National Theatre: Romeo and Juliet

I am not a big fan of Romeo and Juliet but I couldn't resist seeing Josh O'Connor and Jessie Buckley on stage in the title roles as part of National Theatre Live.  It is a completely reimagined version of Shakespeare's tale of woe about Juliet and her Romeo and, to my surprise, I absolutely loved it.  Unlike other performances presented by National Theatre Live, this was filmed in an empty theatre during the pandemic which allowed the action to take place on the stage and in other areas backstage (my favorite was the use of the loading dock in the scene where Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio sneak into the Capulet's ball and the scene when Romeo leaves Verona when he is banished).  Minimal props are used, the action begins and ends as if it is a rehearsal, and the resulting film is more cinematic than theatrical with very dynamic camera work, dramatic lighting, and editing which allows for scenes that foreshadow the tragic ending to be interspersed throughout.  The setting is modern day, which I usually do not like, but I loved the use of electronic music during the Capulet's ball and I really loved the modern take on Lady Capulet (she pushes for the marriage to Paris and speaks many of Lord Capulet's lines from the original text).  The chance to see O'Connor and Buckley was my motivation for getting a ticket and they certainly didn't disappoint because I was captivated by their performances.  Buckley's Juliet is strong and rebellious and her soliloquy before she drinks the poison gave me goosebumps (this scene is staged brilliantly with every character seated around her as ghosts).  I also loved her interaction with Lady Capulet (Tamsin Greig) when she learns she must marry Paris because it is really intense.  O'Connor's portrayal of Romeo is one of the best I've seen (I think Romeo is a very problematic character) because he is passionate rather than petulant.  This is especially evident in the fight with Tybalt (David Judge), because it is deliberate (and a bit shocking) rather than impulsive, and in the scene with Friar Lawrence (Lucien Msamati) after he is banished, because he is resigned rather than hysterical.  He has tremendous chemistry with Buckley and the night they spend together is quite steamy!  Greig is also outstanding as Lady Capulet because her portrayal is very cold and calculating and I also really liked Fisayo Akinade's interpretation of Mercutio because it is a very bold choice.  I am glad that I decided to see this because it is so good.  If you have the opportunity to see it on the big screen I would highly recommend doing so but I believe it will be available on PBS on April 23.

Ballet West's Swan Lake

Last night I was thrilled to be able to attend opening night for Ballet West's production of Swan Lake.  It is my favorite ballet and the performance definitely did not disappoint because it is beautiful!  Prince Siegfried (Adrian Fry) goes into the woods to hunt but, when he aims his bow at a swan, it becomes a beautiful woman named Odette (Emily Adams).  She explains that she is a swan by day and a woman at night because she is under the spell of an evil sorcerer, the Baron von Rothbardt (Tyler Gum).  Only true love can break the spell but, as the sun comes up, Odette reverts back to a swan and Siegfried returns home to celebrate his birthday with a grand ball.  Many princesses vie for his attention because he must marry to inherit the throne but he ignores them all, thinking only of Odette.  Suddenly, Rothbardt enters the ballroom with his daughter Odile (Emily Adams), who looks exactly like Odette.  Thinking that she is Odette, Siegfried declares his love to Odile.  When Rothbardt reveals his treachery, Siegfried rushes to Odette to beg forgiveness which she grants.  They eventually find a way to defeat Rothbardt which ends the spell very dramatically.  Tchaikovsky's score is magnificent and there are moments when the music is so heart-wrenching that it brings tears to my eyes (the themes played by the harp and solo violin are a highlight).  The choreography is beautiful, especially the pas de deux between Siegfried and Odette because it is filled with so much longing as they fall in love (I especially loved it when Odette leans back into Siegfried's arms).  Fry and Adams dance with an emotion that is palpable and I was particularly impressed with Adams (I always want to see Katlyn Addison in the lead role but Adams is becoming a favorite) because she is demure as Odette and provocative as Odile and I loved all of the swan-like mannerisms that she incorporates into her performance.  I also loved the performances of the Swan Maidens, because they are incredibly synchronized with elaborate formations (I always get goosebumps when they emerge from the fog because it is so magical), and the Hungarian dancers at Siegfried's ball, because they are so athletic.  The costumes are gorgeous (Rothbardt's iridescent cape), the sets are spectacular (the chandeliers in the ballroom), and the special effects are are dramatic (Rothbardt's disappearance).  I loved everything about this production and, judging from the thunderous applause, so did the capacity crowd at Capitol Theatre!  I highly recommend getting a ticket to one the nine remaining performances (go here).

