reviews

Arsenic and Old Lace is an old favorite at the Empress for a reason (Review)

| Rachel's Reviews

Recently I did a podcast episode with my friend Jacks about community theater and in it I gave recommendations of 5 plays I said are ‘surefire hits for community theater.’

One of those 5 plays I mentioned in the episode is Arsenic and Old Lace. It’s such a funny play and one I never tire of seeing especially if the 2 aunts are well cast it’s hard to not have a good time with it. And fortunately the production at The Empress does cast well and continues this tradition of being a fun time at the theater.

I saw the Arsenic Cast (they did 2 shows the Saturday I attended which is very impressive for a volunteer cast. Well done!) which features Rose Lagos as Abby and Diana Sorensen as Martha Brewster. At first I was a little concerned that these actors didn’t seem much older than Marc Reading who plays Mortimer. I might have gone with white haired wigs for them just to make them look a little older but I grew used to it quite quickly and both actresses pull off the naivete of the characters quite well. They are convincing as completely believing they are in the right to be murdering which is hilarious and crazy (of course.)

Reading dials up the manic-nature of Mortimer to an 11 and his comic timing is very funny. I particularly enjoyed his expressions when Adrian Young as Officer O’Hara drowns on and on about his play. One of my favorite parts of Arsenic and Old Lace is all of the jabs at critics the playwright Joseph Kesselring throws in. “Mortimer hates the theatre,” says one of the aunts. “He was so happy writing about real estate and then they just made him take this terrible night position.” It’s ironic now because most anyone would do anything to be a theatre critic in New York City as a full time career but my things have changed since this was written back in 1939.

I do find the Jonathan Brewster/Dr Einstein element of this play to be the less funny/compelling part of the story. Although, when Mortimer finds the additional body in the window sill it is very humorous indeed. Mike Brown and Ryan Munsey do what they can with the characters respectively and it is still an enjoyable comedy.

The production at The Empress is directed by Carleigh-Jo Naylor who I’ve usually seen at MadKing Productions and she brings some of that indie spirit over. Like I said, particularly with Mortimer the madcap antics are dialed up to 11 in a true screwball comedy that’s a lot of fun.

The set by James Naylor is simple but effective with the unique 2nd story at the Empress being the perfect place for JD Robison’s Teddy to blow his bugle horn. Arsenic and Old Lace does have 2 intermissions which can make it feel on the long side but I don’t mind it since I’m laughing throughout. It is playing at The Empress until April 18th and tickets can be purchased here.

Arsenic and Old Lace was written by Joseph Kesselring in 1939 and first premiered in 1941. The popular Frank Capra directed film with Cary Grant and stars Josephine Hull and Jean Adair as Abby and Martha respectively premiered in 1944.

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.

City Hall is turned into a theater with MCT’s ’12 Angry Jurors’ (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

Anyone who knows me and knows my theatre tastes knows I am a sucker for anything that feels unexpected and immersive. For example, I love when a company takes a space not intended for theatre and turns it into a performance space. I also love being surrounded by movement and action. Such is the cool experience being offered this weekend by Millcreek Community Theatre and their new production of 12 Angry Jurors. You wouldn’t believe it but the play is being put on at Millcreek City Hall in an office room set up as a mini-theater with lighting and seats on all 4 sides (this is a change from previous shows seen in this space, which I enjoyed very much. The only downside is it might not work for someone sensitive to bright lights but I got used to it and enjoyed the immersion. Anyway, you’d never guess walking into city hall office space you’d be treated to such a wonderful play but that’s what you get .

To begin with it’s very smart of MCT to pick 12 Angry Jurors for this type of experience. It not only is a straight play but it all takes place in one room so there’s no need to worry about set changes or other challenges different shows might bring up (their last show was Annie and it was fun but not as successful as this play.) I know a lot of companies are scared to put on straight plays but if they are well crafted like 12 Angry Jurors I really think they make a lot of sense.

