of the same name (a favorite of mine).  It is narrated by radio personality Jean Shepherd (Darin J. Beardall) on Christmas Eve as he tells the story of a memorable Christmas from his youth. Ralphie (Soren Ray) desperately wants an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time for Christmas but his Mother (Jessica Love), the Old Man (Juston LeBaron), his teacher Miss Shields (Bailee DeYoung), and even Santa Claus (Andy Leger) tell him that he'll shoot his eye out. All of the well-known scenes from the movie are brought to life on stage including when Randy (Sam Akerlow) eats like a piggy, when Schwartz (James Leger) triple dog dares Flick (Trevin Hamblin) to stick his tongue to the flag pole, when the Old Man wins a major award, when Ralphie says the F-dash-dash-dash word while helping the Old Man change a tire, when Ralphie gets into a fight with Scut Farkus (Ben Liljenquist), when Ralphie gets a bunny costume from Aunt Clara, and when one of the Bumpus hounds (Phoenix, making his stage debut) eats the turkey forcing the Parkers to eat Christmas dinner at the Chop Suey Palace! The songs are not especially memorable but I really liked how they are staged and the talented cast does a great job, particularly the young actors. I really enjoyed the choreography in "When You're a Wimp," "Ralphie to the Rescue," "A Major Award," and "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out." Ray has a great voice and gives a really endearing performance as Ralphie, especially in "Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun," and Akerlow is absolutely hilarious as Randy (he made me laugh out loud several times), but, in my opinion, Phoenix steals the show when he chases the Old Man around to get to the turkey (he got the loudest applause all evening). The period costumes are fantastic and the elaborate sets, which feature Higbee's Department Store, the Parker house, and Warren G. Harding Elementary School, are cleverly placed side by side on stage to mimic an actual street. I had a smile on my face throughout the whole show and it definitely gave me a big dose of Christmas cheer! It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through December 23 (go here for tickets) and I highly recommend it to fans of the movie!

Handel's Messiah 2021

I always try to attend the Utah Symphony's annual holiday performance of Handel's Messiah (it was virtual last year and I really missed it) whenever possible and I am so happy that I had the opportunity last night.  Because we are not quite out of the woods with Covid yet, the orchestra opted for a traditional performance rather than the usual format with audience participation during the choral sections.  Even though I love singing along I really enjoyed this concert and it was the perfect way to begin the holiday season.  The orchestra was joined by members of the Utah Opera Chorus and soloists Julia Gershkoff, Edith Grossman, and Daniel O'Hearn.  Unfortunately, Evan Hammond was feeling under the weather and was unable to perform.  Conductor Conner Covington said he was going step in and sing his part but thought better of it when he realized that we had all paid money for our tickets!  This is such an incredibly stirring piece and it was performed beautifully!  My favorite sections are "For unto us a child is born," "Glory to God in the highest," and, of course, "Hallelujah."  I did miss "The trumpet shall sound" because the baritone solo is usually a highlight for me but the other soloists were amazing.  If you have never seen a performance of Messiah, definitely put it on your list for the future!

Note:  I am starting to get really excited for Christmas.  I love hearing Christmas music performed live and last night's concert was the first of several that I have planned in the coming weeks!

Christmas Cheer

Last year I put up my tree on Halloween because I was really in need of some Christmas cheer.  This year I wasn't feeling very festive but I eventually decided to put my tree up the day after Thanksgiving and I put up the smaller tree in the loft last night.  Now that my house is all ready for Christmas, I am starting to feel a bit merrier.

I actually really enjoy decorating my tree because I have collected all of my ornaments over the years and they all hold special memories for me.  My Mom gave me all of the Hallmark Keepsake hockey ornaments, I collected quite a few from my travels (my favorites are some hand-carved wooden ornaments from a Christmas store in Germany), I have some from popular culture (such as my Kylo Ren and Harry Potter ornaments), and I've recently started collecting them from musical theatre performances (my newest ornament is from Frozen).

Last year, in a fit of madness, I decided to get another tree for the loft and I enjoyed it so much I decided to put it up again this year.  I spend a lot of time in the loft reading so this is a nice addition to my holiday decorations.

Note:  Do you have more than one tree?  I used to think it was crazy to have more than one!

