theatre

UTAH THEATRE LOG 10/9-10/11 (MY FAIR LADY, PERSUASION, CLUE: THE MUSICAL) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 61)

| Rachel's Reviews

I truly had a magical week of theatre this week and will be logging and reviewing more of the productions over the next few days. If you want to read my reviews of the movies I saw click here. Meanwhile here are some logs for 3 local shows:

MY FAIR LADY- HALE CENTER THEATRE OREM, OREM

Seeing My Fair Lady at Hale Center Theatre Orem was a bit of a bittersweet experience because even though it was highly entertaining it is probably the last show I will see at this location. They will have their A Christmas Carol which is not part of the season pass and then will be moving over to their new location in Pleasant Grove called The Ruth. I am very happy for them but I will miss the intimacy and unique nature of the theater in Orem.

Fortunately this production of My Fair Lady is an excellent one for them to go out on. I saw the MWF cast and on pretty much every level it delivers on a wonderful take on this classic material. What impressed me the most is how the humor in the script was highlighted and brought to the forefront. M. Chase Grant in particular as Henry Higgins gives the funniest take I’ve ever seen for the role and helped make the character more endearing and the romance more palatable (an element of this musical I typically don’t enjoy.)

Ashley Gardner Carlson is fantastic as Eliza Doolittle and again she brought out the humor in the role with songs like “Without You” and “Show Me.” This production is directed by Rodger Sorensen with beautiful costumes by Dennis Wright. I particularly loved the Ascot scene using grays and purples in contrast to the usual white and black. My only real critique would be they could have changed out the individual settings a little more. I understand the space makes set changes tough but keeping it the flowered street whether they are inside or outside for even the Embassy Ball was a little underwhelming. But other than that it is a great version of My Fair Lady I highly recommend. It is playing at HCTO until Nov 23rd and you can purchase tickets here.

My Fair Lady is of course the classic musical with lyrics and book by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.

PERSUASION- SNOW COLLEGE THEATRE, EPHRAIM

As soon as I saw that Snow College was putting on Melissa Leilani Larson’s adaptation of Persuasion I knew I had to see it despite the college being a nearly 2 hour drive in Ephraim. Larson is my favorite local playwright and was one of the first interviews I ever did when I had just started out my channel back in 2016. Even as I was driving down in heavy traffic I began to think ‘is this going to be worth it.’ Well, once seated any doubts I had were put to the side by a wonderful production of one of my favorite Jane Austen novels (I saw a production of this adaptation via a live stream during the pandemic so it was meaningful to see it live on stage this time.)

The art direction of the piece (director Jenn Chandler) is simple with an abstract background that could become everything from Kellynch Hall to the beaches in Lyme. Persuasion is a particularly difficult novel to adapt because much of the action either happens off stage before we meet the lead couple or within their minds. What Larson has done to fix this is the brilliant choice of having 2 couples play Anne and Wentworth. This way we see the couple’s first and second chance at love.

The whole cast of students at Snow College are excellent with Chloe Hannah and Shayla Florence playing Anne, and Joshua Peterson and Landon Bulloch as Wentworth. It may help I am so well versed in the story that I wasn’t confused by two versions of the characters but it is so widely known that most who buy tickets are probably aware of the basic plot. Of all the performers, however, Ruby Bagley really stole the show as Mary Musgrove. She is probably the funniest character in the novel and Bagley has terrific comedic timing.

Some of the other performers could be a little too exuberant and big for the regency setting and relative stillness of the backdrop but Persuasion was still a very entertaining night of theater. It can still be seen until the 15th and tickets can be purchased here.

CLUE: THE MUSICAL- HERITAGE THEATRE, PERRY

When I saw Heritage Theatre in Perry was putting on Clue: The Musical I was intrigued. I have seen the play based on the game/movie but didn’t even know the musical was a thing. So despite the over an hour drive to get to Perry I made my way up to see the show and I’m so glad I did. Heritage Theatre is a community theater in the best sense of the word and this is an ambitious but well executed mystery experience.

