A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at the Empress

Over the past few years A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder has become one of my favorite musicals because it is absolutely hilarious!  I was really excited to see the Empress Theatre's version last night and I was certainly not disappointed!  This is an incredibly ambitious production and it is so well done that it might be the best show I've seen at the Empress!  After the death of his mother, Monty Navarro (Riley Grover) learns that she was once a member of the wealthy and aristocratic D'Ysquith family but was disinherited for marrying his father.  He is really Montague D'Ysquith Navarro and he is in line to inherit an earldom.  However, there are eight family members in line ahead of him!  When his vain and heartless girlfriend Sibela (Heather Shelley) marries the rich and handsome Lionel Holland, he decides to murder all eight family members ahead of him in the succession to become the Earl of Highhurst and win her back.  Standing in his way are the Reverend Lord Ezekiel D'Ysquith (who has an unfortunate fall from the bell tower of his cathedral), Asquith D'Ysquith, Jr. (who has a bizarre ice skating accident), Henry D'Ysquith (who is stung by bees from his own hive), Lady Hyacinth D'Ysquith (who disappears in deepest darkest Africa and is presumed dead), Major Lord Bartholomew D'Ysquith (who is decapitated while lifting weights), Lady Salome D'Ysquith Pumphrey (who is killed when a prop gun is mistakenly loaded with real bullets during her stage debut in Hedda Gabbler), Lord Asquith D'Ysquith, Sr. (who suffers a heart attack after hearing about all of the deaths in his family), and, finally, Lord Adalbert D'Ysquith, the Earl of Highhurst, (who is mysteriously poisoned).  Along the way, Monty falls in love with Phoebe D'Ysquith (Merci Hase) and marries her which makes Sibela jealous.  When Monty becomes the Earl of Highhurst he is arrested for the murder of Lord Adalbert, the only D'Ysquith death for which he is actually not responsible!  The charges are eventually dismissed when Phoebe and Sibela each give proof that the other committed the murder!  However, Monty might not live happily ever after because Chauncey D'Ysquith, the next in line to the earldom, is lurking!  The cast is absolutely stellar!  The entire D'Ysquith family is played by Chris Last and he is so hilarious with brilliant facial expressions and gestures (not to mention some quick wardrobe changes).  Every character has a distinct personality and I (along with everyone else in the audience) laughed out loud when each one made an appearance!  My favorites are the outrageously flamboyant Henry who thinks everything is "Better with a Man" and the over-the-top Lady Hyacinth who just wants to do some good in "Lady Hyacinth Abroad."  Grover is also outstanding with great comedic timing and both Shelley and Hase have beautiful voices, especially when they harmonize together in "That Horrible Woman."  The set, featuring an elaborate stage reminiscent of an old music hall, is one of the best I've seen at the Empress and I was very impressed with how seamlessly the ensemble move the many props on and off.  I especially enjoyed the clever staging of the singing portraits at Highhurst castle and Monty trying to keep Sibela and Phoebe apart in different rooms at his flat!  The beautiful period costumes are also some of the best I've seen at the Empress, particularly the women's gowns (but I have to admit I also loved all of the top hats worn by the men).  I loved everything about this show and I can't recommend it enough!  It runs through October 22 (go here for tickets).

Amsterdam

My nephew Sean really wanted to see Amsterdam and, since he is a busy high school senior with a job, I jumped at the opportunity to spend some time with him.  We saw it last night and, even though it is a bit convoluted with some messy tonal shifts, we both liked it (apparently far more than most people).  During the Great War, Dr. Burt Berendsen (Christian Bale) is assigned to a Black regiment where he meets Harold Woodsman (John David Washington).  They are both severely wounded and are cared for by Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie), an unconventional but wealthy and well-connected nurse.  After the war, the three of them bond as life-long friends during an idyll in Amsterdam but eventually they go their separate ways and return to the U.S.  It is now 1933 and Burt is a doctor who specializes in caring for veterans, Harold is a lawyer, and Valerie is an over-medicated invalid.  When Senator Bill Meekins (Ed. Begley, Jr.) dies under mysterious circumstances, his daughter Elizabeth (Taylor Swift) asks Burt and Harold to investigate because he was their commanding officer.  However, they become the prime suspects when she is also murdered just as they are about to reveal their findings.  They recruit Valerie to help clear their names and encounter Burt's estranged wife Beatrice Vandenheuvel (Andrea Riseborough) and her disapproving parents Augustus (Casey Biggs) and Alvelia (Dey Young), Valerie's brother Tom (Rami Malek) and his social climbing wife Libby (Anya Taylor-Joy), General Gil Dillenbeck (Robert De Niro), a sympathetic policeman (Matthias Schoenaerts) and his suspicious partner (Alessandro Nivola), an MI5 agent (Mike Myers) and his counterpart at Naval Intelligence (Michael Shannon) who pose as bird watchers, and representatives from an organization dedicated to replicating the beliefs espoused by a rising dictator in Europe, before discovering the truth at a reunion of their former regiment.  This cast is absolutely amazing and I loved all of the performances, especially Malek and Myers who made me laugh out loud every time they were on screen, but I will say that I enjoyed individual scenes more than the whole.  There is definitely a lot going on with commentary on just about everything from racism to PTSD to the rise of fascism but I was particularly struck by the theme of friendship and the importance of choosing who you love.  The mad-cap humor is often at odds with these heavy themes but, ultimately, I thought it was very entertaining and definitely not as bad as the critics are suggesting.

The Lion King at the Eccles

The first time I saw The Lion King was on a theatre trip to London with PTC.  I was so overcome by all of the animals marching down the aisles during "Circle of Life" that I actually shed a tear!  I have since seen in on Broadway and in SLC several times but I don't think I will ever get tired of it!  I had the chance to see it again last night at the Eccles and it was just as magical as the first time (I sat on the aisle and I have to admit that, once again, I had a tear in my eye when the baby elephant walked by me).  This musical tells the well-known story of how a lion cub learns how to be a king and I love everything about it!  The puppets and prosthetics used to represent the animals are absolutely amazing (my favorites are the giraffes and elephants) and after a while you don't even see the actors who are manipulating the puppets any more because they transform themselves so completely.  I also really like the use of light and shadow in many of the scenes, especially during the confrontation with Scar.  The staging is brilliant, especially when Mufasa and Simba frolic on the grasslands, when Sarabi and the lionesses hunt an antelope, when Simba is trapped during the wildebeest stampede in the gorge (it actually looks like the wildebeests are running towards the audience), when Timon falls into the river, and when Mufasa appears to Simba in the stars.  I also really like all of the choreography with the hyenas (I forgot that they come down the aisles during "Chow Down").  Many of the songs from the animated classic are included but there are also some new ones.  I love all of the traditional African music but I got goosebumps when Aaron Nelson, as Mufasa, sang "They Live in You," when Khalifa White, as Nala, sang "Shadowland" (my favorite song in the show), when Darian Sanders, as Simba, sang "Endless Night," and when Gugwana Dlamini, as Rafiki, sang "He Lives in You."  Of course, "Hakuna Matata" with Tony Freeman as Timon and John E. Brady as Pumbaa is a lot of fun and Spencer Plachy as Scar is suitably villainous in "Be Prepared."  I am so happy that I had the chance to see this wonderful show again and I highly recommend getting a ticket during the SLC run (go here for tickets).  I especially recommend it to families because the children all around me were awe-struck by all of the animals!

