ballet

Utah Theatre Log 10/6-10/21 (Bright Star, Mousetrap, Great Expectations, Ballet Hispanico, The Shining) (Rachel’s Theatre Log 204)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi theatre friends! I have a bunch of shows to update you on that I saw as a patron not as a critic. If you are new to my site I do full theatre reviews for shows I am invited to review as a critic and then do these shorter logs for the rest of the shows I see on my own dime. If you are interested in me reviewing your production email me at rachelsreviews65@gmail.com or message me on instagram.

Bright Star- Sandy Arts Guild, Sandy

I wasn’t able to review Bright Star at Sandy Arts Guild opening night but my friend Jen did it for me and she did a great job. Make sure to check out her review here. Everyone knows this is a show I love and I think the Alice Murphy played by Ashley Shamy was strong and both leads worked best as the older versions of the character. I also was intrigued by the fairly sparse set choices Director Dave Hansen used. For example, the train sequence was just Papa Dobbs with projections behind him. Margot’s bookstore was a cash register and a projection of a bookstore. This is unusual of Sandy Arts Guild who usually have such lush sets so I felt it was an intentional minimalist choice. This show finished its run on October 18th but next up for SAG is The Importance of Being Earnest this January. More information here

The Mousetrap- Lehi Arts Council, Lehi

I love the small pocket theater Lehi Arts Council uses during the school year. I much prefer it to the large auditorium they use in the summer, although I certainly understand why they want the larger capacity for those shows. Still, they rarely miss in their small theatre and their recent production of The Mousetrap is no exception. I’m honestly not the biggest mystery person especially Agatha Christie but this play is so legendary and I had fun with its surprises and reveals. It’s nice to check this classic play off of my blind spot list.

This production was directed by Denise Gull and Kassidy Rackham and they have brought the best out of their cast with them leaning into the campy elements of their characters (which is how I prefer mysteries if I’m going to watch them.) The whole cast does a great job with their accents and they work well together as an ensemble. This show has finished its run but look out for She Loves Me (one of my favorites) coming up next.

Ballet Hispanico- Utah Presents at Kingsbury Hall, Salt Lake

I am not a ballet person. Outside of The Nutcracker it’s just not an artform I love even though I appreciate the talent involved. However, I like to shake things up from time-to-time, and I love what they are doing over at Utah Presents. Every couple of weeks they have a special guest with a unique artistic expression or cultural viewpoint. Last month I saw jazz musician Arturo Sandoval and this month I saw the Ballet Hispanico. The latter was more contemporary than I was expecting and they had 3 acts as part of their performance. I must admit it was not my taste but it certainly is well done and if you enjoy modern dance you’d probably love it. More information about Utah Presents can be found here.

Great Expectations- BYU, Provo

When I heard BYU was doing Great Expectations I was immediately intrigued as it is one of my favorite classic novels and it has so many weird aspects it seems perfect for theatrical college students! Unfortunately this production didn’t work for me. I admire much of what they are trying to do. The acting is all on point and the use of the black box space is inventive. The costumes by Dennis Wright are particularly impressive especially Miss Havisham’s wedding dress and her moldy cake (set designers Milinda weeks and Whitney Layton.) Maybe I was just fatigued from a long day/weekend but the adaptation felt laboriously slow and belabored the least interesting aspects of the novel. It takes forever for Pip to even meet Miss Havisham and Isabella. The first Act was close to 90 minutes so I must admit I left at intermission (I never do this if I’m reviewing a show and rarely as a patron.) I felt I had gotten the gist of the show and was worried I’d hit Holy War football traffic if I stayed through Act 2. I am very excited that they also have She Loves Me coming up next which I love! Great Expectations is directed by Alexandra Mackenzie Johns and is playing through November 1st. Tickets can be purchased here.

The Shining- Utah Opera, Salt Lake

Like ballet, I haven’t seen many operas in my day. Of the ones I have seen almost all have been Mozart with a couple other classics like Traviata and Carmen. Aside from Phantom of the Opera, to my memory I have never seen a modern opera in English- that is I hadn’t until this Sunday when I saw Utah Opera’s production of The Shining. This is, of course, based on the Stephen King novel which the movie strays far away from as great as it might be.

