Burn This

Utah Theatre Artists Company presents Lanford Wilson’s BURN THIS, directed by Lane Richins

Lane Richins clearly loves this piece. From the carefully chosen music to the Director’s notes in the program, he’s created an invitation to join him in loving this show.

I did love it.

I loved the script. The humor, the beautifully crafted moments, the meaty monologues, the witty banter – I’m proud to check it off my “See This” list. I loved the subtle metaphors: blue set pieces, loads of empty space, Anna’s “Widow’s Walk” moment in the beginning of the show, and the physicality of pinned butterflies.

Above all, though, I loved Jesse Peery.

Peery’s ‘Pale’ is a masterpiece. In Peery’s very capable hands, Pale is a likable, demanding, outrageous, deliciously identifiable character. The other characters in the show became more connected, more vibrant, and more personal when Pale was onstage. That is easily attributed to Peery’s masterful performance.

As far as performances go, Peery’s stands out because his is so consistent. The other actors all had some delightful and connected moments, but there were quite a few spaces filled with indication and less-than-personal withdrawal. Cassandra Stokes-Wylie’s Anna experienced the most disconnect, many times offering only a surface portrayal. There was still much to like about Stokes-Wylie’s character, though, with moments of compassion and affection lining some of the high points of the show.

Jeremy W. Chase (Burton) and William Richardson (Larry) were both believable in many moments, but seemed to ‘put on’ much of the deeper emotion. In one particularly poignant scene at the end, a departing Chase offered more melodrama than vulnerability while Richardson was left with a difficult plot moment that seemed to bewilder more than define. Richardson did better as the show progressed, showing a solid ability to move through moments where self-indulgence was a danger.

Overall, I loved this show. Even with some disconnected moments, it still rang true. Director Lane Richins provided every possible opportunity for the audience to connect with each character. It was an invitation to make everything a little more personal, a little more true. He succeeded.

I think you’ll love this show, too. I give it 4 out of 5 stars (one of those is for Peery alone) and a hope that it does well. We could use more shows like “Burn This” around here.

Burn This, Utah Theatre Artist Company. The Sugar Space (616 E. Wilmington Ave., Salt Lake City). April 23 – May 8; nightly curtain at 8:00 PM. Matinees Saturdays at 2 PM. For tickets visit www.utahtheatreartists.com.