The Addams Family at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse

Last night I went to the second production of The Addams Family in as many weeks. This time it was the Terrace Plaza Playhouse's version and, once again, I had a lot of fun watching it. The Addams family relies on their dead ancestors to help them through life and they need them now more than ever because Wednesday (Arianna Evans) has fallen in love with a boy from Ohio named Lucas Beineke (Trey Cornell). She wants his uptight parents, Mal (Josh Curtis) and Alice (Jana Plowman), to meet her family, including her father Gomez (Nathan Sachs), her mother Morticia (Natalie Petersen), her brother Pugsley (Amauree Mack), her uncle Fester (David Storm), her Grandma (Carla Zarate), and their butler Lurch (Drew Saddler), so she arranges a dinner and requests that they give her just one normal night. Chaos ensues when a mishap involving a poisonous potion occurs and it is up to Uncle Fester, with the help of the ancestors (Antonio Moya, Colby Majors, Ethan Page, Evelyn Bush, Ian Wellisch, Isabelle Page, Kade Saddler, Kayley Turner, Kelsey Turner, Kysa Ronnow, McKenna Plowman, McLain Reid, Mikelle Shupe, Nataly Hirano, Olivia Page, Savanna Hewitt, and Shane Alvey), to convince everyone that love is the answer. I really enjoyed the choreography in this production, especially all of the big song and dance numbers featuring the ancestors. This was the biggest group of ancestors I have seen used in this show and they are integrated into the choreography very well, particularly in "When You're An Addams," "Trapped," "One Normal Night," "Full Disclosure," "Just Around the Corner," and "Move Toward the Darkness." I also liked having the ancestors as part of the choreography for "Tango De Amor" because I have not seen that done before (I really like seeing subtle differences in productions since the same shows are often repeated by Utah theatres). Evans is one of the best Wednesdays I've seen and I loved her renditions of "Pulled" and "Crazier Than You" because she has a beautiful voice. I also enjoyed Cornell as Lucas (he is a Timothee Chalamet lookalike with all of his same awkward mannerisms), Mack as Pugsley (he is adorable), and Curtis as Mal (his facial expressions had me laughing out loud), but Saddler steals the show as Lurch (he is often in the background but you should watch everything he does because all of his actions are hilarious). The costumes are fantastic, especially those worn by the ancestors (my favorites were the World War I soldier, the Highland lass, and the conquistador) because they are so elaborate! The set is very minimal but suitably atmospheric with lots of spooky details (I loved the organ). My only disappointment was the with the moon.  During "Move Toward the Darkness," the entire cast gestured to the moon so we all turned our attention to it and nothing happened.  I'm not sure if there were technical difficulties but it was a bit anticlimactic. This is a minor criticism because the show is fantastic and I recommend it as a fun activity perfect for Halloween.  It runs through November 12 (go here for tickets).

The Mummy and The Bride of Frankenstein Double Feature

I really enjoyed the Universal Monsters double features last year (go here and here) so I was excited to learn that a new series of movies is being presented this year, starting with The Mummy and The Bride of Frankenstein.  I had a lot of fun seeing both of these for the first time on the big screen yesterday afternoon!  First up was The Mummy and I really liked it because it was more atmospheric than scary.  During an archaeological expedition in Egypt conducted by Sir Joseph Whemple (Arthur Byron), the mummy of Imhotep (Boris Karloff) is discovered and accidentally brought back to life by the Scroll of Thoth buried next to him.  Ten years later, Imhotep (now known as Ardeth Bey) is desperate to be with his forbidden love, the Princess Ankh-esen-amun, and assists Joseph's son Frank (David Manners) in locating her tomb during a new expedition.  Imhotep comes to believe that a half-Egyptian woman named Helen Grosvener (Zita Johann) is the reincarnation of Ankh-esen-amun and uses all of his powers to try to kill her so she can be mummified and brought back to life again with the Scroll of Thoth.  However, David has fallen in love with Helen and will do anything to stop Imhotep.  The backstory of how Imhotep was buried alive as punishment for stealing the Scroll of Thoth in order to bring Anks-esen-amun back to life is presented as a dream to Helen and his suffering is used as justification for wanting to kill her.  In my opinion, this entitlement is what makes the character of Imhotep so menacing.  Karloff gives an incredibly unsettling performance because he is so still and I was very impressed with the makeup for the mummy (even if this version of the character is not on screen for very long).  Next was The Bride of Frankenstein which is a direct sequel to Frankenstein.  Percy Shelley (Douglas Walton) and Lord Byron (Gavin Gordon) praise the story that Mary Shelley (Elsa Lanchester) once wrote during a stormy night on Lake Geneva but she informs them that there is much more and, as it is another stormy night, she continues (I really liked this framing device).  Both Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) and the Monster (Boris Karloff) survive the fire at the windmill.  Frankenstein returns to Elizabeth (Valerie Hobson) but he still feels compelled to find the secret of immortality until his mentor, Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger), visits him wanting to collaborate on a new creature and he refuses.  To persuade Frankenstein, Pretorius has the Monster, who now wants a bride, kidnap Elizabeth.  Once again, I was impressed with the vulnerability that Karloff imbues the Monster with, especially in the scenes with the blind hermit (O. P. Heggie).  I also loved all of the elaborate gadgets used to harness the electricity needed to bring life to the bride (Elsa Lanchester) as well as the timpani used in the score for this scene.  Finally, Minnie (Una O'Connor), Elizabeth's maid, brings a lot of unexpected comic relief that made me laugh out loud at one point!  I really enjoyed these movies (seeing them was the perfect way to spend the first day of October) and I definitely recommend seeking them out.

Note:  Fathom Events will also be presenting Creature from the Black Lagoon and Phantom of the Opera as a double feature later this month (go here for more information and tickets).

The Good House

I am a big fan of Sigourney Weaver and, based on the trailer, I (mistakenly) thought The Good House would be a charming story about two people finding love later in life.  As such I decided to see it last night at the Broadway but, honestly, I wish I had gone next door to see Bros with all of the cool kids.  Hildy Good (Weaver) has been the top realtor in a coastal town in Massachusetts for decades and has always been the life of the party.  She provides financial support for her adult daughters, Tess (Rebecca Henderson) and Emily (Molly Brown), alimony to the ex-husband (David Rasche) who left her for a man, and emotional support to a newcomer (Morena Baccarin) to the community.  After a stint in rehab, however, her business is in trouble after a betrayal from someone she once mentored (Kathryn Erbe) and she is confused by a new relationship with an old flame (Kevin Kline).  She begins drinking again, with escalating consequences, until a near tragedy forces her to reach out for help.  Hildy breaks the fourth wall over and over to tell the audience that she is not an alcoholic even though her actions prove otherwise.  Despite a strong performance from Weaver, I found this to be an absolute mess.  There are way too many characters and subplots, including an incomprehensible one alluding fact that Hildy may or may not be a witch like one of her ancestors, and the tonal shifts are all over the place.  The best part is Hildy's relationship with her high school boyfriend Frank (Weaver and Kline have an appealing and lived-in chemistry) but, alas, it does not figure in the plot as much as I thought (or hoped) it would.  This is a boring Lifetime movie about an alcoholic being marketed as a romantic comedy and it certainly was not for me.

