reviews

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’ RADIO PLAY IS WONDERFUL AT PG PLAYERS (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

One of my favorite parts of embracing local theatre is discovering hidden gem theaters I never would have found otherwise. Nowhere is that more true than with the Pleasant Grove Players in Pleasant Grove. They are run out of the Pleasant Grove library and I’ve now seen many productions on the little stage and they’ve never missed. It is such a wonderful company. Speaking of wonderful they have a new unique offering for this holiday season with It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Adapted from the beloved film it’s a fresh and highly entertaining way to ring in Christmas.

Most of us know the story of It’s a Wonderful Life but this production is very special because it has our cast playing actors as if they were doing an old school live radio recording complete with commercials and a large foley table with 2 foley actors (Johanne Perry and Dennis Purdie.) As much as I love It’s a Wonderful Life I was a little nervous going in this might be a little boring simply watching people read the script. I thought it might be akin to a staged reading but it is really more than that. It is a full performance with actors taking on multiple voices and characters and the foley is a character unto it self (I love foley so much!)

Directors Howard and Kathryn Little have nailed it once again and the cast is uniformly charming. L.D Weller is the standout playing Freddie Fillmore who is the narrator, God talking to Clarence, Uncle Billy and Mr Potter. My favorite sequence is when he had to play both Potter and Billy having a conversation and had to flip between both. With the movie being so iconic I also I appreciate Jared Cloud didn’t try and copy Jimmy Stewart in the lead role of Jake Laurents or George Bailey in the play.

I do think the adaptation by Joe Landry is a bit too long. Ideally this type of performance makes more sense at around 90 minutes with no intermission but it’s such a classic story I wouldn’t complain. I just don’t think we needed nearly every scene from the film minus the swimming pool dance for obvious reasons.

If you are looking for something unique and heartwarming to see this holiday season the PG Players production is well worth your time. It’s emotional and touching and brings all the holiday feels you could want. There are a few more chances to see It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play and you can purchase tickets here.

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. Please take a look here.

‘ELF: THE MUSICAL’ WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY ALL THE TIME THIS HOLIDAY SEASON (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the holiday season on Broadway is the limited run festive productions we get to see to add some Christmas cheer to our theatre-going lives. This year’s entry (make sure you check out my thoughts on the annual Rockettes Spectacular here) is the revival of Elf: The Musical at the Marriott Marquis on Broadway. It’s a high energy comedy the whole family will enjoy and a great way to get some holiday cheer if you’re feeling a little blue.

Elf: The Musical is based on the popular 2003 film starring Will Farrell about a human who is raised as an elf who comes to New York City to find his long-lost (naughty listed) father Walter. I love fish-out-of-water comedies and Elf works as a film because the innocent and sweet antics of Buddy are in such contrast to the cynicism of New York and particular business world New York. Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan have captured this energy in their book adaptation and created something that makes it hard to not find endearing.

There are some mild changes from the film such as Buddy doesn’t have an elf father figure outside of Santa and the incredible author is talked about rather than seen (he’s played by Peter Dinklage in the movie.) However, most of the funny lines are kept from the film and certainly the overall tone and appeal of the character remain in tact.

At the Marquis revival Buddy is played by Grey Henson with the child-like energy you want for the character. Michael Hayden is appropriately gruff as his dad Walter and Ashley Brown and Kai Edgar steal the show as his new stepmom and stepbrother (one of my favorite musical moments is their song “There is a Santa Claus.) The big star performance comes with Sean Astin as Santa Claus and the boss Mr Greenway. Since Santa is off-stage for most of the production it makes sense to use the cast as much as possible and he is a lot of fun in both roles. One can easily see he’s having a great time with the production and that positive energy is what is needed for a show like this.

My favorite number of this production of Elf: the Musical is when the beleaguered mall Santas sing “Nobody Cares About Santa.” The choreography by Liam Steel in this song is charming and it’s a catchy tune by Matthew Sklar (music) and Chad Beguelin (lyrics.) This is also one of my favorite set designs of the night with the Santas eating at a Chinese restaurant, which is of course open on Christmas Eve.

