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UTAH THEATRE LOG 8/2-8/4 (HAMILTON, TWELFTH NIGHT, MAMMA MIA, MATILDA) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 44)

| Rachel's Reviews

I had a busy weekend with lots of film and theatre. Fortunately my experiences at the live theatre were a lot better than at the movie theater. You can read my movie reviews here. But here are my thoughts on the theatre I did see:

MATILDA- LEHI ARTS COUNCIL, LEHI

Most people know I’m not the biggest fan of the Broadway adaptation of Matilda. I don’t hate it but it’s not my favorite musical. Therefore, it might be surprising to see I have seen it 4 times in the last few months. It’s honestly too much but it’s such a popular show and I have so many friends who are in it and I’m always eager to support my friends so I go to see it!

This production was directed by Howard and Kathryn Little who are the best community theater directors in Utah working today and this was no exception. They know how to get the best out of their actors and work with an ensemble whether it be a large space like the Skyridge High School stage here or the smaller productions at Pleasant Grove Players where they’ve directed many shows.

Alicia Wright played Matilda here and she brought the right amount of spunk for the role and John Newall and Jas Petrell are a ton of fun as the parents. Kat Hawley Cook was another standout as Miss Honey.

I’m not a big fan of the escapologist sections of this musical but I must admit they were staged quite beautifully with silhouettes in this production. The large cast was very impressive and numbers like “Revolting Children” and “The Smell of Rebellion” are highlights.

Matilda is finished at Lehi Arts Council and I will probably take a break from this show for a bit but this is one of the best arts councils in the area so make sure to keep an eye on all their productions here.

This production…

but also on Matilda…

HAMILTON- BROADWAY AT THE ECCLES, SALT LAKE

I will never forget when my sad heart was comforted watching the pro-shot of Hamilton on Disney Plus in summer of 2020. It meant so much to me and so I will always have a special place in my heart for Hamilton and jump at the chance to see this iconic show. Fortunately the touring company is coming through Salt Lake and they are staying for over a month! Hopefully everyone who wants to see Hamilton will have the chance with such a long residency. I was blessed to see it with my friend Stefanie as I reviewed it for UTBA. This was Stefanie’s first Broadway show and what a great one to start with! I get the critiques of Hamilton (there’s bound to be a backlash for anything that’s so big) but I still think it is a fresh and exciting look at our history. You can read more of my thoughts in my review here. Hamilton will be in Salt Lake until September 1st and you can purchase tickets here.

TWELFTH NIGHT- PARKER THEATRE, SALT LAKE

I think every theatre fan has their favorites from William Shakespeare. I know for me it is the comedies- particularly Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing. You wouldn’t think a comedy like Twelfth Night, written in 1601, would still hold up and be funny today but it does and the new production at the Parker Theatre is a gem that shouldn’t be missed (nothing at the Parker should be missed but this is no exception.)

The biggest strength of this production is the wonderful ensemble cast who are all professional quality actors. Camrey Fox is charismatic and likable as Viola who is pretending to be Cesario and woo the Countess Olivia for their master Duke Orsino. Fox manages to have great chemistry with both Olivia played by Hannah McKinnon and Orsino played by Jason Hackney. The whole cast is phenomenal and sold the humor even when the language can be challenging for modern audiences.

The highlight of the play is of course poor Malvolio who is tricked into looking ridiculous for Olivia by the scheming Sir Toby, Maria and the jester Feste. Malvolio is played by David Johnson and he brings just the right amount of snobbery while still making you feel a little sorry for him especially when he is locked up in the asylum for his antics. It’s truly laugh out loud fun.

All the technical aspects of Twelfth Night are excellently done by director Anthony Buck and I especially love the music and and sound design by Buck and David Campbell. It’s hard to believe you can see a show like this for under $30. Less than $20 if you get season tickets which I highly recommend as they have an amazing 2025 season planned. Twelfth Night plays until September 7th and you can purchase tickets here.

MAMMA MIA- SANDY ARTS GUILD, SANDY

I’m honestly not sure what inspired me to get a ticket for Mamma Mia at Sandy Arts Guild. I love a good rom-com of course but its thin plot can be a little much for me and I have left more bored than entertained in the past. Well, I’m glad I took a chance on them and saw Mamma Mia this weekend because I ended up loving this production. I may go see it again I enjoyed it so much.

While the cast was brilliant and terrific in their roles I have to give the most credit to the director David Hanson. He did such an incredible job with attending to every detail of the production. The set by Dwight Western was massive and impressive but it’s how it was used that stood out. In nearly every scene if there was something going on in the foreground actors were also doing something in the background- usually not even lit but they are opening shutters or talking to a neighbor. This made everything a richer experience.

The choreography by Jessica Pace was so well executed by the large ensemble cast and the storytelling moved across the stage and one could not help but smile at the bubbly singing and dancing. The entire cast played off each other well and I didn’t think there was a single weak link performance-wise. Carolyn Hogan had a young vibrant energy as Sophie and Julianna Boulter was perfect as Donna. I also loved Sara McDonald as Tanya. She completely sold “Does Your Mother Know” and I was cracking up at her performance.

Mamma Mia may be a show you dismiss as light and fluffy but I’d encourage you to give this Sandy Arts Guild production a shot. It was a blast and I left with a big smile on my face. One of the theatrical highlights of the summer for sure. It’s playing until August 15th (they extended it because it kept selling out!) and you can purchase tickets here.

So that’s this weekends theatre log. What have you been seeing?

Aside from the shows I reviewed for UTBA I paid for all of these logged shows out of pocket. I’d love to cover as many local shows as possible but I need your help to do so. If you’d like me to review more theatre and appreciate what I do please check out the patreon here

UTAH THEATRE LOG 7/24-8/1 (WAIT UNTIL DARK, MATILDA, FRINGE, AIDA, THE LITTLE MERMAID) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 43)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi theatre friends! I’ve got another quick update for you. I’ve had such a busy July it has all flown by and I certainly packed it in in this last week. Phew!

Make sure you check out my latest episode of OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast. We had director Toni Butler on and asked the tough question- is Into the Woods overrated?

Most of the other shows I saw I reviewed for UTBA but there are a few others so here is the update.

WAIT UNTIL DARK- COVEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, PROVO

First up is Wait Until Dark at Covey Center for the Arts in Provo. As soon as I heard they were putting this on in their black box I knew it was a brilliant choice and it was. I can’t think of a show more perfect for a black box than Wait Until Dark. The only challenge is the space is small with exits oddly situated so it made the big surprise ending a little challenging but it was still a ton of fun with great performances. I haven’t seen that many thrillers on stage but I feel confident in saying Wait Until Dark is the best one ever. It builds tension so well and it’s so easy to get invested in Susan and her story. So good. You can read my full review for utba here. Wait Until Dark plays until August 17th and you can purchase tickets here.