Smile

This year has been a great one for the horror genre!  I have seen more horror movies this year than in the past five years combined (some of my favorites include Pearl, Barbarian, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Nope, The Black Phone, Crimes of the Future, X, and Scream) and I added another one to the list last night by seeing Smile.  It is probably not destined to be among my favorites but I enjoyed it for the commentary on trauma.  Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) works at an emergency psychiatric unit and is clearly stressed, overworked, and plagued by a recurring nightmare when she is called in to conduct an intake interview with a psychotic patient named Laura Weaver (Caitlin Stasey).  She hysterically claims to be haunted by a smiling malevolent entity before she smiles at Rose and then cuts her own throat.  It turns out that Laura witnessed the gruesome suicide of one of her professors, who experienced similar hallucinations, before taking her own life and now Rose believes that she might be next.  There are quite a few jump scares but I didn't find them to be particularly scary (several of them elicited laughter from my audience) because most of them are telegraphed well in advance.  However, the narrative is quite unsettling because you are never really sure if Rose is experiencing something real or if her hallucinations are in response to witnessing her mother's suicide when she was a child.  The central theme of unresolved trauma and the PTSD that accompanies it is very intriguing, especially in regards to how it impacts the people around those who suffer from it.  I also liked the use of a smile as a metaphor for repressed trauma because people often smile through their pain and there is a powerful scene where Rose, who is obviously suffering, attempts a smile at a birthday party because it is expected of her.  Bacon gives a compelling and convincing central performance as a woman who is becoming increasingly desperate but I didn't like her character's resolution because I think it sends the wrong message about mental health (in my opinion the movie should have ended ten minutes before it did).  Despite a few flaws, this movie is a great start to the spooky season and I recommend it to horror fans.

Pearl

I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked X so I have been anticipating the release of the prequel Pearl ever since I learned about it!  I finally had the chance to see it last night and I think it is a brilliant character study that sets up the events in X very well.  It is 1918 and Pearl (Mia Goth) longs for a more exciting life but her husband Howard (Alistair Sewell) has abandoned her to fight overseas and she is now trapped on her family's farm caring for her infirm father (Mathew Sunderland) and her judgmental mother (Tandi Wright).  She is further alienated from everyone around her when her plans to become the biggest star in the world do not come to fruition.  She eventually decides to take matters into her own hands, thereby becoming the villain we meet in X.  This has a very different style than X, which is an homage to the slasher films of the 1970s such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and takes its visual cues from the Technicolor films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, especially The Wizard of Oz.  It also has a very different tone and feels more like a melodrama than a horror film (even though it has plenty of gore) with a sweeping score to match.  However, it is a perfect complement to the earlier movie because it adds another layer to Pearl's motivation.  She is obviously mourning her lost youth but now we see that she is also envious of all the opportunities that she did not have and I actually found her to be a bit sympathetic.  Goth gives an amazing performance with a monologue in the third act that blew me away where she tearfully confesses to everything she has done and laments the fact that she really had no choice.  It is a very powerful moment.  I was also mesmerized by the long close-up on her face during the end credits!  As with X, I enjoyed this so much more than I was expecting and I recommend it to fans of its predecessor.

Note:  A sequel to X called MaXXXine is coming soon and I'm beyond excited for it!

Bright Star at CPT

I love the musical Bright Star so I am always happy for any opportunity to see it. Last night I saw a production at CPT and it is absolutely stellar! The story takes place in North Carolina during the 1920s and just after World War II and features incredible bluegrass music by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Alice Murphy (Anya Wilson) is a young and rebellious teenager in the small town of Zebulon where she regularly exasperates her mother (Jan Williams Smith) and father (Brent Sloan). She begins a romance with Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Jared Haddock) but his father, the Mayor (John Philpott), conspires to separate them. Twenty-two years later, just after the war, Billy Cane (Alex Young) returns to his hometown of Hayes Creek to visit his father (Chad Wilkinson) and his childhood friend Margo (Abigail Ford). However, he soon decides to try writing for a magazine in Ashville where he meets Alice, now an uptight editor who mentors him. The narrative alternates between both timelines as Alice learns to deal with love, loss, forgiveness, and redemption. Even though I have seen it multiple times (PTC, HCT, and HCTO) and know the big twist, I still find the story to be incredibly powerful and heartwarming. I love all of the songs, especially "If You Knew My Story," "Asheville," "I Can't Wait," "Sun's Gonna Shine,"and "I Had a Vision." Wilson (I saw her in the same role at HCTO) has a beautiful voice that is very well suited to the bluegrass genre and I had tears in my eyes during her emotional rendition of "Please Don't Take Him." I was also very impressed by her physical transformation, which happens right before our eyes, from the uptight editor to the rebellious teenager during "Way Back in the Day." Her wardrobe and hair change but it is her expression and physicality that really distinguishes the younger from the older character. The rest of the cast is really strong, one of the strongest I've seen at CPT, but the standouts for me are Haddock, especially the emotionally charged confrontation with his father in "Heartbreaker," and Ford, because she shows a lot of vulnerability in "Asheville." The set features the bare outline of a rustic cabin (I especially loved the rafters with lanterns hanging from them) with many items, such as barrels, crates, wooden doors, fence posts, chairs, and signs, used in multiple configurations to become a book shop, an office, the Mayor's house, a train, and other locations. The members of the ensemble move these items on and off stage seamlessly and it is extremely clever! The choreography really emphasizes the time and place, especially the square dancing during the town social and the swing dancing in "Another Round," as do the costumes. Finally, I really enjoyed the staging of the pivotal train sequence in the reprise of "A Man's Gotta Do" because it is very dramatic (make sure to look up at the top of the proscenium). My only disappointment is that there wasn't a live bluegrass band on stage because it adds so much to the overall feel of the show. Nevertheless, I was very impressed with this production and it is definitely one of my favorites at CPT!  It runs through October 22 (go here for tickets).

Don't Worry Darling

I was already really intrigued by Don't Worry Darling before all of the drama surrounding the production was revealed but I have to admit that it definitely fueled my interest in seeing it!  I had the chance last night and, while there are a few issues, I actually liked it!  Jack Chambers (Harry Styles) and his wife Alice (Florence Pugh) are a young and passionate couple living in a utopian community known as the Victory Project in the middle of the California desert in the 1950s.  Victory is the brainchild of Frank (Chris Pine), a charismatic leader who aspires to make the world a better place, and his supportive wife Shelley (Gemma Chan).  Every day Jack and the rest of the men in Victory, including Dean (Nick Kroll), Peter (Asis Ali), and newcomer Bill (Douglas Smith), leave their well appointed homes for classified work at a secret installation.  Alice and her friends Bunny (Olivia Wilde), Peg (Kate Berlant), Margaret (KiKi Layne), and Violet (Sydney Chandler) happily cook, clean, and care for their husbands (even meeting them at the door with a drink) while their every want and need is fulfilled.  However, their perfect lives are disrupted when Alice ventures into an off-limits area of the desert and then begins questioning what is happening in Victory.  The best part of this movie is Pugh's performance because she is entirely believable as a woman who comes undone while her husband and everyone around her doubt what is happening to her.  Her terror is absolutely palpable.  Pine is also outstanding because he is so creepy, especially in a scene where Alice confronts Frank.  Styles has been much maligned for his performance but I think he is fine and delivers what the character demands (I won't say any more to avoid spoilers).  The visuals are stunning and I loved the stylish 1950s aesthetic in the production design and all of the gorgeous period costumes.  I found the premise, including the twist (which was not what I was expecting), to be interesting and very thought-provoking but my biggest complaint with this movie is that the resolution is rushed and anticlimactic.  I was left with way too many unanswered questions.  It is, however, so much better than I was led to believe based on the discourse coming out of the Venice Film Festival and I think fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy it!

