Pinnacle’s “The Lion in Winter” is a well-oiled machine full of good acting, good comedy, and an endearing zeal. It deserves a large and diverse audience. It is impossible to say what the historical Henry and Eleanor would think of their portrayal, but it’s obvious that “The Lion in Winter” is an enduring classic that can still present fresh material for a group of actors. Continue reading
If you get to see one show this month, this is the perfect one for Halloween. It is a well written script with phenomenal music and performed with talented actors and good directing. In spite of all the slit throats and disturbing subject matter, there is also a solid moral lesson in “Sweeney Todd”. It teaches what path vengeance and revenge will ultimately lead to and how it can consume and destroy one’s soul. This beats a haunted house any day! Continue reading
From the moment the house lights dimmed to the moment the actors took their bows, the audience was enraptured by the performance. I was almost as delighted to watch the audience as I was to watch the show itself, as I noted a young girl sitting at the edge of her chair completely entranced by the action onstage and an elderly man just behind her in the same exact position. This type of audience involvement is rare for most straight shows, but the cast of Lehi’s The Mousetrap did a marvelous job of drawing us into another time and place for a frighteningly enjoyable evening. Continue reading
Is there a dark side to your personality? Is there a more passionate part of you hidden beneath the surface? If there were no social norms to follow, would you be the same person you are now? Are you happy?
So many questions, and none will be answered by seeing Mortal Fools Theatre Project’s production of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. In fact, I have been unable to stop thinking about these questions since I saw the performance at The Echo Theatre last week. At the risk of sounding clichéd, they haunt me. This is not the musical version of this tale, and all is better for it. Continue reading
If you are in the mood for a dark musical just in time for Halloween this may be a good choice. “Jekyll and Hyde” is a challenging undertaking for many reasons… In order for “Jekyll and Hyde” to be successful two things must be present: very strong directing and detailed choices to compensate for the lacking material, and a strong dimensional actor playing Dr. Jekyll. Unfortunately this production was not up for the challenge and failed on both accounts… Continue reading
Parable Productions’ “The Cross and the Switchblade” is a story told in two parts. The first part is the story of Nicky Cruz, a Puerto Rican who grew up in an abusive and unloving home, surrounded by superstition and dark beliefs, who eventually became the leader of a notorious New York gang, the Mau Maus. Juxtaposing this is the story of Rev. David Wilkerson, a small-town Pennsylvania preacher who feels a calling to help the gangs and bring them to the love of Christ. Both of these stories are taken from the biographies of these two men, Cruz’s ”Run Baby Run” and Wilkerson’s “The Cross and the Switchblade”. Annie Fields’ adoption of these two works, combined with multi-media images and montages told with dance, gives us a both an entertaining and moving look into these two men’s lives. Lives that would eventually intersect and make both men stronger for it. Continue reading
This past Friday night I attended Wasatch Theatre Company’s “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)”. I should have guessed by the show’s title that it would offer some serious bang for your buck, but I had not anticipated the slapstick style Shakespeare that was about to shake up my night. Continue reading
It’s always enjoyable to attend a new work that is homegrown right here in Utah. “Bob Juan Casanova” is a “provocative new play” written by Robert A Easton that is presented from the perspective of Bob, a single guy living in Utah that isn’t Mormon, and his struggle to find love. Such references as “Miss Magna”, Mormon culture, Utah State University, Cache Valley, and the Sundance Film Festival all serve as influences in the writing and make this show easily relatable in a unique way to Utah audiences. Continue reading
I say that this performance was “passable but not impressive.” And let me explain. The lines were all memorized, no obvious missed lines or mishaps, and the actors were well rehearsed. The set, constructed by Mark Taggart, was excellent; it was very well designed with lots of levels, props and color. The props added some nice comedic moments such as having a skull shaped candy jar and a Hawaiian Tiki as the pencil container. The stage space was well utilized by the actors and the director, Robin Booth, did a nice job with blocking and creating pictures and variety. The technical aspects went fairly smoothly—the microphones were generally working, and light cues and sound cues were all on. And the costumes, wigs, hairstyles, makeup were carefully done with historical accuracy which enhanced the production. So it passed. But for me, this is only the beginning. Continue reading
From notable songs such as “The Internet Is for Porn” and “If You Were Gay,” Avenue Q playing at Wasatch Theatre Company through September 22nd is purely for the big kids’ entertainment. Despite the Sesame Street reminiscent puppets this wonderful show is all about what it’s like to really be a grown up and is absolutely not for the young ones. Continue reading