MATILDA- DRAPER HISTORIC THEATER, DRAPER

I technically have already given my quick thoughts on this production of Matilda but it was the other cast called the Revolting Cast. With the invitation of the lead Rosie Darling I came to see the other Miracle Cast and it was super cute. It basically gives you everything you want from Matilda. Rosie is adorable in the role and I’m amazed that both of them can learn all these lines and not miss a beat. I also thought both Trunchbull’s were excellent with Boston Anglesey playing that role in this cast. I’ve realized after seeing this show so much recently my favorite number is “The Smell of Rebellion.” We don’t get many dishy villain songs any more on Broadway or in the movies and I think that’s why I really enjoy that one. I also thought it was staged very well here and they use the small stage to its full effect getting the choreography to be effective despite limited space. The adults in the other cast were probably stronger on the whole but it was still a fun time if you like Matilda (which everyone knows I have my issues with but it’s fun enough). Draper Historic is quickly becoming one of my favorite local theaters and you will definitely want to get season tickets here.

GREAT SALT LAKE FRINGE FESTIVAL- 2 SHOWS

Previous to this year I had only seen 1 play at the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival. This year I had the opportunity to see 2 and they both proved to be a lot of fun. If you didn’t know Fringe is a workshopping festival and a chance to see new plays and theatrical experiences as they get developed by local playwrights and companies. The 2 I reviewed for UTBA are Wonderland Awaits and Hark! and the thing that makes me the most excited about these productions is I learned about 2 companies I was previously unfamiliar with- Salt Lake Children’s Theatre and the Salt Monster Theatre Company. You can read my reviews for both here and here. Fringe ends Aug 4th and you can find more information here.

AIDA- OGDEN MUSICAL THEATRE, OGDEN

I am sure there must be some explanation for why Aida is rarely done. Until they put it on at Ogden Musical Theatre (a new company to me!) I hadn’t seen it since the new Hale Center Theatre put it on in 2017 in Sandy. That’s crazy when I think of shows with similar casting requirements like Sister Act or Hairspray that are done so much. Let’s not wait 7 years to see this again!

It’s a shame because I really do love this musical. It’s such a beautiful love story between Aida and Radames- doomed love story- but honest and authentic with gorgeous songs like “Elaborate Lives” and “Written in the Stars.” I also think it balances the melodrama out well with some humor especially from Amneris and “My Strongest Suit.” If there is a weakness to the show it is in the villain and his songs like “Another Pyramid” and “Like Father, Like Son.”

At OMT they have 2 terrific leads with Alexsys Campbell and Jordan Strong as Aida and Radames. I also loved Allie White as Amneris. Some of the other casting was more mixed in both singing and acting but if the 3 leads are good that goes a long way in this musical. The sets (Marilyn Montgomery) and costumes (Stephanie Petersen) (and headpieces!) were also very impressive. The whole thing is directed by Mark Daniels and it deserves a more full house. I was so bummed to see so many empty seats. It is worth the drive to Ogden to be reminded the power of true love. Aida is playing through Aug 10th and you can purchase tickets here.

THE LITTLE MERMAID- EMPRESS THEATRE, MAGNA

If you follow my social media you know my reaction to this production of The Little Mermaid at The Empress blew up a bit. It wasn’t my favorite and even though I didn’ tag anyone involved it got seen by a lot of people. I never mean to be discouraging but I do have to be honest in my opinions- and it is just that my opinions.

The good aspects of this production is I think the Sebastian was very strong. Setu Lealaogta doesn’t try and imitate the Sebastian from the movie but gives the character their own flair and personality and I appreciate the costumes, particularly his were more of an homage to the film rather than a direct copy. It was kind of like The Little Mermaid meets Vegas which is fun. They even had aerolists performers which is ambitious for a small theater like this.

The problems came in the direction of Ariel and Eric. The program said this was Marcus Michalek’s first time acting and he is more of a dancer so I will try and give him some grace (this is why programs are very helpful!) but it was not the strongest performance. And Hannah Burke as Ariel has a decent voice but it was so rarely allowed to come forward. I was truly baffled by the decision to have her portray Ariel as a meek and softspoken rebellious daughter of Triton. I was in the first row and there were times I could barely hear her and it wasn’t just microphone problems. It was an acting choice even for her dramatic moments like “Part of Your World.” It was really strange and did not work for me and if Ariel doesn’t work it’s hard to salvage the production. I don’t even blame Burke because when she was allowed to actually sing I could hear some talent there. I guess give them credit for trying something different but it needs to be executed better than this was. But again, it’s just my opinion and every company has their misses. I look forward to The Empress’ next production of Fiddler on the Roof. The Little Mermaid plays until August 10th and you can find out more about the entire company here.

What have you been seeing? I would love to know! Aside from the shows I reviewed for UTBA I paid for all of these logged shows out of pocket. I’d love to cover as many local shows as possible but I need your help to do so. If you’d like me to review more theatre and appreciate what I do please check out the patreon here

UTAH THEATRE LOG 7/8-7/23 (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, DISASTER, DROWSY CHAPERONE, MATILDA, HUNCHBACK, NEWSIES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, GAMMA RAYS…) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 42)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi friends! I hope you have all been doing well. I have been very busy lately and admittedly took longer to get this post out than I should. My apologies but I have been reviewing for UTBA and keeping up on my social media with my out of theater reactions and more. Make sure you are following me on instagram for all of my life updates. I’ve also been having a blast with OnStage Blog bringing on my friend Jacks to do the episodes with! It’s a dream come true and our most recent episode was a ton of fun ranking community theater seasons.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF- HIGH VALLEY ARTS, MIDWAY

Midway is a good hour drive for me so going up there to see a show is a challenge but the folks at High Valley Arts almost always make it worth my while. During the summer they have an outdoor theater that I love and the community spirit is wonderful. This year they put on Fiddler on the Roof and it was an outstanding production I feel privileged to have enjoyed.

Everyone involved at HVA should be proud because all aspects were wonderful from the costumes (Kristen Hughes) to the live fiddler (Daniel Clegg) to the dancing (Choreographer Christie Moulton) and sets. I love how the Tevye’s house set unfolded to make the small space work. Todd Beagley played Tevye with warmth and big heart. The cast felt like a family and the chemistry between all of them was evident. The highlight of the night was the staging of Tevye’s dream with all the spirits covered in a sheer fabric so they looked very ghostly. They also had very few microphone issues which can be a challenge in an outdoor theater. Director David Thorpe put on a very special night of theater I won’t soon forget.

Unfortunately this run has finished this weekend but they have many fun shows in the future and you can find out more here.

disaster- taylorsville arts council, TAYLORSVILLE

As much as I love seeing classics like Fiddler it’s also fun when I get to see a new to me play or musical. Such was the case with Taylorsville Arts Council’s production of Disaster! I must admit I’m not the biggest fan of parody so I went into this with a little trepidation but ended up having a fun time with it. This show is kind of like the movie Airplane! meets The Poseidon Adventure with a disco hit soundtrack. It’s a jukebox musical stacked full of songs from everybody from Carly Simon to Donna Summer and more.