Most will know the story of this play from the feature film with Henry Fonda. Indeed, 12 Angry Men is one of the finest closed-door films ever made. Sidney Lumet does such a brilliant job with that film creating atmosphere and tone and the legendary character actors are allowed to dive into their meaty roles with Lee J Cobb and Ed Begley as the racists jurors 3 and 10 respectively. In this adaptation they have made it 12 Angry Jurors and they have 6 females and 6 males making up our jury with Michael Hansen and Shauna Brand as 3 and 10 (these are the 2 most bombastic and controversial of the jurors so they stand out the most.) They are both excellent in their roles as is the entire cast. One would never expect to get such high caliber performances walking up to an office space at city hall! Unbelievable!

Despite the gender swaps director Jax Jessop has kept the events of the play in the 1950s and all of the actors have period appropriate costumes (costume design Eleanor Boam) and most of them are even smoking, which is a detail I don’t expect to see in local community theater. It honestly was about as close to Mad Men meets Utah as one could achieve in this space. I also like the added detail of having an actor, Connor Kraus, playing the accused watching what is happening as men and women debate his life. Again, it helped add to the immersive experience of the night.

Kiana Dipko is good with the less showy role as Juror 8 (the Henry Fonda role if you’ve seen the movie.) It’s important that you don’t overthink the legalese going on here because there are a barrage of behaviors that would call for a mistrial in real life. For example, a juror is absolutely not allowed to bring in a piece of evidence like 8 does with the knife. That all has to go through discovery and examination by the lawyers. You also aren’t allowed to threaten to kill fellow jurors or stage elaborate recreations of the trial in the juror box. None of this matters as a true depiction of a juror room would likely be extremely boring. I’m just saying you have to give yourself over to the piece and if you do it’s a very rewarding experience.

My only critiques of the show are with a couple moments that felt a little workman-like when I would have liked to see more build-up and emotion. Like when 8 shows the knife it’s supposed to be a big reveal and it felt a little bit like an afterthought. Also the jurors weren’t always sitting in their order which only matters for someone like myself taking notes but was a little confusing.

Still I highly recommend checking out 12 Angry Jurors at Millcreek Community Theatre. Unfortunately today is the last day to see it but if you can get out there you won’t be disappointed. Next up they have Romeo & Juliet in their show at Canyon Rim Park. For tickets to tonight’s show look here.

12 Angry Jurors is based off of the 1957 film by Reginald Rose which he adapted from the 1954 teleplay of the same name. the play premiered on the West End in 1964 but didn’t show on Broadway until 2004 where it ran for 328 performances

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.

Hadestown is a great show. The National Tour is not (Review)

| Rachel's Reviews

It might seem like an odd comparison but I feel the same way about the national tour of Hadestown that is currently at the Eccles downtown as I did about Les Miserables national tour last year. Both have very strong material (obviously) that is executed in the most meh way possible. If you see Hadestown you’ll probably have a good time because the music, lyrics and book are great but not from the bland uninspired choices of this production. You can honestly find better executed stagings at the myriads of high schools doing the Hadestown Teen Edition all over the state of Utah.

The biggest problem with the production is one of scope. Everything feels small and simple. This is a show that relies a lot on spectacle. The lights alone on the Broadway show are stunning and bold and that’s not the case here. I know there are only 5 workers on Broadway but the more intimate staging there makes it still feel grand where at the large Eccles theater the afterlife looked rather sparse. Also the director Keenan Tyler Oliphant slows down certain segments like “Why We Build the Wall” so that my mind began to wander about the smallness of the cast.

The musicians are on the stage in the tradition of Hadestown, but they don’t blend as well as I would like. The brass really sticks out in sections as did the violins which I’ve never noticed in this show before. They really go for a Mardi Gras New Orleans feel which I get but seems a little celebratory in tone for the events of Hadestown. It is also strange the way they have Persephone open act 2 with “Our Lady of the Underground” like she is a lounge singer at a club. I know she’s supposed to be boozy but it is handled like a cabaret performance not a key moment in the story.