The Goonies in Concert

Last night's Utah Symphony concert featured The Goonies on the big screen while the orchestra played the score by Dave Grusin live.  This movie is such a nostalgic favorite of mine so it was really fun!  The Walsh family is facing a foreclosure on their house so it can be bulldozed to make room for a golf course.  Mikey Walsh (Sean Astin) is spending a final night with his friends, a group of quirky misfits known as the Goonies, including Chunk (Jeff Cohen), Mouth (Corey Feldman), and Data (Ke Huy Quan).  They end up exploring in the attic and find a 1632 doubloon and a map which they believe will lead to a long lost treasure hidden by the pirate One-Eye Willy.  Mikey convinces his friends to use the map to find the treasure because that will enable his family to stop the foreclosure and they are eventually joined by Mikey's older brother Brand (Josh Brolin), Brand's crush Andy (Kerri Green), and Andy's friend Stef (Martha Plimpton).  The map takes them to a series of tunnels leading to a grotto where they find One-Eye Willy's ship, the Inferno.  All they have to do is elude all of the booby traps as well as the Fratelli crime family, made up of Ma (Anne Ramsey), Jake (Robert Davi), Francis (Joe Pantoliano), and Sloth (John Matuszak), who are in hot pursuit.  This movie features a lot of really exhilarating action sequences and the score complements them so well.  I loved the main theme, "Fratelli Chase," because it is so stirring and the brass is featured very heavily with a fun fanfare by the trumpets.  It is first heard during the police chase after the Fratellis break Jake out of jail and it is repeated throughout as the Goonies travel through the tunnels and when they fight the Fratellis on the Inferno.  I also enjoyed the use of the Bond theme and the Superman theme.  As always, hearing the score played live was such an immersive experience and I loved all of the audience participation!  People cheered enthusiastically for all of the iconic lines (especially "Hey You Guys!" and "Goonies Never Say Die!").  I had such a great time last night and, if you haven't attended a film in concert with the Utah Symphony, I highly recommend doing so.  Next in the series is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One in October (go here for tickets).

Jackson Browne at Sandy Amphitheater

I saw Jackson Browne open for James Taylor last year and, even though I only really knew "Somebody's Baby," "Doctor My Eyes," and "Running on Empty," I enjoyed his set so much that I decided to get a ticket to see his headlining show last night at Sandy Amphitheater.  I loved this concert and it was the perfect way to end the summer!  Of course he played all three of the aforementioned songs (he began with "Somebody's Baby" and ended with "Running on Empty") but I actually liked every other song he sang, too.  My favorites from his main set were "The Long Way Around," "Downhill From Everywhere," "In the Shape of a Heart," "Until Justice is Real," and "The Pretender" (which I recognized from his earlier concert because he performed it with James Taylor).  For the encore he sang "Take It Easy" which is an Eagles song but he wrote it with Glenn Frey.  He told us that he didn't like to perform it when he was younger because reviewers always called it an Eagles cover but now he doesn't care and performs it any way!  I'm glad he changed his mind because it was amazing (the audience sang every word).  Browne alternated between playing the guitar and playing the piano (he had a great band backing him) and he was incredibly funny and charismatic!  People kept shouting out names of songs they wanted him to play and his responses were hilarious.  When he started to play a song that had been requested frequently he stopped and shrugged his shoulders when the response was a bit tepid before starting again to massive cheers and applause and he told the crowd to settle down when another song was frequently requested because he would get to it later!  It was a really mellow concert and I enjoyed listening to music performed live under the stars for the last time this season (I also enjoyed the cooler temperature).

SIX in Las Vegas

Yesterday my sister Kristine and I went on a quick road trip to Las Vegas to see SIX at the Smith Center.  Both of us are huge fans of the music in this show (we listened to the cast recording during the whole drive) and we were so excited to finally have a chance to see it!  The former wives of King Henry VIII, including Catherine of Aragon (Gerianne Perez), Anne Boleyn (Zan Berube), Jane Seymour (Amina Faye), Anna of Cleves (Terica Marie), Katherine Howard (Aline Mayagoitia), and Catherine Parr (Sydney Parra), get together to perform a concert with their Band, The Ladies in Waiting (Katie Coleman on Keybords, Sterlyn Termine on Bass, Liz Faure on Guitars, and Caroline Moore on Drums).  Since they have no leader, they decide that it should be the one who has suffered the most heartache and then each Queen proceeds to tell her story.  Catherine of Aragon (Divorced) agreed to leave her homeland at age 15, come to a country where she didn't speak the language, marry a man, spend seven years in a nunnery after he died, and then marry his brother but she didn't agree to be replaced in "No Way."  Anne Boleyn (Beheaded) is sorry not sorry because she was just trying to have a little fun (what was she meant to do?) in "Don't Lose Ur Head."  Jane Seymour (Died) loved Henry but she knows that his love for her was only because of her son in "Heart of Stone."  Anna of Cleves (Divorced) was rejected by Henry for being ugly but brags about getting a castle out of it in "Get Down."  Katherine Howard (Beheaded) says she couldn't help it if she drove all the boys wild and that they used her for one thing in "All You Wanna Do."  Catherine Parr (Survived) argues that even though she survived her marriage she sacrificed true love for it in "I Don't Need Your Love."  However, they ultimately decide that they do not want to be defined by Henry and that they should lead the group together in "Six."  This is the ultimate ode to girl power and each Queen's song embodies her history so well (this show is so clever!).  I loved the fact that each performance is inspired by a real life pop star (Aragon by Beyonce, Boleyn by Avril Levigne, Seymour by Adele, Cleves by Nicki Minaj, Howard by Ariana Grande, and Parr by Alicia Keyes).  The costumes have a Tudor silhouette but feature the fabrics and bling of contemporary pop princesses and the dramatic lighting is so much fun (my favorite moment was when Henry swipes left then right while looking at profile pictures in "Haus of Holbein").  I enjoyed every Queen but I had goosebumps during Faye's performance of "Heart of Stone" because she just about blew the roof off the Smith Center!  Both Kristine and I really loved this show and we both agreed that it was definitely worth the drive to Las Vegas (we both hope that it comes to SLC at some point).

Note:  I am so glad that my sister was able to get the time off to go because she is the one who introduced this show to me and we had so much fun together!

Scapin at PTC

I am a huge fan of Moliere (Tartuffe and The Imaginary Invalid are two of my very favorite plays) but I had never seen Scapin before so I was really looking forward to the contemporary retelling of this classic play now being performed at PTC. I had the chance to see it last night and it is an absolute riot! The setting is Naples in the 1960s and, while their mothers have been away, Octave (Alex Walton) has secretly married Hyacintha (Andrea Morales) and Leandre (Adrian Baidoo) has fallen in love with Zerbinette (Lucy Lavely) despite the fact that both women are unsuitable and their mothers have already made far grander marriage plans for them. When Arganta (Celeste Ciulla) and Geronta (Sofia Jean Gomez) return to Naples, their sons are desperate. They beg Leandre's servant Scapin (Kate Middleton) to intervene with their mothers on their behalf and hilarity ensues when she uses lies and tricks to keep the young couples together! The happy ending is assured when the identities of Hyacintha and Zerbinette are revealed and Scapin is forgiven by Arganta and Geronta. One of my favorite elements of this new adaptation is the use of Zerbinette's band, The Gypsies, as a sort of Greek chorus to explain and comment upon the action with pop songs (my favorites were "Trouble" by Taylor Swift, "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)" by The Beastie Boys, "Material Girl" by Madonna, and "Oops!...I Did It Again" by Britney Spears). Another favorite element is the comedic physicality of the performances! At one point Scapin enlists the help of Octave's servant Sylvestre (Xavier Reyes), usually mild-mannered, to threaten Arganta and when he brandishes his sword and accidentally stabs his own foot the crowd erupted in laughter and applause. I also laughed out loud when Scapin has Geronta hide while she pretends to fight imaginary bandits. In addition to Middleton, Ciulla, Gomez, and Reyes, I also enjoyed Baidoo's over the top performance, especially when he is interrogating Scapin. Since this adaptation is set in the 1960s, the costumes are absolutely fantastic with lots of bold colors and patterns. I particularly loved an embroidered frock coat worn by Leandre! The set of a colorful courtyard in Naples, featuring a trattoria on one side (with a portrait of Sophia Loren inside), a cafe on the other, and a working fountain in the center, is truly a sight to behold with lots of fun details. I loved the cafe lights strung across the stage, the parked Vespa, the vegetable stands (the contents of which become amusing props), the potted plants, and the gelato cart (which makes an appearance in the second act). I loved this show (I don't think I stopped laughing all night) and I highly recommend it for a bit of fun!  It runs at PTC until October 1 (go here for tickets).