At Taylorsville I was not feeling the show much in the first act. The jokes weren’t landing and the singing wasn’t the best. However, the main disaster happens at the end of Act 1 and things got a lot better in Act 2. The jokes are funnier and it becomes more than just a karaoke night. Rachel Bates was definitely the highlight of the cast as the diva singer Jackie but Rylee Smedshammer was also very funny as the gambling addict nun Sister Mary Downy. The most impressive part of the night was the way the costumes and sets evolved as the crisis got worse. I don’t have my program but the team did a wonderful job with those elements. I don’t think I’d ever see Disaster! again, but I’m glad I got a chance to check it off my list and it’s always good to try something new.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE- SUGAR FACTOR PLAYHOUSE, MIDVALE

I first saw The Drowsy Chaperone back on Broadway in 2006 when it was in previews. I loved it’s dry wit and clever satire of musical theater then and I still love it not but it has been interesting to watch the show evolve over the years. The latest iteration was at Sugar Factory Playhouse. The Man in Chair was younger than I usually see for this musical but Devin Spann brought the necessary sarcasm to the role. I also enjoyed Monte Garcia as Aldolpho and Maria Becerra as Janet Van De Graaff.

The biggest surprise for the production was the change of “Bride’s Lament” from monkey to a bunny theme. I think such changes are bizarre when people cry ‘racism’ when that’s the whole point. They are critiquing and mocking the racist themes and stereotypes of the past. What exactly are they critiquing with bunny? Especially a white bunny. That makes no sense. I realize the company doesn’t have any choice in the matter when such changes are made but I do find it very silly that they purposefully make their comedies weaker in order to not offend an extremely small number of audience members. What’s next are we going to get rid of “Springtime for Hitler” from The Producers? It’s not embracing it. It’s mocking it. That’s the whole point. Anyway, it is what it is. You can read my whole review at utba here. You can find out more about Sugar Factory Playhouse here.

MATILDA- DRAPER HISTORIC THEATRE, DRAPER

Most people know I’m not the biggest Matilda: the Musical fan. I don’t hate it and it has some bops but I do think the book is very flawed. My main problem with it is the escapologist plot is totally unnecessary and takes up so much time in the overlong script. Everything we learn about Miss Honey and her trauma in those scenes we learn in the “My House” section and it just makes the whole show a bit of a slog. That said it’s super fun for kids and I get why they love doing it and being in it. I’m actually going to see both casts at Draper Historic but the first up was the Revolting cast and it was a lot of fun.

Lilian Anderson is a diminutive but spunky little Matilda and she brought a lot of personality to the role. I also thought Neena Roberts Warburton was wonderfully modest and shy as Miss Honey with a beautiful singing voice. The highlight of the night, however, was Trevor Casperson as Trunchbull. He’s not as big and looming as Trunchbull can be but he is very funny and “The Smell of Rebellion” was the best number with him and the kids bouncing off each other very well. Some of the other technical elements felt a little off the night I was there but still more than enough fun to recommend it especially if you enjoy Matilda. I’ll have my review for the Miracle cast next time. Matilda is still playing at Draper Historic through 7/27 and you can purchase tickets here.

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME- MURRAY ARTS COUNCIL, MURRAY

It’s interesting because by accident I ended up having a Disney week last week at the theater. I can be hit and miss with these Disney adaptations but all 3 I attended were outstanding and the first out of the gate was The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Murray Arts at the Murray Amphitheater. I’ve said it many times that this is one of the rare screen to stage adaptations that actually improves upon the movie sanding off much of the film’s flaws and adding much needed context and backstory. This production in Murray is particularly impressive because they have a full orchestra and a 30 person choir accompanying all the performances! When do you get to see that in community theater? Not often! You can read the rest of my thoughts at UTBA here. Hunchback is playing through 7/27 and you can purchase tickets here.

NEWSIES- SYRACUSE ARTS COUNCIL, SYRACUSE

Next in my Disney week was Newsies at Syracuse Arts Council. I have a lot of nostalgia tied up in this show as the film was a favorite of mine as a pre-teen. Fortunately they did a fantastic job at Syracuse and I was so relieved for them that the technical issues they had opening night were mostly gone. Everything went off without a many problems which is what you like to see. I also really appreciate the choreography by Kayley and Kelsey Turner and especially that they included the “Seize the Day” newspaper dance section which is so iconic to this show.

I also really enjoyed the set and how it was maneuvered around to create different staircases and settings. The costumes all felt on period down to the newsboy hats and messenger bags and winning performances by the entire cast. Newsies at Syracuse has finished its run but you can find out about future productions here.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST- COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS ARTS COUNCIL, COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS

Beauty and the Beast is of course another show I have a lot of nostalgia for. Both because I love the film but also because I saw the Broadway show with my Grandma and cousin Lisa on our special trip in 2000. It is definitely one of the best screen to stage adaptations by Disney and I was thrilled when I heard Cottonwood Heights was putting it on (they did a terrific job with the marketing for this show making it look very appealing.) Fortunately this is a case with my expectations being completely met if not more so. What an incredible night of theatre!

You really can’t believe when you enter Butler Middle School you are going to get this quality of a production. Everything from the costumes (Belle’s yellow dress was better than her dress in the live action film!) to the singing talent of all the leads was outstanding. Summer Sloan Alvey played Belle and she was warm and empathetic and everything you want in Belle. James Carter was hilarious as Lumiere and Jix-Xiang Yu exceptional as Mrs Potts (she might be the finest singer in Utah today. Phenomenal.) But everyone was excellent.

One of the most creative touches director Brighton Sloan used is to have a dancer portray the rose throughout the show. This was elegant and something I’ve never seen before. I know some people disliked the AI projects but most of them worked for me and added a layer immersion into the story.

There were some microphone issues particularly in the “Belle”, “Gaston” and “The Mob Song” numbers (group numbers are really hard to balance sound on because there are a lot of microphones happening at the same time.) Anyway, it certainly wasn’t enough of a problem to put a damper on such a terrific performance!

THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS ON MAN-IN-THE-MOON MARIGOLDS- HART THEATRE COMPANY/IMMIGRANT’S DAUGHTER THEATRE, SALT LAKE

I knew from the title the new show at Hart Theatre Company was going to be unique. The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Miracles is a play written by Paul Zindel in 1971 that he won the Pulitzer Prize for back in the day. It was definitely outside my comfort zone but I like to do that from time to time to stretch as a film and theatre critic. This play tells the story of 2 sisters who are trying to grow up despite their horrible mother. Ariana Farber plays the Mom and she brought enough humanity to the role but she really is a horrible human being. Especially what she does at the ending is unforgivable.