Speaking of the songs most of the other songs by Sklar and Beguelin are fine but on the generic side. Like most Broadway shows it could definitely use a good trim as songs like “I’ll Believe in You” and “A Christmas Song” are pretty basic. Director Philip Wm. McKinley has also not done anything to make the production stand out as far as staging or setpieces. It’s all fine but I’ve seen local productions (one here at Hale Center Theatre Sandy last year) with more sumptuous sets and a more magical North Pole presence (when you think about it should the Chinese restaurant set be the most impressive part of this show?) It was, however, interesting to see what a difference the live orchestra makes as I’ve only seen it with a pre-recorded track.

Nevertheless, if a festive family offering is what you are looking for this holiday season Elf: The Musical at the Marriott Marquis will more than satisfy. It’s positive and hopeful with lots of good laughs for all to enjoy. If near Broadway this Christmas I say give “The Story of Buddy the Elf” a try. It is playing through January 4th and tickets can be purchased here.

Also if you’ve never seen it I recommend the stop motion film they made off the musical a few years ago. It’s very charming. You can purchase it here (ad)

PS. This is the first time I’ve ever reviewed a musical on Broadway as a critic. Very surreal and exciting for me. Thanks for the opportunity!

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. Please take a look here.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST AT HALE IS A TALE AS OLD AS TIME WITH BIG SPECTACLE (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

So much of what makes for a successful piece of community theatre is matching the right show with the right venue. And while I would never want to pigeonhole a company into only doing one type of show it is true that some material is just a good fit for certain venues. Such is the case with Disney shows and Hale Center Theatre in Sandy. Indeed, when one finds their seat at the Young Living Centre Stage it feels like we have left Utah and are temporarily in Disneyland. Nowhere was this more true than in their current stunning production of Disney’s masterpiece Beauty and the Beast. Playing now through January 25th this majestic show will delight young and all and may be the best show Hale’s done since Singin in the Rain.

Beauty and the Beast is of course based on the animated film with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice with a book by Linda Woolverton. It tells the story of our headstrong Belle who ends up as the prisoner of a cursed Beast in an enchanted castle. Can these seeming opposites find love? We all know the answer to that!

I saw the MWF cast for this production and Jessica Hudson leads the group of talented actors as Belle with Kyle Olsen as Beast. My favorite performances, however, are from Russell Maxfield as Gaston and Scott Hendrickson as Lumiere. They are both very funny and expressive in their roles.

The costumes by Jenn Taylor are unforgettable and what impressed me the most is they had actual fire coming from Lumiere’s candle! In all the times I’ve seen Beauty and the Beast on stage I have never seen that effect. They also have actual fire for the mob which helps the scene feel all the more immersive than it might otherwise be.

Director Ryan Simmons makes big time spectacle to dazzle audiences with characters like the plates and cups coming from the sky for “Be Our Guest” and an awe inspiring finale where Beast and Gaston fight it out on the roof of the castle for all of us to see. As I said, a production at Disneyland would not be better or more immersive than what Hale has achieved and that’s saying something.

While I really enjoyed the production there are a few things they could work on. The main problem is one of the platforms the action takes place on has a large railing around it, which makes it almost impossible to see what is happening with the actors. For example, the scene where Maurice first comes to the castle I couldn’t see a single thing that was happening. Fortunately they didn’t use that platform much but I wish they would remove the railing because it served no narrative purpose.

They also had some problems with the sound mix. While I know there are times when the vocals are supposed to be a bit echoey like when Belle first enters the castle but there are other times when it is unintentionally off and it sounds like the characters are speaking from inside a cave.

Nevertheless, if you want a big spectacle Disney production and you don’t want to go to Disneyland make your way over to Hale Center Theatre and enjoy Beauty and the Beast. It’s a special opportunity to be immersed in a classic story well told. You will be glad to be their guest! Find out more information and purchase tickets here.

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. Please take a look here.

UTAH THEATRE LOG 11/15-11/17 (CATS, HEATHERS) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 73)

| Rachel's Reviews

Another weekend has come and gone with great musical theatre and this was a particularly special one for me because I got to check 2 popular musicals off of my bucket list. I always love when I get a chance to see something new to me and these 2 shows were no exception. Here are my quick thoughts:

CATS- KENSINGTON THEATRE, SOUTH JORDAN

When I was in high school I had the chance to see Cats or Les Miserables and I think we all know which one I chose. Still ever since then I’ve been curious about Cats but never had the chance to see it until the ABC group at Kensington put it on. It’s the kind of show that is best to think of as more of a concert and dance experience than a complex story. Creator Andrew Lloyd Webber loves this energy in a show- introduction musicals where instead of more plot we just meet a bunch of fun characters all going to the jellicle ball and see the choice of the eternal cat.