Note: I had the chance to visit Pere Lachaise Cemetery on a trip to Paris. Most people ask for directions to Jim Morrison's grave but I asked for directions to Moliere's.

The Addams Family at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

Last night I had the chance to see The Addams Family at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts. This is such a fun show and I thoroughly enjoyed this production! The Addams family is not like other families because they are all obsessed with the macabre and rely on their dead ancestors, including a conquistador (Daniel Cespedes), a saloon girl (Emily Thompson), a caveman (Kooper Throckmorton), a 1950s girl (Olivia Hymas), a Civil War soldier (Brennan Salazar), a flight attendant (Tiffany Gibbons), a Puritan (Austin Simcox), a flapper (Emma Rollins),a pirate (Scott Welty), a nurse (Samantha Osmond), an aristocrat (Brenner Finch), and a ballerina (Savannah Ogden), to help them through life. Things start to go wrong when Wednesday (Sydney Swalberg) falls in love with a normal Midwestern boy named Lucas Beineke (Danny Kenny). She wants to introduce his uptight parents, Mal (Joel Griffiths) and Alice (Lauren Slagowski), to her family which includes her father Gomez (Garrett Smit), her mother Morticia (Lauren Billings), her brother Pugsley (Iuli Peters), her uncle Fester (Samuel Benson), her Grandma (Alyssa Perez), and their undead butler Lurch (Merick Masters). She arranges a dinner party and begs her family for just one normal night.  Chaos ensues when a mishap happens involving one of Grandma's poisonous potions and a game of full disclosure goes awry! It is up to Uncle Fester, with the help of the ancestors, to convince everyone that love is the answer! My favorite part of this production is the choreography and I especially enjoyed all of the big song and dance numbers involving the ancestors, such as "When You're An Addams," "But Love," "Secrets," "The Moon and Me," and "Move Toward the Darkness." The entire cast is outstanding but Smit and Billings are absolutely perfect as Gomez and Morticia! I laughed out loud at just about everything they said and did! Smit is quite the Latin lover in "Trapped" and "Not Today," Billings is an absolute hoot in "Just Around the Corner," especially her interactions with the Grim Reaper and the fantastic kick-line with the ancestors, and the two of them are incredibly sultry together in "Tango De Amor." The costumes are a lot of fun, especially Morticia's slinky gown, Gomez's pinstripe suit, and Wednesday's black and purple houndstooth dress.  The costumes for all of the ancestors are quite elaborate with lots of quirky details to enhance the characterization for each of them (every production that I have seen of this show has had its own distinctive group of ancestors).  The set of the Addams home is fantastic with a central staircase, a fireplace, patterned wallpaper in greens and golds, portraits of the ancestors, and a panel that opens up to reveal a Medieval torture chamber. There is also a backdrop featuring a cemetery with gravestones and a wrought iron gate and this, along with the use of fog, creates a very spooky atmosphere. This is a perfect show for Halloween (my favorite holiday) and is particularly appropriate for the whole family because of the message about the importance of families!  It runs through Oct. 8 and tickets may be purchased here.

The Woman King

The next movie on my list was The Woman King and I went back to the Broadway to see it last night.  I loved it so much!  The Kingdom of Dahomey has been under attack by the Oyo Empire who sell their fellow Africans as slaves to Europeans in return for guns so King Ghezo (John Boyega) is preparing for war.  General Nanisca (Viola Davis), the leader of an all-female group of warriors in Dahomey known as the Agojie, decides to train a new generation to fight in this war after a battle with many casualties.  Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) is left at the palace by her father for refusing to marry a man who beats her and she is soon enlisted to train with the Agojie by a veteran named Izogie (Lashana Lynch).  Nawi's independent spirit and recklessness attract Nanisca's attention but she also reminds her of a past trauma that affects her judgement in battle.  Ultimately, the Agojie are are instrumental in defeating the Oyo but Nanisca must fight a more personal battle.  There are a few subplots, including a possible romance between Nawi and a Portuguese visitor with ties to Dahomey and an attempt by one of Ghezo's wives to discredit Nanisca, that are not quite as compelling but I was definitely riveted by the relationship between Nanisca and Nawi and I may or may not have cheered out loud during a key moment between them.  The battle sequences are spectacular and it is actually quite thrilling to see all of these women engaging in hand-to-hand combat with cinematography that is incredibly immersive.  I loved the production design, especially the beautiful costumes and all of the rituals and ceremonies, as well as the atmospheric score.  Davis gives a brilliant and physically transformative performance that shows not only Nanisca's strength but also her vulnerability.  Mbedu is also outstanding as a young woman searching for her place in the world and Boyega gives several stirring speeches that gave me goosebumps but my favorite performance belonged to Lynch because her character is such a wisecracking bad ass (she steals every scene she is in)!  I love historical epics and this is a really good one!  I highly recommend it!

See How They Run

There are so many new releases this weekend and I want to see most of them!  I'm a little bit behind but I started with See How They Run at the Broadway last night and, as a huge fan of Agatha Christie, I really enjoyed it!  While the cast and crew celebrate the 100th performance of Agatha Christie's play The Mousetrap in London's West End, Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody), a sleazy Hollywood director trying to adapt the play into a film, is killed by a mysterious man in a dark overcoat and a felt hat.  The cynical and often inebriated Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and the eager but prone to jumping to conclusions Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) are sent to investigate.  As they interview the stars of the play, Richard Attenborough (Harris Dickinson) and Sheila Sim (Pearl Chanda), theatre impresario Petula Spencer (Ruth Wilson), film producer John Woolf (Reece Shearsmith), and screenwriter Mervyn Cocker-Norris (David Oyelowo), they realize that everyone had a motive to kill him.  When all of the suspects arrive at the estate of Dame Agatha Christie (Shirley Henderson) and her husband Captain Mallowan (Lucian Msamati), it seems as if life is imitating art with a resolution similar to The Mousetrap but then it becomes even more meta!  This is a hilarious spoof of the whodunit genre (it works better as a spoof than it does as a murder mystery) with lots of Easter eggs from the theatre world and Christie's works, my favorite being when a character breaks the fourth wall at the end to admonish the audience not to reveal the murderer (just as characters do in the play).  I loved the glamorous 1950s London aesthetic in the production design, especially the clothes, cars, theatres, and hotels.  Ronan is fantastic with great comedic timing and Rockwell is a lot of fun as her straight man but the entire cast is outstanding (I loved Oyelowo and his mustache).  I had a lot of fun with this but your enjoyment might depend on knowing a little bit about The Mousetrap (I saw it last year at HCT).

Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto

Many amazing musicians have graced the stage at Abravanel Hall over the years but I don't think I have ever felt such a palpable excitement in the audience as I did last night for soloist Nemanja Radulovic!  In fact, before the concert began a member of the orchestra told me that I was in for a treat and that ended up being an understatement!  Changes had to be made to the original program because of Covid so the orchestra, under the baton of guest conductor Alexandre Bloch (who was almost as charismatic as Radulovic), began with Pavane by Gabriel Faure and I loved it!  It is based on a Spanish court dance from the sixteenth century and it is very delicate and airy with beautiful themes by the flute.  Then Radulovic joined the orchestra for Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto which is one of my favorite pieces by one of my favorite composers!  I love Tchaikovsky because, in my opinion, his music is very emotional and this piece is no exception because it is incredibly passionate.  I especially love the second movement because it is just a little bit mournful with a beautiful theme played by the solo clarinet.  But, honestly, it was hard to pay attention to any instrument other than the solo violin!  Radulovic gave such a dynamic performance that he was spellbinding!  I literally couldn't take my eyes off of him as he played faster and faster and with more and more intensity!  I don't think I have ever heard this piece played better (the audience agreed with me because Radulovic received a thunderous standing ovation after the first movement).  It was thrilling, to say the least, and I am positive that this performance will be a highlight of the 2022-2023 season!  After the intermission, the orchestra played Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 "Italian."  This piece was written in response to the impressions Mendelssohn had while taking a ten month journey through Italy.  I particularly enjoyed the woodwinds in the first movement, the militaristic fanfare played by the horns in the second movement, and the energetic conclusion.  This is a Utah Symphony concert that is not to be missed and there are even $20 rush tickets available for tonight!

Little Shop of Horrors at West Valley Arts

I was very excited to see Little Shop of Horrors at the West Valley Performing Arts Center last night. It has been a really long time since I've seen this show and I had a blast getting reacquainted with it. Seymour (Zack Elzey) and Audrey (MacKenzie Pedersen) both work in a run-down flower shop in Skid Row owned by the persnickety Mr. Mushnik (Michael Hohl). Seymour thinks that an unusual plant, which he found during a total eclipse of the sun, will bring more business to the shop. He can't find it in any reference book so he names it Audrey II because he is secretly in love with his co-worker. The shop becomes wildly successful because of Audrey II but Mr. Mushnik worries that it isn't thriving. Seymour inadvertently discovers that Audrey II likes drinking his blood after he cuts himself on a thorn and, eventually, it grows to a giant size and asks him to feed him more! When Seymour can't feed it any more of his blood, his first victim is Audrey's boyfriend Orin Scrivello (Douglas Irey), a sadistic dentist, which wins him the love of Audrey but her namesake now wants more and more! Seymour enjoys the notoriety that Audrey II brings him but soon feels guilty about everything he has done to feed it! He wants to get rid of it but he soon realizes that Audrey II has an evil plan for world domination! The music, which is a combination of rock and roll, doo-wop, and Motown, is fantastic and I especially enjoyed the songs "Little Shop of Horrors," "Skid Row (Downtown)," "Somewhere That's Green," and "Suddenly Seymour." A girl group comprised of Crystal (Nneka Barcelona), Chiffon (Anna Kaitlyn Burningham), and Ronnette (Daysha Lassiter) act as a chorus narrating the action and they sound amazing together! Elzey and Pedersen (who are both understudies) did a great job last night and I especially liked all of Elzey's nerdy and awkward mannerisms, particularly when Seymour tries to kiss Audrey. Irey is absolutely hilarious as Scrivello and I laughed out loud during his over the top rendition of "Dentist!" However, my favorite character was Audrey II (with Jared Lesa as its voice and Byerly Neilsen as puppeteer).  The elaborate puppet is a lot of fun and looks like a giant Venus flytrap with a mouth full of teeth that opens wide and roots that get bigger and bigger as the show goes on. Its song "Feed Me" is definitely a highlight of the show because Lesa has a smooth and seductive voice! The production design, including the set, lighting, and costumes, is outstanding and I was very impressed! I had a smile on my face through the whole show and I highly recommend it (go here for tickets and information).

Note:  I was so happy to see such a large crowd last night!

Love on the Brain

My September Book of the Month selection was Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood (the other options were The Attic Child by Lola Jaye, Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen, Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, and The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh). I am not a huge fan of the romance genre but I read The Love Hypothesis by Hazelwood for reasons and I absolutely loved it so, when I saw that her latest was a selection this month, I was really excited! Bee Konigswasser is offered the chance to be a co-leader for BLINK, a neuroengineering project at NASA, and it seems to be a dream come true until she discovers who her co-leader will be. The tall, dark, and handsome Levi Ward made it very clear that he doesn't like Bee when they were graduate students at Pitt and now she is going to have to work with him at NASA. When her equipment goes missing and she doesn't receive important emails from the team, she immediately blames her nemesis. However, when she overhears him defending her to their supervisor she wonders how he really feels about her and, even more importantly, she wonders how she really feels about him. Much like with The Love Hypothesis I loved the women in STEM aspect, particularly Bee's appreciation for Marie Curie, and it was very eye opening to learn that women in STEM are treated so disrespectfully by their male counterparts. I also enjoyed having the chapter titles named after parts of the brain and their corresponding emotions (I wasn't very knowledgeable about the science of the brain but it didn't detract from my enjoyment). I think the subplot involving Bee and Levi's friendly correspondence through their popular anonymous social media accounts while they have an antagonistic working relationship is a lot of fun and, even though the enemies-to-lovers trope is usually not my favorite, it really works. Finally, I loved the character of Levi because, like with Adam Carlsen, he is obviously modeled on the dark and brooding character played by my favorite actor and I enjoyed picturing him in my mind whenever Levi is described (sigh). My only complaint is that I didn't like the character of Bee as much as Olive Smith because she is a bit immature and her inane internal monologues are sometimes at odds with her portrayal as a brilliant neuroscientist. I didn't quite love it as much as The Love Hypothesis but I had a great time reading it and would definitely recommend it (especially to members of a certain fandom).

Lucky Stiff at HCT

Last night I saw the hilarious musical farce Lucky Stiff at Hale Theatre and I had so much fun!  Harry Witherspoon (Preston Taylor) is a mild mannered shoe salesman living in a dreary rented room when he unexpectedly receives a telegram informing him that an unknown uncle named Anthony Hendon (Zac Zumbrunnen) has died and bequeathed him six million dollars. However, to receive his inheritance he must take the corpse of his uncle on a final vacation to Monte Carlo and complete a number of activities detailed on a cassette tape around his neck. If he fails to complete any of these tasks, the six million dollars will go to Anthony's favorite charity, the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. Once he gets to Monte Carlo with the embalmed body in a wheelchair, Harry meets Anthony's legally blind mistress Rita La Porta (Claire Kenny) who believes that he embezzled the money from her husband and wants to get it back, Rita's optometrist brother Vinnie Di Ruzzio (Kelly DeHaan) who has been blamed for the theft and has a contract out on his life, a representative from the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn named Annabel Glick (Bre Welch) who wants to stop Harry from completing the list so that the dogs will receive the money, and Luigi Gaudi (David Marsden) a mysterious and flashy Italian who seems to be following him. Chaos ensues! What makes this show so funny is not only the situation, which becomes more and more absurd as it goes on, but also the brilliant cast! In addition to the main cast, Bryan Dayley (one of my favorite comedic actors at HCT), Cameron Garner, Ali Bennett, and Beatriz Melo portray a variety of different characters, and every performance is completely over the top with perfect comedic timing. Their physicality and facial expressions had me laughing out loud through the whole show! I especially enjoyed the scene where Harry and Annabel lose the body and run in and out of the various hallways of the hotel looking for it (lots of slamming doors)! All of the musical numbers are a lot of fun but my favorite is "Speaking French" by the nightclub singer Dominique (Beatriz Melo) as she attempts to seduce Harry. The show is set in the 1970s which means that the costumes are absolutely fabulous with bright colors, bold patterns, and lots of polyester! The stage, which reminded me of a game show with all of the flashing lights and multiple levels, includes a rotating panel that turns to reveal various locations with projections and elaborate set pieces. This is the perfect show to see for a fun night out and it runs on the Sorenson Legacy Jewel Box Stage through November 19 (go here for tickets).