My favorite acting of the night is Nickolaus Colón as Hades. He makes those low notes feel effortless, and I love his slick soulful interpretation of “Hey Little Songbird.” Even though the Fates do not harmonize as well as I’d like I still loved the “Epic” songs especially “Epic III” which is peak musical theatre if you ask me.

I also can’t help but gasp when Orpheus (Jose Contreras) turns around at the end but the way they have it staged is so odd with lights and fog that made it impossible to see Eurydice (Hawa Kamara) behind him. It is like it all of the sudden became a rock concert with strobe lights instead of a journey to the afterlife. It reminded me of the ending of Beetlejuice: The Musical and that’s not at all what I want out of Hadestown.

It might seem like I am being too tough on this production. It is after all still Hadestown and most people who go see it will still enjoy it. However, the tickets are expensive and if I have had better experiences at the local high schools than that’s a problem. I’m sure I will be in the minority because the material is still very strong but when I see a professional production (even non-equity) I expect better than high schools. I even thought some of the costume choices particularly for Persephone were odd. Unfortunately, I’d recommend saving your money on this one and supporting a local high school production instead. Hopebox is putting it on next month and I bet it will be incredible and for a good cause. The Hadestown national tour is playing at the Eccles through 3/29 and tickets can be purchased here.

Hadestown has music, lyrics and a book by Anaïs Mitchell based on the greek myth Orpheus and Eurydice. It first premiered on Broadway in 2019 and it is still currently playing. I saw it in 2021.

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 11/25-12/14 (She Loves Me, Elf) (Rachel’s Theatre Log 227)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hello theatre lovers. I hope you are having a wonderful December and getting in those wonderful holiday themed shows. Most of what I have seen have been my full detailed reviews as a critic; however, I do have 2 shows I attended as a patron I’d love to catch you all up on. Make sure you are following my instagram for out of show reactions to every show and movie I see (plus other fun content.) I did recently see my 200th show for 2025, which I think is a cool accomplishment for a busy critic like myself. Thanks to all the companies who have let me view their work. It’s something I never take for granted.

She Loves Me- Lehi Arts Council, Lehi

I was thrilled when I found out Lehi Arts Council (one of my favorite arts councils) was putting on She Loves Me for the holidays which is one of my favorite shows. I was even more thrilled when I found out Josh Egbert is playing George because he’s a wonderful local actor. Fortunately the production did not disappoint and it’s one I highly recommend seeing in its final week coming up.

Camilla Curtis plays Amalia and they tell the classic Perfumerie story of 2 coworkers who hate each other in real life but are secretly falling in love over their pen pal letters. While their antics play out on stage we are treated to wonderful songs and a delightful cast including Madison Fitzgerald as Illona and Ed Eyestone as Mr Maraczek (the only time I’ve seen Maraczek with an accent, which is perfect because the musical is supposed to be set in Budapest.) I was particularly impressed with how the cast brought out the humor of the piece making me laugh with their comedic timing and chemistry together. It’s not even a show I think of as particularly funny, but they sold every humorous interaction. Curtis and Egbert have terrific chemistry and they make a couple we are rooting for throughout the story.

She Loves Me at Lehi Arts is directed by Brett Jamison and he makes use of every inch of the tiny space at the center making beds work for multiple scenes or having the store be easy to move around and manipulate into other scenes like the restaurant scene. I loved She Loves Me at BYU last month but this is wonderful as well and well worth your time. It is playing through December 20th and tickets can be purchased here.

Elf: The Musical- Draper Historic Theatre, Draper

Meanwhile over at Draper Historic they are putting on a different fun bubbly holiday musical- Elf. If you have seen the feature film starring Will Farrell than you will enjoy the musical adaptation. It sticks pretty close to the movie with of course songs added in. The songs I think are fairly uninspired but they get the job done I suppose. (If you want to see a fun take on the material check out the underrated stop-motion animated special based on the musical. It’s really nostalgic.)