The 2 girls Heidi Farber and Jami Greenburg playing Tillie and Ruth respectively are fantastic and are up for the challenging, emotional moments (especially Greenburg in that ending scene.) All that said, I don’t think this play is for me and it’s not just because it is sad. It’s because I didn’t really see what the point of it was. What are we supposed to learn from these girls and their abusive mother? Are you just supposed to witness it happen as a cautionary tale? I’m not sure but it left me cold despite the very strong performances. Gamma Rays has finished its run but you can find out more about Hart Theatre Company here.

So there you have it. Everything I’ve been watching on the stage lately. What have you been seeing? Are these shows favorites of yours? Would love to hear. Happy theatre-going!

Aside from the shows I reviewed for UTBA I paid for all of these logged shows out of pocket. I’d love to cover as many local shows as possible but I need your help to do so. If you’d like me to review more theatre and appreciate what I do please check out the patreon here

UTAH THEATRE LOG 6/26-7/7 (CHRISTMAS IN JULY, MUSIC MAN, NUTTY PROFESSOR, SEE HOW THEY RUN, ANASTASIA) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 41)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi theatre friends! I hope you are all doing well and surviving this crazy July heat. It’s been rough for me because the AC isn’t working in my car so some of these long drives to see a show are a test! If I show up a mess that is why. It hasn’t stopped me, however, from seeing a number of shows but most of them I’ve done full reviews for for UTBA. One week I did 3 reviews for them which is a lot even for me! If you’d like me to do a full review for your show I can do it right here on this site. Just send me an email to rachelsreviews65@gmail.com and I’d love to set it up! Also this is my first post using my new graphics! Thanks to Joan for making them. She is an incredible designer you should totally check out here.

So here’s my latest log:

ANASTASIA: THE MUSICAL- TIMPANOGOS COMMUNITY THEATRE, AMERICAN FORK

Most people know I am not a big fan of this adaptation of the animated film Anastasia. I think it is a very weak retelling of the story where they over-corrected from the problems of the animated movie and made it all super dull. Therefore, it is saying something when I give such high praise to a production like I did for what they did at Timpanogos. Everything from the costumes to the talent involved was top notch. I was especially impressed with Dylan Bradford as Gleb. That part is such a nothing role they wrote for the show replacing Rasputin from the movie and yet he brought so much to it. His voice is absolutely beautiful and he made me feel for a character I had previously cared less about. You can read my full review at UTBA here. This run is finished but they sold out the remaining shows which makes me very happy and keep an eye out for what they have next because it is always top-tier community theatre here.

SEE HOW THEY RUN- BLUFFDALE ARTS, BLUFFDALE

Next up I reviewed See How They Run at Bluffdale Arts for UTBA. This is one of my favorite plays and what’s fun about Bluffdale Arts is their summer plays are free in the park for anyone to enjoy. I love they do this as a gift for the community and See How They Run is so hilarious. It can’t be beat. I think it is so smart for arts councils to do the straight plays. They are so much simpler for them to execute and let the actors really get to hone their crafts, which is what they did here. It was such a fun night!

Even when they aren’t doing free shows they are very reasonable and have a ‘cast anyone’ approach which led to their 200+ The Little Mermaid this year I will never forget. They are definitely one of my favorite arts councils. You can find out more information here as they have Newsies coming up in August! You can read my review of See How They Run here

THE MUSIC MAN- KAYSVILLE CITY, KAYSVILLE

I’ve developed a fun little tradition the last few years of always seeing The Music Man on or around the July 4th holiday. It’s such a festive show with parades and 76 trombones and all it is perfect for this holiday and this year I was fortunate to see the huge community production from Kaysville City. I couldn’t believe at the July 4th 2:30 matinee the huge Davis High School auditorium was packed! Practically every seat sold!

And with good cause because it was a wonderful production of this classic show. This is one that has a lot of sentimental value to me even though I know quite a few folks who don’t care for it. David Simon plays the slick but nerdy version of Harold Hill I prefer (HCTO did one that was too goofy last year. I like the more used car salesman variety for Harold.) Megan Derrick is wonderful as Marian and Jessica Rampton steals any scene she is in as Eulalie Shinn. The many moving parts to this show are directed b Kristin Pettingill Callor and I loved the painted backgrounds by Cynthia Klumpp and Meish Roundy. Everything looked the peak of professionalism with period accurate costumes by Lauri Storey and Janell Roundy. There were some microphone issues but that’s to be expected in such a big auditorium. Other than that it’s a delight and reminds you to stop piling up those “empty yesterdays” and “make today worth remembering”. The Music Man is still playing until July 10th but tickets are going fast here.

THE NUTTY PROFESSOR- HALE CENTER THEATRE, SANDY

Reviewing The Nutty Professor at Hale Center Theatre in Sandy was an interesting experience for me. I typically attend the theater alone and have never had a problem being by myself in a live performance or at the movies. Well, that changed at Hale not by any fault of them but because of the bizarre behavior of the man sitting next to me. There I was minding my own business when he reached over to me and said his daughter didn’t want to “cuddle with me so would I do it.” I was shocked at what I suppose was an attempt at humor but what a gross thing to say to a complete stranger. Anyway, I mention this because I was pretty proud I was able to pull myself together and write a pretty solid review for UTBA.

It’s a bummer because the experience was ruined by this idiot and it was a fun experience (my personal uncomfortability was not reflected in my review.) It was just hard to enjoy what I was seeing sitting next to a creep (who also kept rubbing his daughters back. The whole thing was just incredibly strange.) I know some of my friends deal with this kind of harassment a lot. I’ve been relatively sheltered from it I think because I’m not conventionally attractive so it keeps the creeps away but what a horrible thing to deal with and anyone who behaves this way should be ashamed of themselves. You aren’t funny or amusing. You’re just ruining the experience for other people.

But as far as the show it is probably the strongest premiere Hale has done in this little experimental season they’ve tried this year. Most of my friends seem pretty down on it but I’ve enjoyed the premieres flaws and all. This is of course based on the classic film starring Jerry Lewis and I adore Spencer Hohl who played the lead and it was so fun to see him act with his Mom, Jennifer Parker Hohl. I love when companies cast family. You can read the rest of my review here. The Nutty Professor plays through August 17th and you can purchase tickets here.

Experience gets a not for me. Show a go see it!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY CONCERT- DEER VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL, SNOW PARK OUTDOOR AMPITHEATER, PARK CITY

As the host of the Hallmarkies Podcast of course I am primed and ready to celebrate Christmas in July so when I saw they were doing a Utah Symphony concert up in Deer Valley I jumped at the chance to attend. The website promised a chance to “listen to classical holiday favorites” and unfortunately they didn’t really deliver on this promise. What instead we got is Vivaldi’s Winter, a summer piece and the Nutcracker for an entire act (I get that’s holiday themed but they couldn’t have done a medley?) It was just disappointing to only get 2 carols the entire night. We did have Santa but the whole thing was underwhelming and lots of kids were there that got rambunctious with the songs selected.