I don’t know enough about opera to give a nuanced critique but I really enjoyed seeing this different take on the story. The singing all seemed great to my untrained ear and the use of projections is effective in creating an eerie tone with the ghosts. In fact, I don’t think they needed the ensemble scenes, which felt randomly placed and less scary than the projected ghosts. It probably does help having some familiarity with the story, so we can anticipate certain scenes like the busting through the door or the little boys premonitions. Overall, The Shining in operettic form was a fresh and unique experience I’m glad I was able to see. This production had stage directing and concept designer Geoffrey McDonald with projections by David Murakami. It has finished its run but they have Beethoven’s Fidelio next and more information is here.

So there you have it. Have you seen any of these shows? I’d love to hear your thoughts. What have you been watching at the theater? Let me know in the comments. Thanks to all the talented artists who shared their gifts with me.

Bright Star has music by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell with lyrics by Brickell and a book by Martin. It first premiered on Broadway in 2016. The Mousetrap is written by Agatha Christie and first premiered on the West End in 1952 where it has achieved over 30,000 performances and still running. Great Expectations is adapted by Neil Bartlett based on the novel by Charles Dickens. The Shining opera has music by Paul Moravek and a libretto by Mark Campbell based on the novel by Stephen King. It first premiered in 2016.

These logged shows I usually pay for out of pocket, and I’d love to do that as much as possible. If you have a show you’d like me to take a look at and write a full review let me know. I also have my patreon which is a great way to support what I do and get some really fun perks. Find out more here.

‘An American in Paris’ is a triumph of dance and artistry at The Ruth (Review)

| Rachel's Reviews

Of all the performance arts dance is probably my least favorite. I think it’s an incredible skill and the dancers are unbelievable athletes but if I had to pick between a concert, ballet, opera, or play I would definitely pick ballet last. That’s why I was a little hesitant to see An American in Paris which just opened at The Ruth this weekend. I know this is a dance-heavy show because I actually saw it back in 2015 on a quick trip to New York I took that year. Fortunately my worries were put to rest as this new production of An American in Paris at The Ruth is as good as anything I saw on Broadway and a special event in this year’s Utah theatre landscape.

With An American in Paris being so dance-centric it is essential the choreography be compelling and executed well and it is at The Ruth. Director Jennifer Hill Barlow and choreographer Penny Saunders make every scene a stunning work of art where the movement of the human bodies transfixes the audience with its beauty and storytelling abilities. And it’s not just ballet but we see contemporary, ballroom and tap numbers throughout (I am not a dance critic but they all looked incredible to my eye.) The lighting by Ryan Fallis is also stunning with bold red backgrounds and mood lighting particularly standing out. The costumes were made with the assistance of Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute are incredibly well done and almost another character in the dance sequences.

The story is pretty simple with a love triangle between artist Jerry Mulligan (Jonathan Tanner), composer Adam Hochberg (Jordan Briggs), dancer Henri Baurel (Thomas Wood) and the young Lise Dassin (Ella Bleu Bradford.) They go back and forth between who Lise is going to pick and who ‘deserves’ the girl. It’s all perfectly serviceable because it’s all just a setup or framework for the dance.

The only downside I can see with An American in Paris at The Ruth is it is a long show at nearly 3 hours and might try the patience of some who aren’t as impressed by the dancing and want more story. Sometimes I might include myself in that group but when it’s so well executed as it is here I couldn’t help but be impressed. I really wish they had a live orchestra for such an incredible production but I get it. That’s not what they do. It would just add the perfect finishing touch to hear live musicians playing those classic Gershwin tunes.

Many people will be aware of the classic film starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. That is also a movie that is all about the dance. Tanner has Kelly vibes in his performance. Same with Bradford and Caron. Teaira Burge is also stunning as the rich Milo Davenport. My favorite numbers are the longer ballet dance sequences like “Concerto in F” at the beginning, “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise” and the final “An American in Paris” ballet.

I really can’t recommend this show more highly. I will be seeing the TTHS cast which has Rylee Rogers from Ballet West as Lise, so I’ll be back! All involved in this An American in Paris should be very proud. It is playing at The Ruth through July 19th and tickets can be purchased here.

An American in Paris features music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and a book by Craig Lucas based on the 1951 film.

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.

UTAH THEATRE LOG 12/24-12/30 (THE NUTCRACKER, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, ANASTASIA) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 82)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi theatre friends! I hope you had a wonderful December. As we finish off 2024 I will have my traditional best of the year posts as well as finishing off a couple stray Broadway reviews I still need to finish. Before that, however, I have a log to update everyone on the last shows I saw in the year here in Utah.