The Power of the Dog

Last night I had the chance to see The Power of the Dog on the big screen before it begins streaming on Netflix next week.  It is definitely a slow burn but I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.  Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George (Jesse Plemons) Burbank are wealthy Montana cattle ranchers in 1925.  Phil is rude and uncouth and constantly berates the quiet and gentle George.  During a cattle drive, the brothers, along with the ranch hands working for them, stop at a restaurant in the nearest town owned by a widow named Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst).  She is reduced to tears when Phil cruelly mocks her effeminate son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) so George stays behind to apologize to her.  They soon become close and eventually marry.  George sends Peter to college to study medicine and Rose comes to live at the ranch, much to the displeasure of Phil who believes her to be a gold-digger.  He makes Rose's life unbearable and she begins drinking behind George's back in order to cope.  When Peter arrives to spend the summer at the ranch, Phil takes every opportunity to intimidate him and he encourages the ranch hands to call out homophobic slurs whenever he is around.  Phil, remembering his close relationship with his mentor Bronco Henry, suddenly takes an interest in Peter, much to the dismay of Rose, teaching him to ride a horse and making him a lasso from rawhide.  This relationship is incredibly menacing because Phil's intentions are unclear and I watched the scenes between them with a sense of dread waiting for something tragic to happen.  I thought I knew where it was going and I have to admit that my mind sometimes wandered during scenes which, on the surface, didn't seem important.  However, even the most mundane actions are fraught with tension and attention must be paid to fully appreciate the resolution.  Cumberbatch is absolutely brilliant in a role that seems like a huge departure for him.  He is unnerving yet captivating as someone who feels compelled to assert his masculinity at all times.  Dunst also gives one of the best performances of her career as a woman who unknowingly challenges the status quo at the ranch.  I was particularly struck by a scene where Rose withers under the pressure of having to play the piano for guests at a dinner party.  There is almost no dialogue but her despair is palpable.  The cinematography is beautiful and the score by Jonny Greenwood serves to emphasize the atmosphere of foreboding.  This is the kind of thought-provoking movie I love but it might not appeal to everyone.

Encanto

My nephew Sean and I have a tradition of seeing a movie together over the Thanksgiving holiday (we have seen The Good Dinosaur, Moana, Coco, The Grinch, and Frozen II) so, of course, we had to see the new Disney movie Encanto together.  We saw it last night and we both really enjoyed it.  When Alma Madrigal (Maria Cecilia Botero) loses her home and husband while fleeing from conquerors, the candle she is holding is enchanted and it creates a magical casita for her and her three children, Julieta (Angie Cepeta), Pepa (Carolina Gaitan), and Bruno (John Leguizamo).  Eventually, her children and grandchildren are given magical gifts, such as the ability to heal, the ability shape-shift, the ability to see the future, the ability to speak to animals, etc, and the family members are encouraged use their gifts to help their village prosper.  However, Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) is not given a gift and she often feels left out while Bruno is ostracized because his gift is misunderstood.  When cracks begin appearing in the casita, it takes Mirabel, with a little help from uncle Bruno, to save the magic.  The message that expectations can sometimes be a burden and that people should be appreciated for who they are rather than who they are supposed to be is extremely powerful and I loved that a Disney heroine is just an ordinary girl (who wears glasses!).  The animation is incredibly colorful and vibrant and I really loved the attention to detail, such as the embroidery on Mirabel's blouse and skirt and all of the textures of the hair.  The music by Lin-Manuel Miranda is as fabulous as you would expect!  My personal favorites are "Waiting On A Miracle," "Surface Pressure," and "We Don't Talk About Bruno" but I heard lots of people singing the chorus of "Colombia, Mi Encanto" as they left the theater.  My biggest complaint, and my nephew echoed this as we talked about the movie on the way home, is that the introduction of the characters and their gifts is really rushed so I didn't feel very connected to anyone other than Mirabel and I sometimes had a hard time figuring out the familial relationships.  Another complaint is that, while I loved the songs, they sometimes seemed randomly inserted and interrupted the momentum of the narrative.  On the whole, I found this to be charming and I think is the perfect movie for families to see over the Thanksgiving break.

Thanksgiving 2021

It has been a rough two weeks for my family because my Dad has been in the hospital for some unexplained symptoms.  He had to be put on a ventilator for several days and recovering from that has been rough on him.  None of us were really up for celebrating Thanksgiving (and all that it entails) this year but my sister had the idea of ordering everything from Cracker Barrel!  She picked everything up on Wednesday and then all we had to do yesterday was heat it up (they even gave very detailed instructions of when to put each item in the oven so everything would be ready at the same time).  The whole dinner tasted delicious but, more importantly, we all were able to get together (except for my Dad, who is still in the hospital, and Tashena, who is playing in a basketball tournament in Arizona) and have a much needed break from the stress.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the people you love!