Anyway, the production in Draper Historic is everything I could want in a community staging of Elf. Director Derrick Cain gets the most out of the tiny stage and large cast. I saw the Twinkle Jingley cast (although it was labeled incorrectly in the program) and while Nathan Krist Janson is a lot of bubbly energy as Buddy (it didn’t feel like an imitation of Farrell which I always appreciate,) the entire Hobbes family stood out the most with Eric Smith as Walter, Katrina Smith as Emily and Sebastian Long as Michael. I particularly liked Katrina Smith and Long in “There is a Santa Claus” in act 2.

They use a lot of projections at this theatre (also designed by Cain) but they do a good job of using them to add to the immersion not as a cheap substitute for practical sets. For example having a screen of Central Park with Santa’s sleigh along with snow coming down and other practical elements adds to the effectiveness of the closing scene or at least doesn’t detract as projections sometimes can do.

I also really enjoyed the costumes by Brooke Holahan and the choreography by Yunnie Kim. Like I said, it’s amazing how much and how many people they get on to the stage in so many scenes. Elf is playing through December 20th at Draper Historic but you’ll have to try standby because it is sold out. The tickets are very affordable and I highly recommend getting a season pass to this wonderful community theater. You can find more information here.

So there you have it 2 quality shows to see this holiday season! Enjoy!

 She Loves Me has music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick with a book by Joe Masteroff. It is based on the Parfumerie play by Miklos Laszlo and first premiered on Broadway in 1963. Elf: The Musical has music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin with a book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan based on the 2003 feature film. It first premiered on Broadway in 2010 and had a successful revival in 2024

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.

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.

Something That’s Great at SGMT’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (Review)

| Rachel's Reviews

When I headed down to see Little Shop of Horrors at St George Musical Theatre I was expecting to enjoy it as a piece of community theatre but for whatever reason I did not think I’d love it. Part of it is I had just seen a great version at Centerpoint but I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of what I saw at SGMT and feel it is one of the best pieces of community theatre I’ve seen this year.

I almost don’t know where to begin in my review because they seemingly thought of everything. The space at the St George Opera House is small but they use it well creating an immersive experience (something a lot of theater in the round spaces forget to do!) For most of the show I was sitting right next to Audrey II and having the action literally happen in front of me. This production is so well directed by Brooke Bang. She has gotten the best out of her cast and everything from the puppetry, to the projections works to tell the horror-comedy story.

Speaking of the cast Reed Laudie is perhaps the best Seymour I’ve seen. He’s nerdy and insecure and yet has a terrific belt that works for the songs like “Grow for Me” and “Suddenly Seymour.” Bethany Ure makes for a sweet and endearing Audrey and Greg Belnap is a very good villain playing Orin Scrivello, DDS. The entire ensemble is excellent. Not a weak link in the bunch.

Of course with Little Shop we have to talk about Audrey II and our puppets. For this production all were made by Logan Long and Laura Papp and even though I was literally next door to the medium-sized version I was blown away by their puppetry. It was all part of the immersive experience. One could almost feel fresh blood on Audrey II’s lips with each kill. It is extremely well done.

The costumes by Staci Martin are also very impressive and particularly with the Skid Row Urchins are changed very quickly. Clothes are really important to Audrey’s character as they are a way that she diminishes herself (a girl who dresses like me can’t get a nice guy like Seymour…) This production seems to understand this and gets her clothes just right.

The only major feedback I’d give is the sound mix is sometimes off with the backtrack overwhelming the singers. They also could have more red dots on the floor when Mushnik (Dean KM Jones) questions Seymour about them. That’d be a nice touch.

I know not everyone enjoys the horror qualities of Little Shop of Horrors but especially for October it’s a musical theatre classic for a reason. I highly recommend checking out the production at SGMT while you still have the chance. It plays through October 25th and tickets can be purchased here.

Little Shop of Horrors has music by Alan Menken with lyrics and a book by Howard Ashman based on the 1960 film of the same name directed by Roger Corman. It first opened Off-Broadway in 1982 and has a current revival there since 2019.