Note:  Don't forget the new adaptation of The Unsinkable Molly Brown on the Young Living Main Stage through October 18 (go here for tickets).

Barbarian

After avoiding all spoilers for several days, I finally had the chance to see Barbarian and it was not at all what I was expecting!  Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell) is in town for a job interview and has booked an Airbnb in a remote and dilapidated neighborhood in Detroit but, when she arrives, she is dismayed to learn that it has also been booked by Keith Toshko (Bill Skarsgard) who is a little bit creepy.  Despite her misgivings she reluctantly decides to stay at the rental with Keith.  However, Keith might not be the only threat inside of the house.  That is really all you should know before you see this movie because there are twists and turns that you will never be able to predict!  I also suggest seeing this with the largest crowd possible because it is so bonkers that it makes for a really fun viewing experience with lots of other people.  It is very atmospheric and quite scary (one jump scare made me scream out loud and I was not the only one) but it is also highly amusing at times.  There is an unexpectedly powerful message about men who take advantage of women as well as some interesting commentary on how the real monsters are not always who we think they are.  Campbell is great in the role and I was pleasantly surprised to see a protagonist in a horror movie that doesn't spend the whole runtime screaming.  Skarsgard is incredibly unsettling, not for what he does, but because his motives are unclear.  I enjoyed this movie much more than I was expecting and I highly recommend it to fans of horror!

A Chorus Line at the Empress

Last night I went to see A Chorus Line at the Empress Theatre and I was beyond impressed with this production!  A large group of dancers are taking part in an audition for an upcoming Broadway show.  The director Zach (KC Cook) and his assistant Larry (Kayla Rydalch) take the group through the choreography and they all express their hope that they will be cast in the chorus.  Eventually, the group is narrowed down to Cassie (Taylor McKay Barnes), Kristine (Kayla McConkey), Richie (Tony Sao), Bebe (Gracie George), Diana (Michelle Garcia), Connie (Jenn George), Mark (Ezekiel Peterson), Greg (Shatan Duke), Al (Caden Terry), Paul (Darrin Burnett), Don (Jackson Ohey), Judy (Mariah Pitt), Maggie (Cassie Hurt-McLarty), Mike (Brady Neilsen), Val (Jenna Lynn), and Sheila (Larissa Pearson).  Zach wants to learn more than what is listed on their resumes so he asks them to talk about their experiences and what made each of them want to be a dancer and they do so with stirring musical numbers.  My favorite songs are "I Can Do That" where Mike talks about accompanying his sister to dance class, "At the Ballet" where Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie describe using ballet as an escape from their unhappy childhoods, and "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three" where Val describes getting more jobs after her plastic surgery.  As the group learns the choreography for a number from the show, Zach confronts Cassie and it is revealed that she was once the star of one of his shows, as well as his former lover, and he doesn't think she will fit in the chorus and he has a poignant moment with Paul who describes the difficulty he has had with his sexuality.  The group rehearses "One" and then the final eight dancers are selected.  This cast is one of the most talented I have seen at the Empress and there is not one weak link!  The standouts for me are Barnes who gives an amazing performance in "The Music and the Mirror," and Burnett who is absolutely spellbinding in his delivery of Paul's monologue (the crowd erupted in applause).  The cast also does an outstanding job of staying in character at all times, particularly Pearson who always has a jaded look on her face and Cook who is always evaluating each dancer as they perform.  The choreography is fantastic, especially in the opening number "I Hope I Get It" and "One" because the different groups learning the steps move seamlessly on and off the stage.  The set is very simple (the action takes place on a bare stage), with a curtain at one end and a mirrored wall at the other, as are the costumes with the exception of the sequined gold outfits worn during the bows.  I loved everything about this production and if you only see one show at the Empress this year it should definitely be this one!  There are three more performances next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (go here for tickets).

Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 3

It is opening weekend for the Utah Symphony 2022-2023 season and I was absolutely thrilled to be back at Abravanel Hall!  If last night's concert is any indication this season is going to be spectacular!  It has been a tradition for as long as I have been attending Utah Symphony concerts for the orchestra to begin the season by performing The Star Spangled Banner.  For some reason, I always find it to be very exciting so I always try to attend the opening concert in order to hear it.  After the national anthem we heard "Ride of the Valkyries" from the opera Die Walkure by Richard Wagner.  This piece depicts a group of Valkyries flying over a battlefield in order to escort fallen heroes to Valhalla and it is incredibly stirring.  I especially enjoyed the iconic themes played by the horns and brass.  Next came Short Ride in a Fast Machine by John Adams and I really loved this piece.  Of course I enjoyed the thrilling fanfare by the horns and brass meant to mimic riding in a fast Italian sports car but I was quite impressed by the percussion section because every member played multiple instruments (I loved the woodblock) and it was so much fun to watch them.  For Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 3, the orchestra was joined by soloist Stefan Dohr.  I am a huge fan of Mozart because his music is light, airy, and beautiful and this piece is no exception.  Mozart wrote it for his good friend Joseph Leutgeb, an accomplished horn player, and Dohr performed it brilliantly.  I found the solo in first movement to be a bit whimsical and amusing and the one in the third to be very energetic.  Next Dohr was joined by Utah Symphony horn players Edmund Rollett, Jessica Danz, and Stephen Proser as soloists for Konzertstuck for Four Horns and Orchestra by Robert Schumann.  The opening notes played by the soloists are very dramatic and I loved the interplay between the horns and the woodwinds.  After the intermission, the concert concluded with Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life) by Richard Strauss.  This piece is incredibly lush and I loved hearing the violin solos performed by Concertmaster Madeline Adkins and the fanfare performed by the trumpets off stage.  This concert was an amazing way to start the season and I enjoyed it immensely!  The same program will be performed again tonight and tickets may be purchased here.

Note:  Last season I sat by the most adorable little ladies and I have the same seat again this season.  Last night they greeted me warmly, asked me about my summer, and informed me that they would not be attending the concert next weekend so that I won't worry.  I love them!

To Kill a Mockingbird at the Eccles

The final show in the Broadway at the Eccles 2021-2022 season is To Kill a Mockingbird and I had the opportunity to see it last night.  I love the book by Harper Lee and the movie starring Gregory Peck so I knew I would enjoy this new production!  Jem (Justin Mark) and Scout (Melanie Moore) learn that their father Atticus (Richard Thomas) is a hero when he defends an innocent Black man named Tom Robinson (Yaegel T. Welch) against a charge of rape, even though he knows he will lose, simply because it is the right thing to do.  They also learn not to judge people until they have seen things from their perspective through their interactions with the irascible Mrs. Dubose (Mary Badham) and the reclusive Boo Radley (Travis Johns).  These themes are very powerful and I was incredibly moved.  I was impressed, and a little bit star-struck, by Thomas (better known for his portrayal of John Boy in The Waltons) who gives a brilliant performance.  I was holding my breath during his closing speech at the end of the trial because he was speaking directly to the audience as if we were the jury about the kind of change that still needs to happen in society for true equality and it was so powerful!  Welch is heartbreaking as Tom and, once again, I kept hoping that the verdict would be different this time.  The young actors, including the aforementioned Mark and Moore as well as Steven Lee Johnson as Dill, are impressive because they act as narrators as well as a part of the narrative.  I particularly enjoyed Johnson because Dill provides a bit of comic relief which is needed in a play with such heavy themes.  I also enjoyed seeing Badham as Mrs. Dubose because she played Scout in the movie!  The set, including the Maycomb courthouse and jail, the porch and dining room of the Finch house, and various streets in Maycomb, is quite elaborate but pieces are moved on and off very efficiently by the cast and I was impressed with how seamless it was.  This is an important show and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here).  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through Sept. 11.