Note:  We are thinking of ordering Thanksgiving from a restaurant from now on!

House of Gucci

I am a huge fan of Adam Driver and, out of all of his movies scheduled for release this year, I was most excited for House of Gucci.  I knew before I even saw a trailer that I would love it (I read the book upon which it is based by Sara Gay Forden when production began) because there is no possible way that I wouldn't love a movie dealing with love, greed, betrayal, and revenge starring my favorite actor and Lady Gaga!  I saw it last night and, while there are quite a few issues, I found it to be wildly entertaining!  Maurizio Gucci (Driver) is a shy and unassuming law student but he is also the scion of the wealthy Gucci family known for their successful fashion label.  Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) is from much humbler beginnings and is dazzled by Maurizio's wealth after meeting him at a party.  She pursues him relentlessly and he eventually falls in love and marries her.  His father Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons), who runs Gucci with his brother Aldo (Al Pacino), disowns Maurizio for his unsuitable marriage which forces him to work for Patrizia's father.  Patrizia is ambitious and is not content with this lifestyle so she reaches out to Aldo, who thinks Maurizio has more potential than his own son Paolo (Jared Leto).  Even though he is initially not very interested in the business, Maurizio accepts a position with Aldo in New York at Patrizia's urging.  Eventually, Patrizia pushes Maurizio to betray Aldo and Paolo in order to oust them from Gucci but he soon grows tired of her interference and takes charge of the company himself.  He also makes changes in his personal life with a childhood friend (Camille Cottin) which brings tragic consequences.  The story is quite convoluted, especially the scenes dealing with the business side of Gucci, and it is much too long (I think 20 minutes could have easily been cut).  There are problems with the pacing and I sometimes found my mind wandering, particularly during scenes not featuring Patrizia or Maurizio.  There are some strange tonal shifts between camp and drama and many of the music choices seem very odd (although I actually really liked the version of "Baby Can I Hold You" by Tracy Chapman and Luciano Pavarotti used during the trial scene despite the fact that it is a bizarre song to use at this moment because Patrizia is completely unrepentant).  Having said all of that, I absolutely loved the performances even though they contribute to the problems with tone.  Leto, who is completely unrecognizable, chews up the scenery with abandon while Lady Gaga is so much fun to watch in an over-the-top portrayal of a woman scorned.  Driver, on the other hand, gives an incredibly nuanced performance filled with subtle gestures that brilliantly show Maurizio's character arc from someone easily manipulated by everyone in his life to someone who ruthlessly takes charge (I think it is one of his best).  It almost seems as if each of them are in a different movie but I blame Ridley Scott's direction for this rather than the actors.  This movie reminded me a lot of the prime time soap operas, such as Dallas, Dynasty, and Knots Landing, that I enjoyed watching for escapist fun as a teenager because it features a bombastic plot, glamorous settings, opulent production design, and gorgeous costumes.  I can not objectively say that this is a great movie but I loved it if for no other reason than I got to see Adam Driver smile while wearing one well-tailored suit after another for almost three hours!

King Richard

I do not know anything about tennis or about Venus and Serena Williams, beyond the fact that they are amazing tennis players, but I love inspirational sports movies and King Richard looked really good.  I was able to see it last night and, while I expected to like it, I was not prepared for how much I loved it!  Richard Williams (Will Smith) is determined to turn his two daughters, Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton), into champion tennis players despite his limited means.  He has a very detailed plan for their success which focuses on education, discipline, hard work, humility, and dignity.  He is relentless in his dedication to the plan and this sometimes puts him at odds with his wife Oracene "Brandi" Price (Aunjanue Ellis), and the girls' coaches Paul Cohen (Tony Goldwyn) and Rick Macci (Jon Bernthal).  He refuses to allow the girls to compete on the junior level because he thinks that these tournaments put too much pressure on young players, he pulls them out of practice for other pursuits because he wants them to get an education and be well-rounded, and he turns down multi-million dollar endorsement deals because he thinks they can do better.  Despite all of the naysayers, Richard's methods ultimately prove successful when Venus makes it to the final match against Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Marcela Zacarias), the number one player in the world, at her first professional tournament.  I really loved this story because Richard stays true to himself against all odds but he isn't shown to be infallible.  I particularly enjoyed a highly charged scene between Richard and Brandi where she confronts him about not valuing her contribution and another emotional one between him and Venus where she says that she is ready to compete and that he needs to trust her.  Smith gives the performance of his career and I have no doubt that he will be nominated, and rightly so, for every Best Actor award.  I also enjoyed all of the other performances, especially those from Sidney, Ellis, and Bernthal (also one of his best).  I really liked the tennis scenes and, as someone who knows nothing about tennis, I thought they were really exciting.  This is a stand up and cheer movie (the audience literally applauded at the end in my theater) that I highly recommend!