THE NUTCRACKER- BALLET WEST, SALT LAKE CITY

I must admit I am not the biggest ballet fan. Nothing against the very talented dancers and creators involved it just tends to not engage me the way other performing arts does. However, when I heard Ballet West was celebrating their 80th year of The Nutcracker I had to attend. Believe it or not Salt Lake City was the first place to ever perform The Nutcracker in US. Even though I don’t love ballet whenever I see anything at Ballet West it is always a world class production. I am not knowledgeable enough in ballet to tell you what was done excellently or less proficiently. All I know is it all looked incredible to me and they make everything look effortless (of course it is not. It takes great effort but that’s the skill level they have.)

I was happy I had Rylee Ann Rogers as the Sugarplum Fairy because I follow her on instagram and think she’s an incredible talent, which she was. I do think the second half of The Nutcracker when you have the various dancers performing for the royalty is more entertaining than the first half. There’s just a little more variety to the dancing and music in that segment, which I find more entertaining.

All the other production elements like the sets and costumes were perfect and make a trip to Ballet West well worth the investment. They are one of the finest ballet companies in the world and we are lucky to have them in our city. Here’s to 80 more years of The Nutcracker.

You can find out more about Ballet West here.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL- HALE CENTER THEATRE OREM, OREM

I have very mixed feelings about the changes happening at Hale Center Theatre Orem. After 35 years they are shutting down the Orem location and opening a new huge complex in Pleasant Grove they are naming The Ruth. As a long-time season ticket holder (and former voice lesson student) I am going to miss the intimacy and unique atmosphere of HCTO but I hope for the best and wish them all the best.

Anyway, it was bittersweet to see A Christmas Carol at HCTO this year because it is the last production at the Orem location. I went with my parents this time and we all had a wonderful time and it was nice they had some performances after Christmas as things get so crazy those days leading up to the holiday (especially for me with Hallmarkies Podcast.)

In previous years they had done some interesting things with A Christmas Carol but for this production they went back to the traditional version by Cody Hale. This makes sense as a tribute to the many years they used this version but it honestly isn’t my favorite. Particularly the original songs I’ve never loved. I also felt Daniel Hess as Scrooge was better as the show went along. When he was supposed to be angry Scrooge it felt somewhat phony and like he was reciting lines rather than really believing what he was saying.

The Jacob Marley reveal was spooky and very well done as was Adrian Alita’s performance in the role. I also really appreciate they got actors who looked like actual teens to play Young Scrooge (Cameron Ward) and Dick Wilkins (Parker Smith.) Marshall Lamm was endearing as Bob Cratchit and I particularly loved his rendition of “What Child is This” in the Future section. Overall, this was a very entertaining version of A Christmas Carol and I’m glad I got to see one last show at HCTO. Cheers to some great memories over the years.

You can find out more about The Ruth and their upcoming season here.

ANASTASIA- DRAPER HISTORIC THEATRE, DRAPER

The last show that I saw in 2024 I can’t fully log. I saw Anastasia at Draper Historic Theatre. Everyone probably knows by now this is not my favorite adaptation. I just feel like the team took all the energy and fun out of the animated film and made it quite dull. Nevertheless, obviously if I am going to see a show I am going to give the company a fair shot. Unfortunately I had a blow of air conditioning on my head, and I started to get a quite bad headache. I almost never do this (only 2 other times this year out of 171 shows,) but I decided to leave at intermission because I just wasn’t feeling well.

As far as what I saw it was another terrific production for this small community theatre. Mira Hulme has a beautiful voice and fits the part of Anastasia perfectly and Mathew Davids was a standout as Vlad. The production was more sparse and reliant on projections than some of their other shows but it was certainly more than sufficient as were the beautiful costumes and hair/makeup.

If you are looking for where to get some of the biggest bang for your buck I would seriously consider Draper Historic Theatre. They have a really fun season coming up for 2025 including my favorite show, Bright Star (I’m so hyped for that.) So even though I had to leave early on this one I highly recommend taking a look at DHT. You can find information here.

These logged shows I pay for out of pocket and I’d love to do that as much as possible. If you have a show you’d like me to take a look at and write a full review let me know. I also have my patreon which is a great way to support what I do and get some really fun perks. Find out more here.