One of the highlights of the 2025 theatre year in Utah was the night of theatre at Meanwhile Park. This is a venue set up by Jeff Paris and Alexas Lucero behind their house if you can believe it! It is described as a “small urban backyard in Salt Lake City” and that’s exactly what it is. Several rows of seats are set up and a performance is presented on the patio behind a house. That’s not to say it is a minimalist experience. In fact, the creators have thought of every last detail in making the experience memorable. When you arrive you are presented with a drink menu with cocktails and mocktails included in your purchase price (must be 21 and older to attend.) Then they give snack boxes to enjoy during the play with carefully selected delicious snacks from small artisans that are delicious and go well with the drink.

I honestly can not think of a better date atmosphere than attending Meanwhile Park and seeing A French Toast. I’d see it again if anyone is out there wanting to take me on a date LOL. It’s not only charming but extremely well executed with again an attention to every detail that makes it such a pleasant experience. Even if I didn’t like the play I think I’d still recommend it just for the ambiance alone.

Fortunately I do recommend the play, and I think I actually enjoyed this year’s offering even more than last year, which last year I gave it my “Most Memorable Experience” award of 2025 so that’s saying something. This year’s play A French Toast is a complete delight. Written by Matthew Ivan Bennett it is a 65 minute one act play that follows a mother-daughter pairing as they vacation in France for a family wedding.

The mother, Lucy, is played by April Fossen, who is one of my favorite local actresses. For example, I loved her recently as the mother in Barefoot in the Park over at Parker Theatre. She brings so much warmth to the character of Lucy and Bennett does a great job of portraying a Mormon woman in a mid-life crisis that few local playwrights have been able to capture. I often find the Mormon characters in local plays are either too harsh or too mawkish and childlike- neither which I can relate with. This character of Lucy feels like a real, complicated person that is trying to work out her faith and life as well as she can leaving a messy result in the wake. While it’s a comedy it’s refreshing to feel understood by a character in such a way as I felt with Lucy. I found it quite moving and meaningful amongst all the laughs.

Lucy is in France with her daughter Cassie played by Ali Lente, and they meet Bed and Breakfast owner Gabriel played by Matthew Sincell. Rounding out our cast is Darby Mest as fellow B&B guest Yasmin who becomes a love interest for Cassie. Yasmin is another character I can relate with as she dreams of writing Hallmark movies which is a shock for the liberal Cassie who is quite judgmental of her mother and anything deemed traditional. Gabriel is also a new kind of man for Lucy than she has ever met before so both women are confronted with something new. This of course is even more impactful in a place as magical as France leading to sweet insight, romance and lots humor. There really is no other way to say it than it is a delightful night of theatre. Enchanted April is probably the easiest comparison for this play as far as the experience one has.

I honestly felt like director Jason Bowcutt and the rest of the team at Meanwhile Park had me in mind with all of their choices. Even Lucy’s wardrobe of dresses by costume designer Dawn McFarland were perfect, and I wish I could purchase all of them! It’s also only 65 minutes so if you were on a date you could do dinner and then see the show and not be out too late. Perfection! And like I said they truly have thought of everything. They even have a playlist of the music playing before and after the play that you can get a code for and they have Meanwhile Park merch for those interested. I loved everything about it!

It is a small space so make sure you get your tickets now. It is playing through July 19th, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. Tickets for A French Toast can be purchased here.

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