Little Women at West Valley Arts

Last night I went to see Little Women at the West Valley Performing Arts Center. I fell in love with this musical when I saw a production at HCT (on the same stage!) and I enjoyed this show just as much! The story, based on the beloved classic by Louisa May Alcott, shows the March sisters, Jo (Lindsea Garside), Meg (Madison McGuire), Beth (Ellie Hughes), and Amy (Mia Hansen), coming of age in Concord, Massachusetts during and after the Civil War. We first meet Jo when she is in New York pursuing her dream of becoming a writer.  However, when Professor Bhaer (Josh Egbert), another resident at her boardinghouse, tells her that she should write about what she knows rather than the sensational pieces she has been submitting to magazines, there are flashbacks to the trials and triumphs of her adolescence with her sisters and mother "Marmee" (Heidi Hunt), her neighbor Theodore "Laurie" Laurence (Ricky Dowse), his grandfather Mr. Laurence (Nick Cash), and her Aunt March (Wanda Copier). Jo encounters sorrow in the death of a sister, disappointment in love with Laurie, redemption as she writes a story she can be proud of, and, ultimately, love with Professor Bhaer. I have always loved the character Jo (I wanted to be her the first time I read the novel) because she is so fiery and independent and the beautiful music adds another layer to her story. I especially love the songs "Astonishing" and "The Fire Within Me." Garside has a beautiful voice and the emotion that she puts into these songs make them incredibly powerful. I also really appreciated her passion in the scene with Aunt March when she learns that she won't be going to Europe because you could really feel her frustration. A number that put a smile on my face was "The Weekly Volcano Press" where Jo reads one of her sensational stories to Professor Bhaer as it is acted out. I found myself watching Garside more than what was happening on stage because she mouths all of the words as they are sung and she is so hilariously over the top! There are quite a few poignant moments with wonderful performances from the rest of the cast as well, such as when Hunt (who is the swing) as Marmee laments that her husband is not with her to help her raise their daughters in "Here Alone," when Cash as Mr. Laurence allows a bit of vulnerability to show through his gruff persona in "Off to Massachusetts," and when Hughes as Beth confesses that she knows she will die in "Some Things Are Meant to Be." I had a tear in my eye during the latter number. The choreography, especially in "Five Forever," is a lot of fun and the minimalist set is very effective. I was a little bit disappointed with some of the costumes and wigs but this didn't detract from my enjoyment. This production is extremely well done with lovely performances and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here).

Note:  I would really love to see larger audiences for this theater because every show I have seen (as an usher and a patron) has been outstanding and the ticket price is very reasonable!

An Evening With Brian Stokes Mitchell and the Utah Symphony

I have been lucky enough to see Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell perform several times, including an amazing concert with the Utah Symphony and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, so I was thrilled when I found out that he would be performing with the Utah Symphony again and I bought a ticket almost immediately!  The concert last night was in honor of Kem Gardner, a long time USUO board member, and it was wonderful!  He began with a lively rendition of "There's No Business Like Show Business" from Annie Get Your Gun and then performed an eclectic program featuring Broadway hits and standards from the great American songbook with lots of stories and anecdotes in between (he is so charming and engaging).  I especially enjoyed "Man of La Mancha" from Man of La Mancha (he was nominated for a Tony award for his performance as Don Quixote) and a very sultry version of "Feeling Good."  Many years ago, during a Bravo Broadway concert with the Utah Symphony, he performed one of the most beautiful versions of "Stars" from Les Miserables that I have ever heard and I have always wanted to hear him sing it again.  I got my wish last night and it was definitely the highlight of the concert for me!  He ended the set with "Wheels of a Dream" from Ragtime (he originated the role of Coalhouse Walker, Jr. and was nominated for a Tony) which was incredibly powerful.  For the encore he sang "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha, which is the song he sang out of his apartment window in New York for essential workers during the pandemic, and then a heartfelt version of "Wonderful World."  I loved this concert and I love the fact that so many Broadway stars enjoy performing with the Utah Symphony!

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Last night I crossed off another one of my most anticipated movies on my list by seeing The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.  It is hilarious and it was so much fun laughing out loud with a large and boisterous crowd!  Nicolas Cage plays Nick Cage, a fictionalized version of himself who has just lost out on a coveted role of a lifetime and is tormented by a younger version of himself named Nicky (Nicholas Wittman) who bears a striking resemblance to his character in Peggy Sue Got Married.  He also has massive debts and a strained relationship with his sixteen-year-old daughter Addy (Lily Sheen) so, when his agent Richard Fink (Neil Patrick Harris) tells him that an eccentric billionaire named Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal) has offered him $1 million to appear at his birthday party, he accepts.  He flies to Mallorca and soon bonds with Javi after role-playing some of his famous movies and watching Paddington 2.  However, CIA Agents Vivian (Tiffany Haddish) and Martin (Ike Barinholtz) believe that Javi is the leader of a notorious drug cartel responsible for the kidnapping of a politician's daughter (Katrin Vankova).  They recruit Nick and hilarity ensues as he channels all of his action hero characters to spy on Javi.  The plot is a bit nonsensical but it hardly matters because it is so entertaining.  Cage is at his most self-deprecating best (I loved the line about his nouveau shamanic acting style) and he has great chemistry with Pascal, particularly during an LSD-fueled trip around the island and a visit to Javi's shrine to the actor.  I also enjoyed all of the references to Cage's movies, including Con Air, Croods 2, Leaving Las Vegas, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Guarding Tess, The Rock, Gone in 60 Seconds, Mandy, National Treasure, and Face/ Off (there are probably more), because they show what a unique career he has had.  I haven't laughed this much during a movie in a long time so, if you are in the mood for some lighthearted fun, definitely check this out!