I’ve long said that Kensington is one of the most underrated theaters in Utah. They repeatedly make bold choices and execute them well and Cats is no exception. The set by art director Logan Bingham is so inventive with everything to scale for the cats and a large ledge with a climbing wall and a pit for the actors to fall into off of the wall. They also have a large professional sounding orchestra in the back of the theater.

Director Toni Butler has done a terrific job working with the cast to bring out the best in their performances making sure they are always cats even when the action isn’t focused on them. My favorite performance is probably Jack Sheehan as Skimbleshanks and his song “Skimbleshanks: the Railway Cat.” The tap dancing in that number is excellent and Sheehan gives the role a showmanship and confidence that is very entertaining. Brodie Ririe as Bustopher Jones is another favorite.

My only disappointment in a very strong production is the way “Memory” was staged felt a little like an afterthought. I wanted Grizabella to come to the top of the stage and really belt the heck out of that song but they went the understated route which made it oddly forgettable. Maybe I expected too much but it felt like a missed opportunity.

Cats is playing tomorrow night 11/18 at Kensington Theatre and I’d definitely recommend checking it out. You can purchase tickets here.

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL- MAD KING PRODUCTIONS, SALT LAKE

Heathers: The Musical is one of those shows I’ve heard about but never had the chance to see beyond the proshot released in 2022. With it being a mature show it’s not the kind of thing often done in Utah so when I saw Mad King Productions at the Alliance Theatre was putting it on I jumped at the chance to see it. I was actually feeling really tired yesterday but it was my last opportunity so I went anyway and I’m so glad I did. What a wonderful night of musical theatre!

First of all director Carleigh-Jo Naylor did such an incredible job combing all the various elements of the show into the small black box space. This includes large choreography moments, sound effects, simulated violence and more. I was so impressed with how physically invested the performers were at times throwing themselves on the ground with fight choreography and staging that combined the right amounts of camp and realism. One of my favorite sequences is during “Fight for Me” and everything goes into slow motion with some of the actors holding their position for many minutes. It was very impressive!

The cast of Heathers was excellent. Far better than anything you’d ever expect at a little black box like that. The standout was Cooper Garrett as JD. He starts as brooding but charming but his mania grows over time until he is quite terrifying. Sydney Olson brings the right mixture of naivety and strength to Veronica and Annabelle McKinnon is a dominating mean girl as Heather. I particularly liked watching her when she’s a ghost and has more personality in act 2.

If you’ve seen the movie you know how dark the Heathers story is. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart but there is enough humor to make the experience enjoyable. If you ever get a chance to see it I recommend it. Unfortunately the production at Mad King and Alliance is done but I have them on my radar and will see more from them in the future. You can find out more about their upcoming productions here.

Heathers: The Musical features book music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy.

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 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.

RIVERTON HIGH SCHOOLERS STUN IN HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

When I first saw Hadestown in 2022 on Broadway I honestly walked away with mixed feelings. While most of my friends seemed ready to declare it the next musical masterpiece I felt it was more style over substance. Therefore, I was excited to give the material another chance- this time in the Teen Edition at Riverton High School. Now having seen it I still have some of the story issues but I was blown away by what the teens did and everyone involved should be commended.

Hadestown is the creation of (book, lyrics and music) Anais Mitchell based on the Greek myth Orpheus and Eurydice. It tells the story of Orpheus who goes into the underworld to try and save his love. Along the way we have all kinds of characters like Hades, Persephone and Hermes.

One of my friends who is a Hadestown superfan expressed concerns about it being appropriate for a teen edition but he needn’t be. The team have done an excellent job making it appropriate for older teens and it’s a perfect show for high schoolers to do because it has huge ensemble scenes which allow for many young people to get their first taste in theater. At Riverton director Erin McGuire has taken this strong adaptation and seemingly thought of everything to make a winning production.