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 7/20-8/8/25 (Daddy Long Legs, Footloose Jr, Freaky Friday, Catch Me if You Can) (Rachel’s Theatre Log 172)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi theatre friends! I hope you are all doing well. I am currently in Cedar City attending the Utah Shakespeare Festival. I will certainly have more logs of that experience (it’s amazing) but I wanted to share a few quick thoughts on a couple other productions I’ve seen lately as a patron not a critic.

Footloose Jr- Timpanogos Youth Theatre, American Fork

A couple of weeks ago I went and saw Footloose Jr at Timpanogos Youth Theatre. My cousin’s daughter was in it and it was fun to support her. I also found it interesting as I had just seen the full version twice in July to see what they would do with the Jr version. I’d say it does a pretty good job of focusing it and making it teen appropriate (mostly toning down the romance.) It is a great show for teens to do because it is about teenage characters and one that they will likely connect with in their own struggles with their parents and deciding what they want to be in life.

I don’t have my program for this production so I can’t give my normal shoutouts. I will try and add those when I get home. Terrific job by the teens and I hope they enjoyed the experience. To find out more about Timpanogos Youth Theatre click here.

Catch Me if You Can- Centerpoint Legacy Theatre, Centerville

Next I was able to see the MWF cast of Catch Me if You Can at Centerpoint Legacy. This was a comped ticket which is very kind of them. I said most of the details about the production in my first log (see here) so I won’t repeat all that again but this is such a fun show. I love the incredible set design and the bubbly choreography. The costumes are first rate and it’s just a really entertaining musical.

As far as this cast it’s interesting because I think they felt a little less perfect for the roles than the other cast particularly Carl and Frank (maybe I was just biased to the one I saw first) but I do think this cast is slightly better singers than the TThS cast but they are both great. Emily Richman especially crushed it as Brenda. I love this production and highly recommend checking it out and it is running through August 19th. Tickets can be purchased here.

Freaky Friday- Bluffdale Arts, Bluffdale

It was too perfect a combination to see the musical Freaky Friday the day before the new movie Freakier Friday was released. While I don’t think this musical is perfect it really tries to say something and is an ambitious show for teens, which I appreciate. I recently got to see a production by Bluffdale Arts and it was a lot of fun.

Of course, this musical tells the story of a mother and daughter who switch places as one does in Freaky Friday stories. At Bluffdale we had Mindy Eckroth as the Mom Katherine and Grace Woodhouse as the daughter Ellie. They are excellent together and are believable as a pair. The rest of the cast is huge with a large ensemble that were all able to execute any choreography given them.

The sets are simple but do the job as are all the other aspects. My only hesitancy about this play is a couple of the swings it takes don’t land for me. In particular “Parents Lie” and “Biology.” I get what the writers were trying to do with those songs but the former feels to mean for Ellie to do that to her little brother and the latter is very odd for a grown woman to be singing about young men.

Still, they did a good job at Bluffdale with the tricky material and I enjoyed getting a chance to see it before the new movie. (I will add more of the credits when I get home.) Freaky Friday has finished its run but you can find out more about Bluffdale Arts here.

Daddy Long Legs- Centerpoint Legacy, Centerville

If you’ve followed my content for any amount of time you know I’m a huge fan of the musical Daddy Long Legs. I like it so much I even interviewed the composer Paul Gordon:

Daddy Long Legs is a simple show with only 2 people and no scene changes. Fortunately Sydney McAlister and Ben Lowell are both excellent as Jerusha and Jervis and they have terrific chemistry together. I am very curious to see the TThS cast as well as they look like they bring their own charm to the roles.

This production is directed by Liz Christensen and she makes some interesting choices within the parameters of this very simple show. One little thing I noticed is she had Jervis’s back to the audience for most of the first act. In fact, his desk chair was facing back and then at intermission they moved it to the other side of the desk so he was facing forward. This helps us to really feel the growth of the character.