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at CPT

Last night I finally had the chance to see A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at CPT (I had to change my usual ticket with my sisters because of Sundance) and I think it might be my favorite production of this hilarious show! After the death of his mother, Monty Navarro (Christian Johnston) learns that she was a member of the illustrious D'Ysquith family but was disinherited for marrying his father. He is really Montague D'Ysquith Navarro and is in line to inherit an earldom. The catch is that there eight family members in line ahead of him! When his vain and heartless girlfriend Sibela (Claire Glaittli) 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 the bees in his own hive), Lady Hyacinth D'Ysquith (who falls in a volcano on an uninhabited island in the South Pacific and is presumed dead), Major Lord Bartholomew D'Ysquith (who is decapitated while lifting weights), Lady Salome D'Ysquith (who is killed when a prop gun is mistakenly loaded with real bullets during her stage debut), Lord Asquith D'Ysquith, Sr. (who suffers a heart attack from his grief over the deaths in his family), and, finally, Lord Adalbert D'Ysquith, the Earl of Highhurst, (who is mysteriously poisoned). Along the way, Monty marries Phoebe D'Ysquith (Emma Austin) which makes Sibela jealous but, after he 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 but Monty might not live happily ever after because Chauncey D'Ysquith, the next in line to the earldom, is lurking! I've seen this show many times (it is very popular with Utah audiences) but this is my favorite production because Monty is played by my former student Christian Johnston (my original ticket was for the MWF show and he is in the THS cast so it was exciting to be able to see him) and he gives a fantastic performance showcasing his comedic timing and his amazing voice, especially in the song "Sibela." I also really enjoyed Andrew Bringhurst's performance as every member of the D'Ysquith family. He gives each character a distinct personality with hilarious facial expressions and physicality (and some quick costume changes!). I always anticipate the appearance of every family member but my favorites in this production 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." Glaittli and Austin have beautiful voices, particularly when they harmonize together in "That Horrible Woman," and Brighton Sloan almost steals the show as Countess Eugenia D'Ysquith! The set, featuring an elaborate stage in an old time music hall with footlights and a red velvet curtain, is one of the best I've seen at CPT and I loved all of the projections, especially when Monty and the Reverend Lord Ezekiel climb the tower in the cathedral and when Henry is chased by his bees. The staging of Asquith Jr.'s skating accident is really clever as is the scene where Phoebe visits Monty's flat when he is having an assignation with Sibela. The period costumes are gorgeous and I liked how Monty's suits get more elaborate as the show goes on and I loved all of the gowns worn by Phoebe and Sibela. I enjoyed this production so much (I don't think I stopped laughing the whole time) and I highly recommend it. It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through February 17 and tickets may be purchased here.

Argylle

I finally had the chance to see Argylle last night and I really enjoyed it until it was completely derailed by the third act.  Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) is the anxiety-ridden author of a series of books based on a spy named Argylle (Henry Cavill).  In her latest novel, Agent Argylle is searching for a computer drive that implicates a secret agency known as the Directorate but she is suffering from writer's block and can't finish the final chapter. She decides to visit her mother Ruth (Catherine O'Hara) with her cat Alfie but she encounters a real spy named Aidan Wilde (Sam Rockwell) on the train.  He saves her from a group of assassins and then informs her that her novel is eerily similar to his current mission to expose the secret agency known as the Division run by Director Ritter (Bryan Cranston) and that he needs her to finish the final chapter to help him find the computer drive before Ritter does.  This premise is initially very intriguing and the big twist about Agent Argylle's real identity actually worked for me (I somehow avoided all spoilers).  Rockwell and Howard are a great comedy duo with lots of chemistry as opposites who are thrown together by circumstances.  The action sequences on the train and in a flat in London are a lot of fun, especially the scenes from Elly's POV that show Aidan and Argylle fighting interchangeably.  However, there are so many twists and turns in the third act that the narrative becomes overly convoluted and it is hard to keep track of (or even care about) who is double-crossing whom and Rockwell and Howard's performances become less compelling (and even cringe-worthy) as their characters' motivations change.  In addition, the action sequences in the final act are laughably bombastic and look terrible (I think I groaned out loud at one point) with lots of messy slow-motion choreography and obvious CGI.  It is especially ridiculous when Aidan and Elly recreate the opening sequence performed by Argylle and a femme fatale named LaGrange (Dua Lipa).  I found this to be incredibly disappointing because it started out so well and I definitely recommend giving it a miss.

Jazz vs. Thunder

Last night I went to another Utah Jazz game with my friend Angela (she has a season ticket package and she very graciously allows me to pick several games to attend with her) and it was so much fun because it was such a great game!  The Jazz played the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the best teams in the league, and they got a hard-fought win!  They stayed with the Thunder through the first quarter but then Oklahoma City built a double digit lead with lots of three-point shots (8 for 15).  Kris Dunn and Walker Kessler really stepped up the defense to keep the Jazz in the game but the Thunder were up 89-77 with five minutes left in the third when the offense exploded.  Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George (I really like him) hit some really impressive shots and the energy in the Delta Center was absolutely electric!  It was so much fun to be in the crowd!  The Jazz ended up going on a 19-3 run to close out the third quarter 96-92!  The fourth quarter was a battle because the Thunder did not give up (their big three, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, combined for 76 points during the game) and got within one but it was not enough because Dunn and Kessler eventually shut them down while Markkanen and George traded shots to lead the Jazz to a big 124-117 win.  I love it when the Jazz beat a really good team in front of a loud and enthusiastic crowd and it it was so much fun to catch up with Angela!