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

It is always a lot of fun to watch a long-awaited blockbuster on a Friday night with a large crowd and I definitely had a great time watching Ghostbusters: Afterlife last night!  After Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis via archival footage and CGI) dies under mysterious circumstances, his estranged daughter Callie (Carrie Coon) and her two children, Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (McKenna Grace), relocate to his creepy and isolated farmhouse near Summerville, Oklahoma.  A series of unusual earthquakes are occurring in Summerville and Phoebe eventually learns that the imminent return of Grozer is causing them and that her grandfather was preparing for it. Phoebe, who is scientifically inclined, restores all of the ghost catching equipment and Trevor, who is mechanically inclined, restores the Ecto 1.  They also enlist the help of Phoebe's science teacher Gary (Paul Rudd), Phoebe's friend Podcast (Logan Kim), and Trevor's crush Lucky (Celeste O'Connor) to fight Grozer when it finds a new Gatekeeper and Keymaster.  This reminded me a lot of The Force Awakens in that it pays homage to the original characters, the aforementioned Egon Spengler, Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd), Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts), and Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), while introducing audiences to a new generation who are taking up the mantle of catching ghosts with a story that follows the same beats as the original.  It was also a very similar viewing experience to the one I had when I saw The Force Awakens the first time because the audience cheered when each original Ghostbuster, the Ecto 1, and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man appeared on screen.  I didn't really mind all of the nostalgia because there are some great action sequences and a nice character arc for Phoebe, who finds an affinity with her grandfather after feeling like a misfit all of her life.  If nothing else, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is certainly entertaining and fans of the franchise are sure to enjoy it.

Note:  There is a mid-credits scene and a post-credits scene setting up a possible sequel.

tick, tick...Boom!

Before Jonathan Larson wrote the masterpiece RENT, one of my favorite musicals of all time, he wrote tick, tick...Boom!, an autobiographical show about the fear of running out of time before achieving success.  Even though I wasn't very familiar with this musical I was really excited for the movie adaptation because it is directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda!  I was able to see it last night and my reaction was a bit mixed.  Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield) has been working on a musical called Superbia for the past eight years but he can't seem to finish a song needed for a key moment in the second act.  To pay the bills he works as a waiter at the Moondance Cafe on the weekends while he writes during the week but he is starting to feel discouraged because he hasn't achieved success before his 30th birthday, which is imminent, like his idol Stephen Sondheim (Bradley Whitford).  His best friend Michael (Robin de Jesus) has already given up on his dream to become an actor by taking a job in advertising and has moved into an apartment in a high-rise building with a doorman.  His girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp) is thinking about giving up her dream of being a dancer to take a job in the Berkshires.  Freddy (Ben Ross), another waiter at the diner, is dying of AIDS. He wonders if he is just wasting his time trying to achieve his dream. However, despite fact that his agent Rosa (Judith Light) hasn't returned his calls for the past year, his mentor Ira (Jonathan Marc Sherman) has arranged a workshop of Superbia for prospective producers.  When it isn't the success he hoped it would be, Rosa tells him to write what he knows and tick, tick...Boom! is the result.  Interspersed between Jonathan's story is a concert of tick, tick...Boom! that he performs with his friends Roger (Joshua Henry) and Karessa (Vanessa Hudgens).  I loved so many things about this movie (but I didn't love it as a whole).  Garfield gives an absolutely brilliant performance, definitely the best of his career, and I was so impressed with his singing and dancing.  He should definitely be in the mix come awards season. As a theatre nerd I loved all of the cameos by Broadway stars past and present.  I won't spoil them because they are so much fun to spot but I have to mention that I just about lost my mind when I saw Adam Pascal (I love him).  Even though this movie is not about RENT, I loved seeing its genesis in many of the characters and songs, particularly "Boho Days."  Unfortunately, I didn't love some of Miranda's artistic choices because the narrative is very frenetic and messy.  Most scenes are performed at such a fever pitch that when the action finally slows down for an emotional reckoning it feels really hollow.  The story jumps back and forth between the development of the musical and the performance of it very haphazardly and this is sometimes confusing, especially since musical numbers take place in both timelines (big production numbers in the former and simple concert performances in the latter).  It actually took me a while to figure out what was going on whenever there was a scene of Larsen performing on stage.  I liked this movie, and would definitely recommend it to musical theatre fans, but I am a bit disappointed because I wanted to love it.