It’s still fun to listen to the beautiful music but I was just hoping for something more festive and also they didn’t deliver on transforming the space into “a winter paradise” or having “Christmas themed goodies” except for one cupcake with red sprinkles. The gift exchange was fun but it could have just all been better. I’d probably pass on this next year and wait for a different concert. If you want to participate in the music festivals you can find more information here.

So there you have it! What have you been watching? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

All of these logged shows not part of UTBA I pay for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks like chances to meet Hallmark stars and more. More information here. Thank you

UTAH THEATRE LOG 6/18-6/25 (SHE LOVES ME, SEUSSICAL, INTO THE WOODS, OLIVER!, SCHOOL OF ROCK) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 40)

| Rachel's Reviews

Happy day to all my theater loving friends! I hope you are doing well. I’ve been pushing myself very hard lately on pretty much every front- working 2 new temporary jobs, my other work, film criticism and of course watching live theater. It’s amazing I’ve still managed to see as much as I have but I’m fortunate to have been able to do so. I also had the chance to recap the Tony Awards with my friend Marc for OnStage Blog

I also have 5 local shows I couldn’t wait to tell you about. Some I reviewed for utba and others are just mentioned on this log. Please let me know what you have been watching at a theater near you.

SHE LOVES ME- SPRINGVILLE PLAYHOUSE, SPRINGVILLE

It’s always fun when I get a chance to check out a new to me company (there’s so many in this area I could see a new one every day!) and it’s especially fun when they are doing one of my favorite shows. I recently had this experience when I went to the Springville Playhouse for the first time and saw their take on She Loves Me. I absolutely adore She Loves Me and this was a really fun community version of this wonderful musical.

I think the key is the Parfumerie story that it is based on just works. Whether it is this, The Shop Around the Corner or You’ve Got Mail it’s a great concept for 2 people to fall in love over their words. They hate each other in real life but are in love as penpals. It’s a great idea. She Loves Me takes this concept and then adds music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and it is completely charming.

At Springville they had a talented cast led by Allison Dean as Amalia and Jared Gaskil as George. They had a nice chemistry together and both brought a nerdy energy to their button-up personas. It’s super fun to see them become unglued and surprised as they realize they are falling in love. The sets and costumes were also very impressive with a 2-story set creating the Parfumerie store and then Amalia’s apartment, the restaurant etc.

The only downside was it was all performed at a school and the office chairs were pretty uncomfortable and the sound they had to work with was frustrating. It would be nice if when company’s are in an environment like that they gave a little notice on their social media so we could bring a cushion or something like that. I appreciated at Sugar Factory recently when they even had cushions to rent but they did give me a heads up so I brought my own pillow. I have never felt She Loves Me’s length before but I did feel it this night.

She Loves Me has finished its run in Springville but I look forward to seeing more from them. You can find out more here.

SEUSSICAL- HALE CENTER THEATRE OREM, OREM

I debated about whether I wanted to see Seussical at Hale Orem. I had just seen it at Centerpoint a few months ago and wasn’t that impressed with the show and figured it might just not be for me. (I have season tickets to HCTO so that’s why I had a ticket.) Eventually I decided to give it a shot and I’m glad I did. It was a lot better and just the visual components of the show alone were more than enough to make up for the scattershot script.

Seussical has music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (who would go on to do Anastasia which I also don’t love) and it is of course based on the works of Dr Seuss. The problem is in attempting to tell all of Seuss’ diverse stories they fail to find a coherent narrative throughout them all and it’s just kind of sporadic and all-over-the-place.

Nevertheless, the folks at HCTO have made an incredible immersive experience with practical sets (not the AI!) and dynamic lighting, whimsical costumes. They also did a good job bringing out the humor of the piece. In particular Blake Barlow as the Cat in the Hat was very funny and since I was laughing I didn’t mind the disjointed story. Wade Robert Johnson is also very endearing as Horton the Elephant who takes care of the Whos no matter how small and sits on Mayzie’s egg.

I don’t think Seussical will ever go down as a favorite show of mine but HCTO has done about as good a job staging it as one could do. I recommend checking it out. It plays through August 3rd and you can buy tickets here.

INTO THE WOODS- OPPA, LAYTON

Anyone who has followed my content for any amount of time knows I’m not the biggest fan of Stephen Sondheim’s magnum opus Into the Woods. I respect things about it but I don’t think the subversion in Act 2 pays off and I just find the whole experience to be rather long and frustrating. Nevertheless, it is extremely popular particularly here in Utah so I often find myself seeing it and in spite of what people may think I can give a fair review of a show I’m not crazy about. I recently saw the production at OPPA and especially if you’re a fan of this show you should totally give this one a shot.

There are 2 aspects that made this version of Into the Woods stand out. The first is giving it a 1950s setting both in costumes and iconography in the backdrops with domestic housewife posters and advertising for the day. I think someone could even go further with this and have it be set in a city park with buildings around it, giving the woods an urban feel. It could be a cool way to freshen up a oft-told story. Nevertheless, I really appreciate that they tried to make it their own (director Kristie Post Wallace did a great job.)

The cast was also one of the strongest I’ve seen at OPPA. They have an education mission so I’m pretty forgiving of their imperfect casts but this one basically everyone was bringing it. I particularly enjoyed Caitlin Olsen as the Witch (I think she is one of the strongest singers acting in Utah today and her acting is compelling as well.) and Preston Fulllmer as the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince was absolutely hilarious in both roles (I don’t think these roles are usually cast with the same actor but it really worked.)

There was some kind of problem happening with Cinderella’s costumes. I assume this comes from the show being double cast but her dress was starting to come apart and I was nervous it was going to literally fall off her and there were a couple other costume construction issues. This is community theater after all. That said, this is a very strong take on Into the Woods and especially if you love this show and what it has to offer I highly recommend it. It runs through July 13th and you can purchase tickets here.

OLIVER!- HOPEBOX THEATRE, KAYSVILLE

Hopebox is a really special local theater with a wonderful mission of supporting individuals fighting cancer in the community. They’ve also never missed for me. Even if it is a show I’m not crazy about like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers they still put on a quality production that makes for an entertaining night of theater. I recently reviewed Oliver! there for UTBA and it was an incredible experience. I absolutely loved their steampunk take on the classic story. Being it is set in the Victorian era the steampunk sensibilities really make sense and work and it fit the venue so well. I highly recommend checking it out. You can read my review here. Oliver! plays through July 13th and you can purchase tickets here.

SCHOOL OF ROCK- CREEKSIDE FESTIVAL, PLEASANT GROVE

One of the shows on my musical theater bucketlist for some time has been School of Rock. I knew about it because it comes from Andrew Lloyd Webber, Glenn Slater and Julian Fellowes (all who I love) but I had never had a chance to see it. Fortunately I got the chance at Creekside Theatre Company in their Summer Festival series and I wrote my review for UTBA. There were a lot of technical issues which was unfortunate but I still really enjoyed the experience. I love the comradery between Dewey and the kids and there are some really catchy tunes especially “If Only You Would Listen.” I was thinking about it and I honestly think I prefer School of Rock over Matilda which might be a hot take but there it is. You can read my full review here. School of Rock plays through July 1st and you can get tickets here.