The Northman

I am a huge fan of Robert Eggers (I think The Lighthouse and The Witch are both masterpieces) so The Northman was another one of my most anticipated movies of 2022.  I had the chance to see it last night at a Thursday preview and it certainly did not disappoint!  King Aurvandil (Ethan Hawke) returns home from battle with many injuries so he holds an initiation rite for his young son and heir, Prince Amleth (Oscar Novak), which is presided over by his friend Heimir (Willem Dafoe).  Amleth receives visions about his destiny and promises his father that he will avenge him should he fall in battle.  Soon after, Amleth witness his uncle Fjolnir (Claes Bang) brutally murder his father and kidnap his mother Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman).  Amleth escapes pursuit and vows to avenge his father, save his mother, and kill Fjolnir.  Years later Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard) has become a Viking warrior but, when he encounters a seeress (Bjork) while sacking a village, he is reminded of his vow and soon discovers that Fjolnir has been overthrown and exiled to Iceland.  He smuggles aboard a ship taking slaves to Fjolnir and encounters Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy), a sorceress with whom he eventually begins a relationship.  As he comes face to face with Fjolnir, he struggles to fulfill his destiny because he must choose between showing kindness to his kin or hatred for his enemy.  This is a very simple revenge story but the references to Norse mythology and symbolism (it is based on a medieval Scandinavian legend which is also the source material for Shakespeare's play Hamlet) are what make it so interesting and compelling, particularly the portrayal of the Tree of Kings, the Valkyrie, and Valhalla.  The images on the screen are stunning and feature the usual atmospheric world-building that Eggers is known for.  I lost count of how many times I was mesmerized by the beauty of a particular shot.  I also loved the sound design, the heart-pounding score, and the period detail.  The medieval warfare is visceral and unrelenting, especially the final confrontation between Amleth and Fjolnir, and many might be put off by this but I found it exhilarating!  Skarsgard is an absolute beast but I also found Kidman's portrayal of Queen Gudrun to be fascinating (it made me rethink Queen Gertrude's motivations in Hamlet) and Taylor-Joy is luminous.  Eggers has done it again because The Northman is brutal, bloody, and brilliant (but might not be for everyone).

The Light in the Piazza at HCT

When HCT announced the 2022 season this time last year, the show I was most excited for was The Light in the Piazza. I had the opportunity to see it last night and I was not disappointed because it is one of the most beautiful productions I've seen! In 1953 Margaret Johnson (Michelle Blake) and her daughter Clara (Rachel Tregeagle) are touring Italy for the summer. When a strong wind blows Clara's hat across the Piazza Della Signoria in Florence, a young man named  Fabrizio Naccarelli (Matthew Sanguine) retrieves it for her and the two of them fall instantly in love. Margaret immediately separates them and continues to do so as Fabrizio pursues them to the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo. Margaret finally gives in and agrees to a meeting with Fabrizio's family, including his father (Danny Inkley), mother (Mandi Barrus), brother Guiseppe (Landon Horton), and sister-in-law Franca (Cecily Bills), during which they are all enchanted by Clara. When it becomes clear that Fabrizio and Clara want to get married, Margaret takes her to Rome to get her away from him. It turns out that Clara is intellectually and emotionally delayed as the result of a tragic accident in her childhood and Margaret has always felt the need to protect her. However, she soon comes to realize that Fabrizio is the light in Clara's darkness. This is a very sweet and old-fashioned story where true love overcomes all obstacles and I found it to be charming. Every one in the cast is outstanding but I was particularly impressed by the three leads because they have beautiful voices.  Blake is formidable as a mother protecting her child but also shows a lot of vulnerability when she realizes that her own darkness might be influencing her decisions, Tregeagle is very effective at portraying wide-eyed wonder at everything Clara is experiencing, and Sanguine is incredibly charismatic as a smitten young man searching for the right words to express his love. I also really enjoyed Horton as Fabrizio's philandering brother because he can dance and his facial expressions are hilarious. The best part of this show is the music and I loved seeing the musicians (Sebastian Neugebauer on piano, Julie Beistline on violin, Hannah Brown on cello, and Alyssa Holman on harp) performing live on stage. My favorite songs are "Statues and Stories" because it describes the excitement Margaret feels as she discovers all of the history found in Florence (I felt the same way when I was in Florence), "Say It Somehow" because it is swoon-worthy as Clara and Fabrizio find a way to express their love without words, and "The Light in the Piazza" because it shows that, even with all of the beauty surrounding her in Italy, all Clara can see is Fabrizio's love. I had goosebumps through most of the songs because they are so beautiful. The set, designed by Jenn Taylor, features Roman columns that rotate on a turntable with various pieces that are brought in to create different scenes (my favorite was the Uffizi Gallery with paintings coming down from the rafters).  The attention to detail is incredible and I especially loved a cut-glass lamp used in Margaret's hotel room. Projections can be hit or miss with me but in this production they are literally works of art because they feature amazing impressionistic paintings of locations in Florence created by Madeline Ashton. Finally, the costumes, designed by Joy Zhu, are gorgeous! Every dress features textured, embellished, or embroidered fabrics and every outfit includes shoes, a hat, gloves, a purse, and jewelry (the brooches!). Everything about this show, which runs on the Sorensen Jewel Box Stage through June 18, is absolutely delightful and I highly recommend it (go here for tickets).

Note:  Don't miss out on seeing some insanely talented kids rock out in School of Rock now playing on the Young Living Main Stage through May 28 (go here for tickets).