What impressed me the most about Clue: The Musical is the interactive elements. I’m normally not the biggest fan of improv but you’d never know there are 216 different outcomes to this musical! It all feels very scripted. The songs aren’t especially memorable but they work as transitions from one scene and clue to the next. Directors Bree and Derek Hendricks have seemingly thought of everything with a game board projected on the wall and a live band to play the musical cues. I also loved the set design by Derek and Jess Tarbet. Each of the rooms of the iconic game are created on a turntable that moves from one setpiece to the next. They even have playing pieces for each character in each of the rooms which I thought was quite clever.

The performers are all having a ton of fun but Sam Bakker is probably my favorite as Mrs White. I think we really lucked out to have her as our murderer (not a spoiler since every performance will be different.) I’m actually not that big of a mystery person but this is just a fun experience. It’s not the polish you’ll find at something like HCTO but that’s part of the charm. If you are anywhere near Perry I’d highly recommend seeing Clue: The Musical. It is playing until Oct 26th and you can purchase tickets here.

Clue: The Musical has a book by Peter Depietro, lyrics by Tom Chiodo, and Music by Galen Blum, Waynde Barker and Vinnie Martucci.

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.

‘FUNNY GIRL’ NATIONAL TOUR IS JUST FINE BUT YOU’VE GOT TO SEE IT (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

I was very curious to see that the national tour of Funny Girl was coming to Eccles this month because I saw this revival on Broadway when it was in previews back in 2022. I know Beanie Feldstein’s take on Fanny Brice was widely criticized and she only lasted a few months but I appreciate she brought something new to the role and it didn’t feel like a Barbra copycat.

Back in 2022

I think part of the reason it took Funny Girl so long to get a revival on Broadway is it is so defined by Barbra Streisand’s performance. She is Fanny Brice to most Broadway fans. She even won an Oscar for her role in the Funny Girl film in 1969.

After seeing Barbra (in film) and Beanie’s take on the role I was excited to see what the national tour could bring to it. Now that I’ve seen it I’m decidedly middle-of-the-road on it. It’s fine and worth seeing to check off a musical theatre bucket list but that’s about it. I probably won’t be itching to ever see it again. Twice is enough.

This touring production has Hannah Shankman playing Fanny and she is good especially on those long notes and delivers “Don’t Rain on My Parade” with gusto which is the most important song to nail. For “People” she is mostly an excellent singer but struggled a bit with the low notes. Her and Stephen Mark Lukas (he is very swoony) playing Nick Arnstein have terrific chemistry together and I bought them as a couple more than I did Beanie and her co-lead on Broadway.

The production also looks great with big marque lights of the Ziegfeld surrounding the stage and some scenes where we looked at the back of Fanny as she performed on stage. This helps immerse us in the story and feel a part of Fanny’s journey as a performer. There is some energetic choreography by Ayodele Casel and Ellenore Scott throughout especially from Izaiah Montague Harris who plays Eddie Ryan (although the script doesn’t really give his character anything to do. What is his point in the narrative?)

Speaking of the script that’s where Funny Girl has problems. Despite the updated book by Harvey Fierstein the story of Fanny and Nick’s love just isn’t that compelling. Particularly in the 2nd act things drag and it’s hard to care about what is happening on stage. I think one could easily cut 20 minutes from this show and it wouldn’t miss a beat (probably be better for it.) There’s only so many times Nick gambling and Fanny bailing him out can be compelling.

The other disappointment in this production is how small the ensemble scenes are. Fanny is a Ziegfeld performer so to only have a handful of dancers on the big Eccles stage for songs like “Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat” feels underwhelming. If the story isn’t going to entertain one hopes the spectacle will and it’s not the case here.

Still, I’d recommend seeing Funny Girl at least once for the iconic songs and the place it holds within musical theatre history. It’s far from perfect but worth checking out nonetheless. Funny Girl plays through Oct 13th and you can purchase tickets here.