All of these logged shows not part of UTBA I pay for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

UTAH THEATRE LOG 6/11-6/17 (KISS ME KATE, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, SILENT SKY, GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 39)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi friends! I hope you are doing well and enjoying some great local theater wherever you might be. I have been busy starting 2 new part-time jobs but never too busy to support the arts. Here’s what I’ve been watching:

KISS ME KATE- CENTERPOINT LEGACY THEATRE, CENTERVILLE

I know some people bristle at the thought of seeing classic shows like Kiss Me Kate, South Pacific, Bye Bye Birdie etc. They definitely have their outdated elements so I can understand some reticence but there’s still a lot of good that can be gained from watching them. Such was the case with the amazing production of Kiss Me Kate over at Centerpoint Legacy Theatre over in Centerville. They are a theater consistently producing shows on a semi-professional level for a bargain price. I highly recommend getting a season pass for them.

So Kiss Me Kate was written (music and lyrics) by Cole Porter in 1948 and it is a take on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Of course Taming has its own set of outdated elements but the switching back and forth between a 1948 contemporary setting and the play in Padua keeps things fresh and engaging. My favorite songs in the show are “Too Darn Hot,” “Brush Up Your Shakespeare,” and “Where is the Life that Late I Led.” All were performed well by the Centerpoint cast but my favorite was actually Isaac Carrillo as Bill/Lucentio. He’s a terrific dancer and his “Bianca” was a showstopper. Michelle Blake and Addison Welch were also a lot of fun as the leads.

Like 42nd Street, which Centerpoint also recently did, Kiss Me Kate does feel a little long in the tooth, but I still would highly recommend it to any classic musical theater lovers and like I said a season ticket to Centerpoint is a no-brainer. This is one of many wonderful productions from one of our best local companies. Kiss Me Kate is playing until July 12th and you can purchase tickets here.

Verdict- See it

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA- KENSINGTON THEATRE, SOUTH JORDAN

It may just be my impression but it seems like to me that most of the critics and hard-core theater fans I know are real down on Andrew Lloyd Weber and his musicals. I know recently he had a big flop with Bad Cinderella but I personally have a hard time hating him as his music was my introduction to the joys of musical theater. I get he is big and brassy but I almost always have a good time at one of his shows. In fact, the very first big musical I ever saw of his was going to The Phantom of the Opera in San Francisco with my Grandma.

Anyway, I was really excited when I heard Kensington Theater was going to be one of the first regional theaters in my area to be putting on Phantom and I was even more excited when I heard it was going to be one of their youth productions. They so far haven’t missed for me as a company and I even liked their Into the Woods which you all know isn’t my favorite.

Now I have seen the production and I had an absolute blast with it. Sure it has the foibles and imperfections of any youth production but it was exciting to see the performers grow in confidence as the opening night jitters melted away. In particular DaCoda Helm really came to his own as the Phatom in Act 2 and “The Point of No Return” blew me away. Anna Bella Petersen brought a sweetness and innocence I really admired in Christine and she was up for all the challenging vocals in songs like “Think of Me” and “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.” Malea Hyte was also really impressive as Carlotta. To have such a mature opera voice at such a young age is unbelievable. Plus she also brought a lot of comic timing to the role.

Everything else about this Phantom is outstanding. Everything from a full orchestra (in an orchestra pit under the stage!), to immersive direction (director Toni Butler) where the cast frequently came out into the audience, to ballet dancers on toe, to sets that would impress productions with double and triple the budget. It’s well worth your time. Interesting that the most outstanding youth productions I’ve seen this year have both been Andrew Lloyd Weber with Liahona Academy’s incredible Starlight Express earlier this year. Don’t miss out on this one. It plays through June 24th and tickets can be purchased here.

Verdict- See it!

SILENT SKY- EMPRESS THEATRE, MAGNA

I have to admit the first time I saw Silent Sky at Hale Center Theater I was a little bit underwhelmed. While an admirable story and I was glad to learn about Henrietta Leavitt I found it kind of dry and dull. However, I have season tickets to Empress so I decided to give it another shot and for the most part I had a better experience this time. It could be I was just less tired or perhaps the more intimate space of Empress helped the story work better who’s to say?

Silent Sky is a play written by Lauren Gunderson and it tells the story of real life scientist Henrietta Leavitt who worked at Harvard mapping out the stars in the early 1900s. The play tries to flesh out her story by having Henrietta’s sister Margaret as a character painting a contrast between her family life and her career. It can still feel too workmanlike at times but I did find it more compelling this time. The cast at Empress are all up for the challenging amount of dialogue with Stacy Mayren pulling off a convincing Scottish accent for Williamina Flemming.

The production for the play was very simple with only a couple desks and podiums. The only choice I didn’t love is they had all the props be pantomimed or imagined. I could understand that for a telescope or even the slides which might be hard to make but for items like a book or letter it was a distracting to see the actors pretending to read something that could easily be there. Overall, Silent Sky is an edifying play about a woman worth knowing something about. I’d recommend it especially if you have young girls who could use some inspiration in their scientific studies. Silent Sky is playing until June 22 and you can purchase tickets here.

Verdict- See it

GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY- ECCLES THEATER, SALT LAKE, NATIONAL TOUR

First I will state outright that I decided to leave Girl From the North Country a little early. I didn’t enjoy the first act and getting into the second my back was really starting to hurt me and I was just not having a good time and as I am not formally reviewing the piece I felt it was ok to call it a day. I am sure some people will really appreciate the different approach this musical takes but it just wasn’t for me. It is based on music and lyrics from Bob Dylan with a book by Conor McPherson. It is set in the 1930s and is about a Black woman who becomes pregnant and has to resist her white adopted father’s attempt to marry her to a rich friend of his.

Honestly it’s not worth hardly mentioning the plot as the musical doesn’t do much with it. Characters come in and out spouting folksy wisdom but there is no real narrative thrust to what is happening which makes it hard to feel emotion for our characters or get invested in what you are seeing on stage. This problem is amplified by the total disconnect between what is happening to the characters and the songs which are not integrated into the plot in any way. I would have preferred it just be a concert of Bob Dylan songs than this inconsistent unsatisfying mixture I experienced.

The cast is all talented but again I’d rather just hear a concert of them singing than whatever this was. I also didn’t think the musical was well directed with so much happening on stage that what was already muddled became more confusing. Frequently actors are on stage that don’t seem to be doing much and the sets are so full of clutter that it makes it hard to connect with what is happening. Like I said, I know a few people who liked Girl From the North Country but most of my friends left early like I did. Oh well. You can’t win them all!

Verdict- Not for Me

So there you have it! What have you seen lately? I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these shows if you’ve seen them at venues near you or on Broadway. Thanks!