On Broadway so much of the appeal of Hadestown is the incredible production values which made it interesting to see a more stripped down version at Riverton. The set is simple but the lights and steampunk elements (including industrial projections on the side walls) make for an immersive experience. Everything went off seemingly without a hitch from the trap doors to the lighting, to the fog elements. I especially loved when the large cast (over 80 kids) comes out into the aisles with their lights and movement. They also didn’t have any major sound issues which is usually a problem at high school productions.

The cast is also excellent with teens taking on these challenging roles loaded with exposition, dance, complex emotions and more. The highlight was Ethan Hull as Hades. His deep bass voice is incredible in songs like “Hey Little Shepherd. He should absolutely apply for the Jimmy Awards. I think he’d be a shoe-in. Emma Tyson was also strong as Persephone in songs like “Living it Up on Top” and “Why We Build the Wall.”

The music is also a standout of the show at Riverton with an on stage band of 7 musicians, some of them professional adults. Especially for a show like Hadestown we need the gritty grounded reality of live musicians as opposed to a prerecorded track. It makes all the difference in the world.

If you haven’t seen Hadestown I thoroughly recommend checking out Riverton High’s production. It may be a teen edition but it’s also an incredible edition! It is playing for one more day tomorrow and I highly recommend it. You can purchase tickets here.

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. Please take a look here.

UTAH THEATRE LOG 10/15-11/9 (EVIL DEAD, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, THE ADDAMS FAMILY) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 70)

| Rachel's Reviews

It’s kind of crazy and exciting that my last theatre log was almost a month ago ending on 10/14. This is not because I’m seeing less theatre but because more companies are asking me to review their shows and do full detailed reviews. I technically have written 6 reviews in between my last log, which is what I want to see happening! If you are part of a company that would like longer reviews than these logs (which I pay for out of pocket) just let me know and I’d love to watch and review your show.

Anyway, this log is a special one because the 3 shows I’m reporting on were part of my friend Jacklyn Collier’s visit to Utah. She is my co-host for City Girls Pod on Hallmarkies Podcast and also for the OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast and my best friend. I just wish she lived closer but it was super fun to introduce her to Utah and the Utah theatre scene. Even though she was only here for 2 weekdays we still managed to squeeze in 3 shows and it was super fun (she was here on Halloween week so all 3 were horror-themed.)

EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL- SANCTUARY THEATRE COMPANY, WEST JORDAN

I am by no means an expert on the Evil Dead movie franchise. I think I’ve seen the original film once in college and never watched any of the other entries. Nevertheless, when I heard Evil Dead: The Musical was coming to Salt Lake and the Sanctuary Theatre I was very excited to see it. In a world where I see the same shows on repeat (which I’m fine with) this was something fresh and new (to me at least) and the fact I would get to see it with my best friend was extra exhilarating.

Even with this enthusiasm I was a little anxious because Sanctuary is what I refer to as a ‘learning company’ meaning many of their cast are trying out acting for the first time and it can be amateur to the extreme there. I try to be forgiving because there are so few places in Utah for people to experiment and try theatre for the first time but it can be a rough sit.

Fortunately I did not need to worry and this production of Evil Dead: The Musical was by far the best thing I’ve ever seen at Sanctuary and a blast from beginning to end. Directors Connie Beaty and Joshua Garretson brought out the best in their cast and used the incredibly small black box space to its full potential and integrated all kinds of effects and video clips into the production. We were not in the ‘splash zone’ but at only one row behind it we still got some stray ‘blood’ which was really fun.

Hunter Williams was stoic and commanding as Ash but my favorite performance of the night was Ariel Tegan as Annie. She has a terrific comic timing and sold all her songs like “All the Men in My Life…” I also really enjoyed Gwen Anderson as Cheryl who was also very funny.

Sanctuary has already announced Evil Dead: The Musical will be back in 2026 and I know I will be first in line for a ticket. We have a whole episode of the podcast coming on it which I will share when it posts. If you have a chance to see it in your area it’s a truly great time that I highly recommend. The run this year has finished but you can find out more at Sanctuary here.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY- HALE CENTER THEATRE, SANDY

Because we had such limited time the only company that produces an afternoon show on Friday is Hale Center Theatre and as Beauty and the Beast isn’t running yet we went to see The Addams Family which I already did a full review of here. I was hopeful we might get the other cast given I saw the T/Th cast previously but it was a combination of casts given it was the 4pm time. I’m actually not even sure who we saw as the program was a little unclear but it was fun to see Dallin Bradford again as Uncle Festor. He brings the sweetness and energy the role requires.