I also appreciated McAlister’s feisty performance. One critique I’ve heard of the musical is that Jervis is too controlling but I felt in this production Jerusha was quick with a response or defense of herself and her independence. It is interesting that they didn’t have Jervis pinning the letters to his office as I have usually seen. Maybe they felt that was too obsessive compulsive but it does make the big reveal at the end a little more subdued in tone.

The only thing I thought was a miss was the strange backgrounds they had on screens which looked like oil painting in greens and purples. Jerusha isn’t a painter but a writer so pages from a book or other literary inspiration would have made more sense. But I loved this production and can’t wait to see it again. Highly recommend. It runs through Dec 2nd and tickets can be purchased here.

Footloose has music by Tom Snow, lyrics by Dean Pitchford with book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie based on the film Footloose. Catch Me if You Can has music by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Whitman with a book by Terrence McNally based on the books by Jeff Nathanson and Frank Abagnale Jr and Stan Redding and the film. Freaky Friday: The Musical has music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Bryan Yorkey and a book by Bridget Carpenter based on the books by Mary Rodgers, Stu Krieger, Heather Hach and Leslie Dixon. Daddy Long Legs has music and lyrics by Paul Gordon with a book by John Caird based on the novel by Jean Webster.

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.

Utah Theatre Log 7/1/25-7/20/25 (Mean Girls Jr, Catch Me if You Can) (Rachel’s Theatre Log 166)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi friends! I hope you are doing well and enjoying local theatre wherever you might be. July has certainly proven to be a busy month for me as both a film and theatre critic. No rest for the weary here (I figure if my main problem is seeing too many movies and plays I’m doing things right in life 🙂 ). Anyway we’ve had some really fun episodes of OnStage Blog Podcast including Ranking the 11 Most Produced High School Musicals. We had my friend Tanner Tate on who is the music director for Mean Girls Jr that I am going to talk about in this very post!

If you are new to my site I have 2 forms of reactions to theatre. One is a traditional detailed review that I provide for companies that request it of me. These are comped tickets and I usually try and post them within a couple of days of my seeing the show. Then there are what I call logs like this post where I am attending as a patron and they are just a few quick thoughts of the production but not the detailed review I would give as an actual theatre critic. I’m very gratified that more companies are requesting me to do full reviews, which is a complete honor and privilege. So much that I may have to come up with a different system for the patron logs but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. Either way make sure you are following me on instagram because I post my out of theater reactions to both movies and theatre I see there.

Mean Girls Jr – Draper Historic Theatre, Draper

It was kind of perfect the week I had a podcast on teen musicals I would see a wonderful teen musical. I always especially like teen productions where they get to play teenage characters. It just adds to the authenticity and it seems like the teens have more fun with it. This was my first time seeing Mean Girls Jr but these teens did an incredible job with it (my thoughts on the national tour of Mean Girls here.) In fact I am just amazed that they have enough teens to double cast over 30 roles and for them all to be so outstanding! Sometimes I think there’s something in the water here in Utah because the high school theatre is so excellent.

I was able to attend the Grool cast and was particularly impressed with Lily Henstrom as Cady Heron in our lead. She has the appropriate awkwardness mixed with sarcasm that works for the role. I also really liked Elle Stotts and Paige Hillstead as Karen Smith and Gretchen Wieners respectively. Stotts in particular has a wonderful comedic timing as the ditzy Karen that repeatedly made me laugh.

This production is directed by Laura Lewis and the real feat is how her and choreographer Ariel Grace Tegan involves so many youth on that small DHT stage. They use a lot of projections at DHT but they do a good job with them and it doesn’t feel like a substitution for creativity from the teens. All the other technical aspects are well done and the afternoon matinee I went to went off without any major problems. Mean Girls Jr is playing through July 26th but many showings are sold out. Get your tickets while you still can here.