Most of the logged shows I pay for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

UTAH THEATRE LOG 5/28-6/10 (DADDY LONG LEGS, THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE LIGHTNING THIEF, AND MORE) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 38)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi theatre loving friends! I’ve got a bunch of productions to update you on. Some of them I’ve reviewed for UTBA and others were just for this log. Let’s get started!

THE WEDDING SINGER- IDEAL PLAYHOUSE, HEBER

It’s always super exciting when a new theater company opens up even if it means the long drive out to Heber. I am so excited what the folks at Ideal Playhouse are doing renovating 2 theaters in the town of Heber that will be showing all kinds of concerts and productions as well as new and classic movies. I reviewed their opening production of The Wedding Singer (a musical I find very underrated) and I enjoyed it enough to see it a second time. I think it is a terrific start to their company! You can read my review here.

DADDY LONG LEGS- CACHE THEATRE COMPANY, LOGAN

Everyone knows how much I love and adore Daddy Long Legs as a musical. I even recently interviewed its music and lyricist Paul Gordon

TRecently I was up in Logan to see my friend Caroline’s new store Kings Finest Vintage (if you are in Logan you should totally check it out!). So I saw Daddy Long Legs while I was up there at a new to me company Cache Theatre Company. Sadly I must admit this was probably as close as I will ever get to disliking a production of this beloved musical. They did not give me a program so I can’t site details but the leads had nice voices but the direction choices were very strange. In particular they chose to have Jervis sitting behind a desk for most of the show. This cuts off a huge part of his performance. He also didn’t collect the letters like I’ve always seen (usually they are pinned on the wall and he is reading over them.) It just made the chemistry non-existent and it’s a show that lives and dies on chemistry. It was also in a banquet hall with incredibly uncomfortable chairs and the whole experience just wasn’t pleasant (I was going to stay another day for the second cast but decided against it.) Oh well! On to the next staging! They have a production of Beauty and the Beast Jr coming up to Cache Theatre Company and it looks like it is in a more comfortable theater so is probably worth checking out here.

MATILDA: THE MUSICAL- FRIENDS OF HERRIMAN ARTS COUNCIL, HERRIMAN

Most people know I have my issues with Matilda: the Musical– particularly with the book but it still has some very catchy tunes and is worth seeing. Continuing on this weekend they have a production at Butterfiled Park Pavilion in Herriman that is outstanding. They even had a full live orchestra present! I reviewed it for utba you can see my review here. Matilda: the Musical is playing through 6/17 and tickets can be purchased here.

THE LITTLE MERMAID- DRAPER AMPITHEATER, DRAPER

Like with Matilda, the Broadway adaptation of The Little Mermaid is one I have a lot of issues with. It is not my favorite but I can still have a good time seeing it. In fact, this year I saw a truly unforgettable production of it at Bluffdale Arts that had a cast of over 200 people! You can read my review of that here. This week I was able to attend a staging of it at Draper Amphitheatre and it was a lot of fun. It was made more memorable by the rainstorm and the actors pushing on through the storm. The highlight was the aerial performers that did incredible flips and twists and helped give the appearance of swimming. The cast was all strong with Naomi McClure standing out as Ursula. Director Susan DeMill really tried to make the stage come alive in new and creative ways. It’s still not my favorite adaptation but it made for a memorable night with my friends. This run is over but they have Legally Blonde Jr coming up and you can purchase tickets here.

THE LIGHTNING THIEF- WEST VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, WEST VALLEY

First of all, I want to say I am thrilled to hear that WVPAC has gotten an extension on their funding and we have at least another year of their wonderful productions. They are an ambitious, exciting company that we need in this valley and I will continue to support them in any way I can. This weekend I saw their new production of The Lightning Thief and I really think they did about as good a job as could be done with this imperfect material.

I actually have read Rick Riordan’s book this musical is based on and while I enjoyed it I wouldn’t call myself a fan- something of which I know there are many. I remember when this musical premiered on Broadway it had a small run and then wasn’t nominated for any Tony awards in 2020 which there wasn’t much competition in 2020…

To be honest I can see why it didn’t get much awards love. The attempt by music and lyricist Rob Rokicki and book writer Joe Tracz to translate this book into a musical is not successful. The story is over-loaded with a barrage of characters that come in and out of the story without any real consistency- some even die and then come back to life at seemingly random times. The storyline and plots are also equally numerous and fragmented. For example, just in villains we meet demons, Smelly Gabe, a Minotaur who kills a character, Luke the son of Hermes, Medusa, a spirit named Chimera, Hades and more. How are we supposed to keep all of this straight? It also doesn’t help that it should never have been a musical to begin with. There’s not a memorable song in the bunch and the songs just take time away from the story and we need that time to understand what is happening.

That said, the folks at WVPAC did an outstanding job putting on this flawed show. The visual effects and set design was impressive and creative. For example, the way they create a train, bus, the underworld, ocean all works and is quite seamless. I also enjoyed the puppetry they used and the entire cast was strong. Ren Cottam puts his all into the role of Percy Jackson and is asked to be dramatic, funny and stretch his action chops and he rises to the challenge.

If you love fantasy and love these books you definitely have to see this show for the ambition alone. Plus, it’s something new and fresh and that should be supported. I didn’t love the material they had to work with but they did what they could with it and I respect that. The Lightning Thief is playing through June 19th and you can purchase tickets here.

Most of the logged shows I pay for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

Best of Theatre 2024 So Far…

| Rachel's Reviews

Hello my theatre loving friends! Believe it or not it is June and so that means it is time for me to do my mid-year retrospective on what I have had the privilege of watching on stage so far this year and what have been some of my favorites. I saw 58 live shows in this time with 16 of them being straight plays and 42 musicals at 40 different venues some for the first time such as the Egyptian in Park City or Sugar Factory Theater Company. I even got to attend 2 shows while in Austin, Texas and visit the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. 

Obviously I did not see every show in my area nor did I see every cast of a particular show so my ‘awards’ are by no means comprehensive. It’s just what I enjoyed and want to give a mid-year shout-out to. 

BEST PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL-

This one has to go to either tick, tick… Boom at the Kennedy Center which blew me away on every level or to Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet at Pioneer Theatre Company which I enjoyed enough to see it a second time in the nosebleed seats! Both had incredible lead performances (Brandon Uranowitz and Kevin Earley respectively) with Great Comet having the more elaborate visual elements but tick tick having the more impactful story. If you ever get the chance to see either I highly recommend it.

BEST PROFESSIONAL PLAY

I have seen some terrific professional plays this year so far but my favorite has to be Bald Sisters from SLAC. This is a funny, heartfelt story of sisters trying to bond after their mother’s passing. It deals with the immigrant experience and how sometimes we love our family members more than we actually like them. Wendy Dang was the highlight as the older more responsibility burdened of the two sisters. I also really enjoyed The Lehman Trilogy at Pioneer Theatre Company (aside from Bonnie and Clyde what a season they had at PTC!)