I don’t have much additional to say. The Addams Family has its flaws as a show (I hate “Full Disclosure” song and sequence to end Act 1) but in the end it’s about a family and has a nice heart to it. My favorite song is “Happy/Sad” sung by Gomez and Josh Richardson sang that it beautifully here. I do wish Hale would give a discount for the Jewel Box seats that are off to the sides because you really do miss a large portion of the performance, but we still had a good time. I honestly think this is the best show Hale has done this year. It was fun to introduce Jacks to Hale especially after seeing such a small production at Sanctuary (we really saw the full spectrum of the Utah scene.) The Addams Family plays until Nov 16th and you can purchase tickets here.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK- PARKER THEATRE, SALT LAKE

After seeing The Woman in Black at The Covey in September I was really looking forward to seeing what Parker Theatre would do with the same material and was excited to show this incredible company and theater to Jacks. (It was really funny because the Covey performers all happened to be there that night as well as my friend Heidi and Steve, so I think Jacks thought I knew everyone there LOL.)

To my delight Parker did not let me down with this production and Jacks is a really fun person to watch a thriller with. She gets really into it and vocally shrieks at the surprises, which made everything more fun. It also helped this time I knew what was coming with the structure of the play (it’s a play within a play) so that wasn’t as jarring as at the first time. Director Brinton Wilkins did an incredible job creating atmosphere and pulling off the big scares and surprises. The lighting is always incredible at Parker and lighting designer James Parker kept up that tradition creating spooky environments and the right amount of darkness to pull off the surprise. The sound design by Spencer Hohl was also very effective.

But the true praise goes to the 2 actors Michael Hohl and Lucas Charon. Particularly Charon gave an unforgettable performance because so much of what he must do as Kipps is imaginary. He has to make us believe he’s driving a trap or chasing after a dog and he did so with seeming ease. It was as an equity-worthy performance that I only wish more people could have seen. If you haven’t gotten season tickets to Parker I can’t recommend it more highly. They truly think of every detail down to the themed concessions to go along with every show. It was such a fun night. I highly recommend their A Christmas Carol which starts November 23rd and you can purchase tickets 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 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.

‘PETER PAN’ NATIONAL TOUR IS SURPRISINGLY MAGICAL (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

Of all the classic stories of childhood I have never been that drawn to the story of Peter Pan. Whether film or theatre I would way rather watch something on The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland and certainly Cinderella than Peter Pan. With this background when I saw the national tour of Peter Pan was coming to Eccles I wasn’t very excited. Nevertheless I always try and go into any play or musical with an open mind and it’s a good thing I did. To my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed this production and hope people will give it a chance as it comes to a city near you.

Peter Pan is of course based on the classic play by J.M Barrie (1904). Music was added in 1954 and it has had many film and television adaptations including the iconic 1953 animated Disney film. In general the songs in the animated film are better, although at times more problematic, than this musical but they both have their entertaining moments and capture the escapism of Neverland. My favorite version of Peter Pan is actually the 2003 version starring Jeremy Sumpter and Jason Isaacs but most of them have their fans.

The most successful aspects of this production land where it embraces both spectacle and tradition. Most companies are using a lot of video projections these days often with AI-inspired or created graphics. This can create a plasticy and cheap looking effects but this production used the projections beautifully. Particularly in the flying sequences the projection work by designer David Bengali took my breath away. I also appreciate the nearly gratuitous glitter usage to add to magic of the flying effects. The flying was just incredible (Did I mention I liked the flying?)

The direction by Lonny Price in general is super impressive. I couldn’t believe how quickly they made scene changes and maneuvered their large cast around. The cast is also wonderful in their roles especially Cody Garcia as Hook/Mr Darling (although his accent did wander throughout the night.) He nailed the comedy of the character and that’s what’s most important. I also enjoyed Nolan Almeida as Peter and find it refreshing they went with a young man over the traditional middle-aged female casting to the character. It was a little strange to have Hawa Kamara as Wendy when she is clearly an adult and John and Michael are  children but I got used to it fairly quickly and her singing is lovely.