Jagged Little Pill in Las Vegas

I have been a huge fan of Alanis Morissette ever since I heard the album Jagged Little Pill for the first time so the musical based on her music has been near the top of my must-see list for a really long time!  When I found out that it was part of the Broadway Las Vegas 2022-2023 season I immediately got a ticket and planned a little road trip.  People always think I'm crazy to drive such a long distance just to see a show but I had so much fun and I loved Jagged Little Pill!  The show includes most of the songs from Jagged Little Pill, including "All I Really Want," "You Oughta Know," "Perfect," "Hand in Pocket," "Forgiven," "You Learn," "Head Over Feet," "Mary Jane," "Ironic," "Not the Doctor," and "Wake Up," but it also includes songs from Morissette's other albums as well, including "So Unsexy," "So Pure," "That I Would Be Good," "Your House," "Unprodigal Daughter," "Uninvited," and snippets of "Hands Clean" and "Thank U."  Morissette also wrote the song "Smiling" especially for the show and it was one of the highlights for me!  I knew that I would love the music but I also found the story to be incredibly compelling!  The Healy family appears to be the perfect upper middle class suburban family but under the surface each of them are dealing with complicated issues.  Mary Jane (Heidi Blickenstaff) has become addicted to opioids after a car crash and an incident brings to light a past trauma that she has been repressing.  Her husband Steve (Chris Hoch) knows that something is wrong but he can't reach her so he retreats to his job more and more.  Her adopted daughter Frankie (Lauren Chanel), who is Black, is struggling to find her identity, her sexuality, and her voice about important causes she believes in while her son Nick (Dillon Klena) is buckling under the weight of his parents' high expectations.  Through their pain they learn that the most important thing is to love and accept each other.  There are many scenes that were so powerful and poignant that the audience spontaneously erupted in very enthusiastic cheering and applause and I was incredibly moved multiple times.  I especially loved the staging of "Smiling" as Mary Jane lives her day in reverse while trying to keep up appearances because the choreography is clever, particularly the soul cycle sequence, of "Forgiven" because Blickenstaff just about blows the roof off of the Smith Center as Mary Jane visits a church to deal with her trauma for the first time, of "You Oughta Know" when Jade McLeod, as Frankie's girlfriend Jo, accuses her of abandoning her for the new boy at school in a performance that generated a mid-show standing ovation, and finally of "Uninvited" (my favorite Morissette song) as Mary Jane literally wrestles with her younger self in order to continue repressing her trauma.  Also, the staging of "Ironic," when Frankie recites a poem in English class and is told by her classmates that she isn't using irony correctly, is proof that Morissette has a sense of humor!  I loved the performances, the dynamic choreography executed by the talented ensemble, the minimal sets and projections, and the message about healing so it was definitely worth the six hour drive!  If it ever comes to SLC I will probably see it multiple times!

Three Thousand Years of Longing

Yesterday was National Cinema Day, which meant that every movie in every format was only $3.00, so I decided to finally cross Three Thousand Years of Longing off my list.  I loved this visually stunning ode to storytelling!  Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton) is a solitary literary scholar who sometimes experiences hallucinations because of an overactive imagination.  On a trip to Istanbul she purchases an antique bottle and inadvertently releases the djinn (Idris Elba) trapped inside. He offers to grant three wishes, which will earn him his freedom, but she is wary because most stories involving wishes are cautionary tales.  He decides to tell her three stories detailing each time he came to be trapped in the bottle, including his interactions with the Queen of Sheba (Aamito Lagum), a concubine (Ece Yuksel) in the palace of Suleiman the Magnificent, and the wife (Burcu Golgedar) of a Turkish merchant.  She is enchanted by his stories and decides to use a wish to have him fall in love with her so that he will always be with her.  Back in London, however, she realizes that the only way for him to truly love her is to set him free.  I can certainly understand why Alithea falls in love with the djinn because Elba gives an incredibly appealing performance (he has such a great voice) and the stories he tells are compelling.  Just like Alithea, I was completely under his spell and my attention never wavered because of all of the beautiful images on the screen.  I feel like this movie could have gone on for at least another hour because I wanted to stay in this world a little bit longer.  I think that it loses a bit of steam when the action moves to London but I almost think this is intentional because Miller seems to be making a point that science and technology have taken away the wonder and magic of storytelling.  This won't be for everyone but I loved it and, if it sounds like something you would enjoy, definitely see it on the big screen!

The Unsinkable Molly Brown at HCT

Many years ago I had the opportunity to see the Broadway touring production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown with Debbie Reynolds in the title role. I don't really remember much about the show except for the fact that I was incredibly star-struck by Reynolds! Last night I saw a brand-new production at HCT that is more historically accurate than the original version and I enjoyed it even though it has a few issues.  This musical tells the story of Margaret "Molly" Tobin Brown (Kelly Coombs) and her life in the mining town of Leadville, Colorado, her marriage to the miner JJ Brown (Kaden Caldwell), her life in Denver after striking it rich with the discovery of gold in her husband's mine, her work as a social reformer, a champion of women's rights, and a labor organizer, and her ill-fated voyage on the Titanic. Brown's story is compelling and Coombs gives an energetic performance but I found the character to be incredibly static because she is the same irrepressible figure from the moment we meet her testifying before a Senate committee on the Titanic disaster to the final scene where she advocates for immigration reform after several Titanic survivors are refused entry into the United States. Her first big song and dance number is "I Ain't Down Yet" and absolutely nothing gets her down, even when Denver society rejects her and when her husband is unfaithful to her, for the entire duration of the show and I found it to be very one-note and exhausting to watch. The revised book by Dick Scanlan places all of the action during Act I in Leadville as Brown interacts with characters drawn from real life and I think it gets really bogged down (my mind sometimes wandered in between musical numbers). Conversely, I think events in Act II are rushed and I would have liked to see more about her time in Europe. Having said that, every aspect of the production itself is outstanding. As previously mentioned, Coombs is delightful and so is Caldwell, especially when he gets exasperated with Molly. My favorite songs are "I Ain't Down Yet," "Belly Up to the Bar, Boys," "Beautiful People of Denver," and "Share the Luck." The choreography in these songs is so much fun and the large ensemble execute it well. I was very impressed with how the sinking of the Titanic is staged because it features dramatic sound and light design. The costumes are wonderful, particularly all of Molly's highly embellished dresses in Act II. As is often the case with HCT, the set is amazing with elaborate pieces coming in from the wings, up from the pit, and down from the rafters. I especially enjoyed the mine and cabins in Leadville, the garden in Denver, the Brown mansion, and the lifeboat. Finally, the projections featuring historical photos and documents are fascinating and very well done. Having a postcard of the Titanic move from one LED screen to another to show the progress of the ship and then rip in half when it sinks is so clever! HCT does a great job with this show and, even though it has a few minor character development and pacing issues, I would definitely recommend it.  Go here for tickets but act quickly because many shows are already sold out.