There are times when I think the non-Utah readers of my site think I am being hyperbolic with the quality of the productions in my state but I just wish they could all experience how good so many of them are and they’d see the truth in my praise. Such an example of an outstanding production is A Tale of Two Cities: Live in Concert that is currently running at the Egyptian Theater in Ogden by Ogden Musical Theatre. This is the second production I have seen from them with Aida being good but not great but this one truly blew me away.
Unlike Aida this is a musical I have never seen before and am largely unfamiliar with. I’d actually heard disparaging things about it and that it’s a ‘copy of Les Miserables‘ but I’d just never had the chance to see it. When I found out this was a concert experience I was concerned I’d struggle to follow along but I have read the book by Charles Dickens and they still acted out most of the scenes just didn’t have sets and costumes like a traditional play (all the actors are in black.) They do have projections in the background to set tone which I liked when it was real paintings better than when it was AI drawings but it was effective.
This production is directed by Maddie Tarbox and the large orchestra is directed by Michael Palumbo, and it’s an amazing experience to be a part of. The orchestra is outstanding and the cast is as good as anything you’d see in New York. The whole night I kept thinking this entire production could be done at Lincoln Center and I wouldn’t find it out of place one bit. You’d never expect to find something on that level in Ogden.
Kyle Olsen leads the cast as Sydney Carton with Jessica Knowles Andrus being the other standout as Madame Defarge but honestly they are all great. Not only do they have professional quality voices but they sold the scenes for someone like myself that is unfamiliar with the work.
While this is my first time seeing this show I didn’t feel like it is Les Miserables-light. I can see some similarities in their revolutionary stories but it’s much more of a romantic love triangle than Les Miserables which really only has that for the secondary characters Marius/Cossette/Eponine. If anything Jill Santoriello in her book, music and lyrics have improved on some characters from the novel like Lucie is less of a damsel in distress and has more of a narrative arc through the musical.
The musical does feel a little bloated but all the performances are so captivating and the music so outstanding that I was entertained throughout. A Tale of Two Cities: Live in Concert is playing in Ogden through March 1st and I can’t recommend it more highly. Tickets can be purchased here.
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Rachel Reviews Theatre 