Catch Me if You Can- Centerpoint Legacy Theatre, Centerville

Next up we have one of my favorite companies Centerpoint Legacy with their production of the underrated Catch Me if You Can. I love this show and to be honest I’m not even that big a fan of the feature film. It’s mid-tier Spielberg if you ask me. This musical takes all the good of the movie and adds to it with catchy tunes, great spaces for choreography and a wonderful friendship story that warms the heart. It’s fantastic and they do an excellent job with it at Centerpoint.

I saw the TThS cast and they are all top-tier community theater performers. Derek Marsden and Colton Ward command the stage as Frank Abagnale Jr and Carl Hanratty respectively with the rest of the cast living up to their example. I especially loved all of the group choreography musical numbers like “Doctor’s Orders” and “Jet Set” (choreography by Jessica Merrill.) I also loved the 1960s style to the set and the combination of video projections from the time and real handmade sets (scenic and projection designer Joshua Roberts.) The costumes for the very large cast are outstanding as is always the case at Centerpoint from costume designer Tammis Robbins Boam. I defy anyone to find better costumes at any community theatre in the country. Catch Me if You Can is directed by Jim Christian and it simply makes for a great night of theatre and nobody can beat Centerpoint’s low ticket prices. It’s a no-brainer. It plays through August 19th and tickets can be purchased here.

Mean Girls Jr has music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin with a book by Tina Fey based on the film script by Fey and the book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. Catch Me if You Can has music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman with a book by Terrence McNally based on the books Catch Me If You Can by Jeff Nathanson and Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale Jr. and Stan Redding

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.

Go Under the Sea at Ideal’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ (Review)

| Rachel's Reviews

I love seeing new theatre companies grow and develop over the years and through various productions. I hope as a critic and influencer I can be a tool for these companies to get the word out and build loyal audiences. One of my favorite new companies is The Ideal Playhouse in Heber. The owners Steve and Karyn Anderson (director and music director respectively) are attempting to make a difference in their community renovating both the Ideal and The Avon theaters into special gathering places all of Heber can enjoy. Their latest production is Disney’s The Little Mermaid and it’s a fun experience or the whole family even if the adaptation by Disney isn’t my favorite.

If you want to hear more of my thoughts on The Little Mermaid in all its forms check out this episode of Talking Disney Classics Podcast I do with my friend Stanford:

Suffice it to say this adaptation doesn’t add much to the 1989 animated masterpiece. Still the stuff from the original film is good so there’s a lot to recommend in The Little Mermaid.

As far as Ideal’s production goes, they do all they can in a small space to help make it feel immersive and entertaining. I particularly like how they bring the bubbles and ocean into the audience with actual bubbles and projections all along the walls. Costume designer Kara Charlesworth does a great job making every piece feel special and eye-catching (especially Ursula’s dress who she is playing!)

I had Marissa Haines as my Ariel (the only part double cast with Lizzy Ricks) and she gives a polished but sweet performance that is excellent. Charlesworth has the swagger one needs for Ursula but the real scene stealing of the night is Caden Tomlinson as Chef Louis/Jetsam. He is hilarious as Louis and brought some much needed energy to a rather dry part of that musical.

The stage is small at Ideal so this limits them in some areas of the show. For example, they only have 3 daughters of Triton and the actors are not on the wheelies I have always seen in productions of The Little Mermaid. Also they should be careful that the actors aren’t poking out of the wings on the stage. Particularly Ursula and her dress could sometimes be seen when she’s supposed to be off stage.

My favorite part production-wise is during the final conflict Ursula appears in video on the screen and we see her get taken down in big bold fashion. That was a fun touch that makes the stage not feel so small. If you are looking for a nice way to introduce your family to musical theater The Little Mermaid at Ideal Playhouse is a great option. Especially your little girls will walk away singing like Ariel and wanting to be part of the grown up world as soon as possible! It is playing through July 26th and tickets can be purchased here. I give mixed to the musical but go and see it to the production.

The Little Mermaid has music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater with a book by Doug Wright based on the classic story by Hans Christian Andersen and the 1989 animated 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.