UTAH THEATRE LOG 9/30-10/7 (SOMETHING ROTTEN, ALICE BY HEART, JEKYLL AND HYDE) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 59)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hey everyone! I hope you are having a great week. Its been a fun time for me because I started a new part-time job last week, which is always an exciting if overwhelming experience. Plus, at Hallmarkies Podcast we are gearing up for the start of Christmas season coming up on Oct 18th, so life is as crazy as you’d imagine it being. Fortunately I still have time to see a lot of great theatre. Some I will do full reviews for as a critic and others are just the short logs as a patron. Here’s what’s been happening on the stage:

SOMETHING ROTTEN- EMPRESS THEATRE, MAGNA

First up there’s a new production of Something Rotten over at the Empress Theatre in Magna. This is such a charming little community theatre that almost always knocks the productions out of the park and this is another great example of doing that. Something Rotten may be my favorite comedic musical and even though I’ve seen it many times I haven’t gotten sick of it like I have other shows in the genre. It’s just that funny.

What was interesting about this production directed by Kylee Larsen is how stripped down and simple it is. For example in “A Musical” the musical theatre easter eggs were stripped down to just the music and dance without the visual cues I usually see. In contrast, at the recent production at Music Theatre West they had the entire ensemble wearing different costumes from musicals for the scene. This takes the opposite approach and I found it quite refreshing. It helps also that Caden Terry gave my favorite performance of the night as Nostradamus. He has terrific comic timing and sold the song well.

The rest of the cast is up for the challenge of the piece and there were very few technical gaffes during the matinee that I attended. The only persistent problem is they could turn up the microphone on Shakespeare (Bradley Barker) who was a lot of fun in the role but at times the music was overpowering his vocals. This is probably the only production I’ve ever seen where someone is credited as “Egg Creator.” It’s Ashley Loewer and she did a great job making the costumes for “Make an Omelette.” They have both cracked egg outfits and omlettes and both are very funny. Like I said, it’s just a funny show, and I hope I never get tired of seeing it. Something Rotten is playing at The Empress until Oct 19th and tickets can be purchased here.

ALICE BY HEART- WEBER STATE ARTS, OGDEN

I love seeing college productions especially if they are doing something new and experimental. The energy of the students is just infectious and inspiring. This is why I jumped at the chance to review Alice by Heart for UTBA this month. What I didn’t know then was that this review would end up being my last review for the site as I am moving on to other opportunities. I’m proud of the work I have done for them and grateful for everything I learned along the way.

In a way Alice by Heart was the perfect show for this moment because it’s a show all about saying goodbye to the people and things we love. The creative team (music by Duncan Sheik, lyrics by Steven Sater and a book by Sater and Jessie Nelson) have moved Lewis Carroll’s iconic story to a 1941 bomb shelter and Wonderland is an escape from the horrors of war.

While there are definite problems with this material the creativity of the students was so much fun to watch. I particularly loved the giant Jabberwocky puppet they created. You can read my full review here. Alice by Heart runs until Oct 12th and tickets can be purchased here.

JEKYLL & HYDE- HOPEBOX THEATRE, KAYSVILLE

I honestly think Hopebox Theatre in Kaysville is one of the more underrated company’s in this area. They not only have a wonderful mission of helping support those fighting cancer but they have never missed for me in a production. Even if I don’t love the show I always leave thinking they did a fantastic job with it. Such is the case with their new production of Jekyll & Hyde.

I saw the Silver Cast on Monday 10/7 and they are all really strong. Dugan Brunker is particularly great at the Hyde part of the title character. He could almost be Batman with that low gravely voice. Chelsea Campbell is another standout as Lucy really nailing her signature song “Someone Like You.”

The set is very impressive for the small space. I love how director Sadie Day uses practical effects as opposed to the digital AI projections which are all the rage in community theaters these days. The backgrounds have a charcoal quality to them and the way the set folded out to Jekyll’s lab was brilliant. The costumes by Torrey Woolsey were also stunning with layers to each look, even minor characters.

There are also some really creative choices like when they do “A New Life (Reprise)” different couples dance as Lucy imagines the kind of love and life she could perhaps have some day. It’s also a pretty racy interpretation (for Utah at least.) “Bring on the Men” doesn’t shy away from the sultry elements but that’s true to the story so I really enjoyed it. It’s nice when conservative companies take a little bit of risk and honor the stories they are telling.