My main quibble with the production is the needless attempts to modernize the script. It’s frankly lazy and groan-inducing when we hear references to viral videos and social media in our Peter Pan retelling. I also see no reason to get rid of Nanny the dog in favor of a gen-z babysitter. It’s also not more empowering for Wendy to be super into medicine and want to become a doctor as opposed to being a mother (the Disney version we get a whole song about her being a mother which I love.) Stuff like that takes me out of the moment and is distracting when stories like Peter Pan should be timeless.

That said, I still really enjoyed the national tour of Peter Pan. It is the perfect combination of magic and big-hearted storytelling. If it is coming to a city near you I’d definitely check it out. It would be a great way to introduce kids to their first Broadway musical. Peter Pan is playing at the Eccles until 11/10 and you can purchase tickets here.

Peter Pan has music by Jule Styne, Mark Charlap, and Trude Rittmann with lyrics by Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Carolyn Leigh. Based on the book by J.M. Barrie.

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. Please take a look here.

‘PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC’ AT PTC CANT RECOVER FROM A BLOATED SCRIPT (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

When I was setting up this site I was very thoughtful about the scoring ruberic I would use. At first I considered the smile and frown worthy system I have for movie reviews (for that site), however since I review so much community theater giving anyone a frown didn’t feel right. What I came up with instead was ‘go see it’ and ‘not for me’ and the latter is how I feel about today’s play. Prayer for the French Republic is not a bad play and will probably resonate with many theatregoers. Indeed much about the production at Pioneer Theatre Company is praiseworthy and handsomely mounted but it is definitely not for me. It might be for you, and I celebrate that but let’s talk about why the experience was not as edifying as I might have hoped.

To begin with I do admire PTC artistic director Karen Azenberg’s ambition for adding such a fresh and difficult to market play into their season. The length and topics discussed are not going to be for the average casual theatregoer and that’s what keeps people coming back to PTC time and again. It may not have paid off for me but I do appreciate big swings and that’s what they took. She also directed the production which was effective in spite of its many moving pieces.

The cast is all uniformly strong with Salt Lake royalty Jayne Luke stealing every scene she is in as the 1944 section of the script. I just saw her in Arsenic and Old Lace and it was delightful to see a totally different type of character from such a talented actress. I also enjoyed Kim Taff as 2016 daughter Elodie Benhamou. She has a monologue to open Act 2 which while it goes on far too long was delivered with a dry sense of humor. None of the actors attempt a French accent which I found surprising but I guess that was the case with the Broadway play as well.

The set by Bryce Cutler is also very impressive with them creating a kind of black box on stage with black curtains surrounding an apartment framed in by a white box with lighted walls going way high into skies. They also used the middle of the stage to swap out different apartments creating the 1944 vs 2016 settings including at different points a bedroom, a full kitchen and more.

My problem with Prayer for the French Republic comes down to Joshua Harmon’s script. It’s not just that it is 3 hours with 2 intermissions (I enjoyed The Lehman Trilogy at PTC last year that’s also long with 3 acts.) The problem is the flipping back and forth between the 2 eras makes it difficult to invest fully in the narratives of the characters. This is especially a shame with the 1944 section because the perspective of a post-Holocaust Jewish family is interesting and one I haven’t seen much of in theatre or film. I have felt the same way in other split time narratives like The Joy Luck Club (book and film) where the modern section feels so much less compelling than the older one. Why does it seem like modern characters spend most of their time in these narratives complaining? This is exemplified by Elodie’s monologue which while funny did become ponderous after a while.

The whole play feels bloated and to use a pedestrian term frankly boring. Particularly the modern characters aren’t sharing authentic experiences but are speechifying to each other and to the audience, which again, becomes tedious and bland. I know it was a very successful play on Broadway and has a lot of fans but at least in this iteration it did not work for me, and I left feeling more tired than intrigued. Others mileage on Prayer for the French Republic may vary so if it sounds intriguing check it out. It is playing at PTC until Nov 9th and tickets can be purchased here.

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. Please take a look here.