Belfast

I have been looking forward to Belfast, Kenneth Branagh's lovely and wistful ode to community and family, for months and I finally had the opportunity to see it last night.  The movie takes place in the titular city in 1969 and opens with nine-year-old Buddy (Jude Hill) fighting imaginary dragons with a wooden sword and the lid of a trash can as a shield.  His Ma (Caitriona Balfe) calls him home to dinner and everyone on his street knows him and calls out to him as he passes by but soon the street is the scene of a riot as a mob of Protestants target the houses of Catholics.  Buddy's shield is now used by his Ma to protect them from the falling debris from the bombs in an incredibly powerful scene.  His Pa (Jamie Dornan) refuses to get drawn into "the Troubles" but worries for his family because he is forced to leave them for weeks at a time to work in England while his Ma worries about paying their back taxes.  Amidst these worries, Buddy's days are taken up with visiting the local cinema, spending time with his Pop (Ciaran Hinds) and Granny (Judi Dench), and trying to get the girl (Olive Tennant) he likes at school to notice him.  As the violence escalates, Pa is offered a permanent job in England and the family must decide whether to leave the only home they have ever known and their family and friends to start a new life.  I loved this movie so much!  The hazy black and white cinematography, the camera angles that mimic the viewpoint of a child, and the use of vignettes to tell the story are brilliant because sometimes childhood memories can be fleeting and fractured.  I loved the references to the movie High Noon, particularly the scene where Buddy views his Pa as the lone hero fighting to keep him safe because children often idealize the adults in their lives.  I also really loved all of the music by Van Morrison (who, like Branagh, hails from Belfast) because it really evokes the mood of that time and place.  The entire cast is wonderful (it was so nice to see Dench in a good movie after a few recent duds and the scene where Granny reminisces about her favorite film is another one of my favorites) but Hill is especially endearing and he portrays the wide-eyed innocence of a child trying to understand what is going on around him so well.  Finally, the narrative really resonated with me because my immediate family moved away from our extended family and friends in Canada to come to the United States when I was close to the same age as Buddy.  I was trying to keep my emotions in check (I did not want a repeat of this embarrassing situation) as the inevitable conclusion drew near but I completely lost it when Buddy says goodbye to his friend from school.  I said goodbye to my best friend Scott in a very similar way (I wonder what he is doing now) and this scene brought the memory back to me.  In my opinion, this movie is a must-see for everyone who has nostalgia for the place they are from and I highly recommend it!

Pink Martini with the Utah Symphony

I had the pleasure of seeing Pink Martini perform with the Utah Symphony several years ago and I enjoyed the concert so much I decided that I would try to see them whenever they came to town!  They returned to Abravanel Hall last night and the concert was so much fun.  Pink Martini is a "little orchestra" that was formed by Thomas Lauderdale in 1994.  It is comprised of twelve insanely talented musicians, vocalist China Forbes (her voice is amazing and she sings so effortlessly), and several guest vocalists.  Their repertoire features classical, Latin, jazz, pop, and world music and last night they performed songs in English, Spanish, French, Croatian, Farsi, Romanian, and Japanese (they even had the audience singing along in French).  The concert began with a really sultry version of "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel and I absolutely loved it!  It is one of my favorite pieces and this version was really cool, especially the trombone and trumpet solos.  My favorite moment in the first half was an incredible rendition of the duet "Belle nuit, o nuit d'amour" from the opera The Tales of Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach.  Forbes was joined by vocalist Katie Harman and their performance was absolutely beautiful (they joked that this song occurs during an orgy).  I've seen The Tales of Hoffman before but now I really want to see it again!  After the intermission, Pink Martini and the orchestra performed an amazing arrangement of "Malaguena" by Ernesto Lecuona and it emphasized the piano rather than the Spanish guitar.  I really liked it.  My favorite moments during the second half were "Amado Mio," which is probably Pink Martini's best known song, and "Que sera sera."  Forbes introduced each member of Pink Martini and then Lauderdale introduced every single member of the Utah Symphony which was hilarious.  They ended the concert, as they often do, with an energetic version of "Brasil."  Forbes admonished the audience not to form a conga line but that didn't stop people from dancing in the aisles!  I enjoyed myself so much at this concert (and it was much needed after a difficult week).  They will be back at Abravanel Hall with the same program tonight and I definitely recommend getting a ticket (go here).