BEST SEMI-PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL

For best semi-professional production (not an official term but what I think of as the step just below equity priced shows around $30) but my favorite were definitely Spring Awakening at Hart Theatre Company which was one of the most striking uses of a blackbox space I’ve seen. With live music and an extremely well-directed cast this was an incredible introduction to this daring musical. My other prize would go to Catch Me if You Can by the always unbelievable Music Theatre West. If you are in Logan I can’t recommend one of their productions more highly. Everything about this production was outstanding from the period accurate costumes to the lively choreography to the chemistry amongst the whole cast. I think Catch Me is a very underrated show and MTW did it right!

BEST LOCAL PLAY-

The best non-professional play that I saw has to be either Shakespeare in Love at WVPAC or Pride and Prejudice at Parker Theatre. Both were near-flawlessly executed love stories so of course they will be right up my alley. I particularly was blown away by the chemistry between Josh Egbert and Jillian Joy in Shakespeare in Love. It was masterfully done. As WVPAC is fighting for their life I know I will make sure to see as much there as I can. Save WVPAC!! Pride and Prejudice at Parker is the kind of show I wish had a permanent residency because I could just keep seeing it over and over again. So good.

REST OF THE GREAT MUSICALS

The best of the best of the other musicals I saw include Legally Blonde at Draper Historic (both casts), My Fair Lady at Heritage (leads had such good chemistry they even sold the ending!), Starlight Express from Liahona Academy (dazzled by the skating and fresh energy), all 4 casts of Daddy Long Legs I saw but especially Sydney and Bronson Dameron as Jervis and Jerusha at Lehi Arts Council, and finally The Little Mermaid at Bluffdale Arts with a cast of over 200 people I’ll never forget being part of such a community event.

So there you have it! Thanks to everyone who put on such amazing theatre!

Most of the logged shows I pay for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

UTAH THEATRE LOG 5/21-5/27 (GWYNETH GOES SKIING, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, AND MORE) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 37)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi theatre friends! I hope you are doing well. I’ve had a busy last couple of weeks and have actually had the chance to rewatch several shows I loved along with a couple new productions. Here are my thoughts:

LEGALLY BLONDE- DRAPER HISTORIC, DRAPER

I previously saw the Fuschia cast of Legally Blonde at Draper Historic as part of my season pass and I enjoyed it so much they were kind enough to comp me a ticket to see the the other Magenta cast and I loved it all over again. I honestly don’t know what else you could ask for in a community theater production. Everything from the singing to the choreography to the wonderful cast chemistry all worked. They even had confetti drop when Elle gets into Harvard. They thought of everything!

Draper Historic is rapidly becoming one of my favorite local companies and how amazing to have them in my hometown. I’m not big into improv so I had dismissed them for years because of the improv company that performs there but ever since Jekyll and Hyde last year they have consistently impressed me with the quality of the singing and the gravitas of the productions. If you are considering getting a season pass to a company they would be high on my list of recommendations especially for the price.

Makayla Connor and Travis Wright were absolutely outstanding as Elle and Emmett. Also shoutout to Adrian Dayton who was hilarious as hot UPS man Kyle in both casts. To find out more about Draper Historic look here.

COMPANY- ZIEGFELD THEATRE, OGDEN

I was really excited going into review Company at Ziegfeld Theatre for UTBA. It’s my favorite Sondheim musical and outside of their Rent they have consistently impressed me as a theatre. Unfortunately the decisions they made in casting really hurt my overall enjoyment of the production. I was honestly probably a little nicer in the review than I should have been (it’s hard to know the line when reviewing community theater how tough to be.) There were some good things about it but the attempt to do the gender swap when I’ve since found out they did not have permission to do the gender swap revival did not work. Also their marketing of this production has left a bad taste in my mouth. I wish they had just done Company as written and cast in a way that’s consistent with the characters on paper. The talent was there and they could have done it (I love the gender swap revival btw). It’s a real shame and I think I will be taking a break from this company for a time. You can read my full review here.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST- PARKER THEATRE, SALT LAKE

The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic play written by the great Oscar Wilde. I love that the Parker Theatre has found a niche for itself in doing period pieces and after the downer (very well done) of Of Mice and Men it’s a wise choice to give their audience some laughs. As is always the case with the Parker the acting and entire production is as good as anything you’d see in an equity theater and I defy anyone to find a stronger regional theater working today.

Jonathan McBride brings a foppish fun to his performance as Algernon and Kristin Hafen is very funny as the flighty Cecily. The costumes by Rebecca Fenton were also sumptuous and detailed. Unfortunately this play is a little dry for me. Once the initial set up of the fake relations gets set up it doesn’t do much for me as far as story or great laughs. That said, I’d still recommend attending the show for the quality of the productions and it’s just one of those plays you have to see at least once in your theatre-going life so might as well support this terrific company while you do so! The Importance of Being Earnest is playing through June 22 at the Parker Theatre so you have lots of time. Get your tickets here.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812- PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY, SALT LAKE

I enjoyed seeing Natasha, Pierre… at Pioneer Theatre Company so much the first time for my review I decided to go a second time on the last night of its run. It’s interesting because I can see lots of flaws within this show. The story is melodramatic and the ending isn’t that satisfying but I still love it!

Kevin Earley is still the standout as Pierre but I appreciated Ali Ewoldt as Natasha more on this go-around. She has an emotional immaturity that allows her to make foolish decisions but she’s so sincere about those choices that it’s easy to empathize with her. We all make stupid choices as teenagers right?

Everything else I said in the review of Natasha, Pierre… is still great and I’m grateful to PTC for bringing this special production to Salt Lake for me to enjoy. I will treasure it always. This marked the end of PTC’s season but make sure to check out their exciting new season with 2 theaters here!

GWYNETH GOES SKIING- AWKWARD PRODUCTIONS, EGYPTIAN THEATER, PARK CITY

I first heard about Gwyneth Goes Skiing last year when it premiered in London and instantly I was intrigued. Not only did it sound hilarious (let’s be honest Gwyneth Paltrow’s whole persona with Goop and all gives much for the playwright to lampoon) but it also has a deep Utah connection with the accident and trial all happening right here. I don’t go up to Park City often but I absolutely had to attend the production at the Egyptian Theater as soon as I heard it was announced. Fortunately it did not disappoint.

Gwyneth Goes Skiing stars Linus Karp as Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Martin as optometrist Terry along with filmed cameos and audience participation throughout the show. I am not the biggest improv fan but Martin and Karp (who also wrote the piece) do a good job combining fresh jokes with the written material. I particularly think everything gets going in Act 2 when the trial begins. In fact, it might be stronger as a one act comedy but I suppose that would be less marketable. Either way the laughs never stop and I would definitely recommend it if it is coming by you. To learn more about Awkward Productions follow them here. You can also find out more about The Egyptian here.

So there you have it! Let me know what you have been watching on the stage and if you saw any of these performances what you thought.

With the exception of the 2nd viewing of Legally Blonde (and Company that was reviewed for UTBA), all of these logged shows I paid for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you