UTAH THEATRE LOG 10/12-10/14 (JEKYLL & HYDE, LITTLE WOMEN) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 63)

| Rachel's Reviews

There must be something in the Utah air right now that everyone is feeling Jekyll & Hyde and Little Women! I’ve reviewed them both recently, and now I am logging them again. Luckily they are both shows I enjoy, so I don’t mind seeing lots of different takes on the material. So let’s talk about these fun shows:

JEKYLL & HYDE- WEST VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, WEST VALLEY

Jekyll & Hyde is an interesting show because while I think it could be better as far as its book and pacing its overall entertaining in mood, atmosphere and some banger songs. My favorite version I ever saw was at Draper Historic where Tanner Tate blew me away as Jekyll/Hyde but this production at WVPAC was equally strong. I left with little to no notes. What impressed me the most is how original the interpretation is. It did not feel like a show I had just seen a very good version of on Monday when I saw this the same week Saturday. Director Shelby Ferrin deserves massive praise for seemingly thinking of everything when it comes to this production. It is dazzling.

Rhett Richins is remarkable as our lead Jekyll/Hyde. It is an incredible accomplishment to see him switch between the 2 characters in every way, voice, timbre of singing, posture, everything. He is as accomplished an actor as any equity actor I’ve recently seen. Jessica Knowles Andrus is also remarkable as Lucy with a beautiful belt for songs like “Someone Like You.”

I loved the scenic design by Morgan Golightly (what a perfect name for musical theatre!) They don’t miss a beat even making sure the chemical reactions actually happen in Jekyll’s lab and the large set for the Red Rat created visual interest for the dancers in “Bring on the Men.”

The most impressive aspect of this Jekyll & Hyde at WVPAC, however, is the creative choices. Most notably to have the demons haunting Jekyll portrayed by actual dancers who surround our actors and come out into the audience giving everything such atmosphere and tone. I have never seen that done before with this show and it is brilliant.

I read another review saying the actors weren’t syncing well with the backtrack. They must have worked on that because it wasn’t noticeable at my performance. The fact one can see a show of this quality for under $30 is incredible. They should be selling out. It is playing at WVPAC through Nov 2nd and you can purchase tickets here.

Jekyll & Hyde is based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson with book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and music by Frank Wildhorn.

LITTLE WOMEN- SANDY ARTS GUILD, SANDY

Moving up as far as setting to the 1860’s we have another adaptation of a classic novel in Little Women at Sandy Arts Guild. Being the oldest of 4 girls and it being the first big novel I ever read Little Women will always have a special place in my heart, and I am pretty easy to please when it comes to adaptations (we don’t talk about the 2018 modern film adaptation…) Fortunately this musical version is lovely, and I will jump at any chance I get to see it.

Of course everyone knows the story about the 4 March sisters during the Civil War trying to make the best of a bad situation. This production in Sandy is directed by Lisa Noyes and she manages to get the best out of her performers and they feel like a family unit- particularly the 4 sisters which is key to making Little Women work. The 2 story set by Cassie Smith and Megan Sternod is very impressive with little details like period accurate wallpaper and a very convincing fireplace we need for the infamous book burning scene.

The costumes by Karen Chatterton are interesting. She definitely embraces the hoop skirts of the era. One doesn’t always see that as the March sisters are usually portrayed as more grounded and earthy than we think of as the hoop skirts of the era. She also mixed patters and fabrics together in a surprising way. In one scene Laurie has a giant bowtie which is something I’ve never seen done quite that way before. I’m sure it must be period accurate but it was unique enough to be intriguing. The wigs are also excellent particularly with Jo’s long to short transformations. It truly looks like she cut the same hair from scene to scene.

My favorite performance of the night is Anne Jensen as Amy. Often times people forget Amy is the youngest of the family, not Beth, but Jensen captures this immaturity well making her a sweet and endearing character. She also manages to keep that young energy as adult Amy but is a believable love interest for Laurie (Rhett Butler.) Derrik Legler is also terrific as Professor Bhaer and extremely convincing with his accent.

My two favorite songs from this show are “Some Things Are Meant to Be” and “Days of Plenty” and both are beautifully performed by Emma Roberts as Beth and Tamari Dunbar as Marmee respectively. I do think the operatic tragedy portions of this adaptation drag and are too long but that’s nothing this production could control.

If you are looking for a great way to introduce your family to musical theatre and classic literature Little Women at Sandy Arts Guild is a great choice. It is playing through Oct 19th and you can purchase tickets here.

Little Women is based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott with music by Jason Howland, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and a book by Allan Knee.

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 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.