I will always recommend seeing a show at Hopebox and Jekyll and Hyde is no different. It’s a sexy, exciting, good time at the theatre playing until Oct 26th. 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.

‘LITTLE WOMEN: THE MUSICAL’ AT IDEAL PLAYHOUSE ASTONISHES (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

The novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first big book I ever read. The first book I was proud of for finishing at around 8 or 9. I think as the oldest daughter in a family which would come to include 4 girls and having an independent streak like Jo I easily connected with it and have loved almost all adaptations of this material I’ve seen film or stage (we don’t talk about the modern version from 2018…) I’ve seen Little Women: The Musical many times over the years and really enjoyed it each time. The latest version is at the Ideal Playhouse in Heber and it’s a production worth your time and effort.

Little Women: The Musical came to Broadway in 2005 and helped Sutton Foster receive a Tony Award nomination for playing Jo. It has music by Jason Howland, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, and book by Allan Knee. The production at Ideal is directed by Steve Anderson with music direction from Karyn Anderson.

One of the aspects that makes Ideal Playhouse so unique is the screens surrounding the viewer on all sides. I hope to see a concert or event film there soon because it adds a special element I’ve never seen before in a theatrical production. This was particularly neat in operatic tragedy numbers of this musical with the audience being surrounded by action and excitement. It is a cool way to differentiate the space from the many other local theatre companies.

They also have a terrific cast for this production with Ashley Bates as Jo, Lisa Blaser as Marmee and the great Michael McLean as Mr Lawrence. He mentioned on social media this is his first time playing a different character outside of his own material. I’ve seen McLean in The Forgotten Carols several times but it was super fun to see him stretch his acting wings here. I actually got to interview him during the pandemic and he is as friendly as you’d expect.

The highlights of Little Women: The Musical are the beautiful duet between Beth and Jo “Some Thing are Meant to Be.” It’s such a lovely song and performed with skill and chemistry at Ideal. I also love Marmee’s song “Days of Plenty.” The rest of the songs are fairly generic Broadway ballads and bops but certainly pleasant enough and well performed.

The costumes feel a little more Regency than mid-19th century but my favorite of the night was worn by Nicole Cable as Aunt March, and she is the costume designer for the production. All the other sets and transitions worked with the projections to create a warm and comforting atmosphere on stage.

There are times when the music overpowers the performers and there was a problem with the mics not being turned off when actors are off stage. You could hear little whispering off stage which can be distracting to what’s going on on stage.

Other than that, I really enjoyed Little Women: The Musical at Ideal Playhouse. If you are in and around Heber I recommend seeking it out. They also listened to my advise and lowered prices to under $30, which I appreciate. With children at just $14 this could be a great family activity especially young girls will love. Go out and watch something that’s astonishing! This show plays through Oct 12th 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.

‘THE WOMAN IN BLACK’ AT THE COVEY USES THE BLACK BOX FOR PRIME SCARES (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

It’s always nice when a company knows their venue and selects material that suit the space well. Such has been the case with the last several selections for the Covey Center for the Arts in their Brinton Black Box Theater. They recently did Wait Until Dark which was ideal for that small confined space and the same can be said for their latest production: The Woman in Black. This was my first time seeing this play and Covey was kind enough to provide me with a ticket and for 2 of my friends who were in town for the Fanx convention. This was above and beyond on their part, and I am sincerely grateful.

This review will probably be on the brief side because I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises for you.

As I said, this was my first time seeing this play although I am going to see it later in October at the Parker and evidently it has been playing on the West End in London for some time. The Woman in Black is a play by Stephen Mallatratt based on the novel by Susan Hill and it tells the story of a young man who travels to help settle the estate of a reclusive widow, Mrs Drablow. What he doesn’t realize is that the home is haunted by the Woman in Black of the title, and she does not plan on going away without a fight.

While the events of the play can be quite thrilling for some reason Mallatratt decides to set them in the construct of a play-within-a-play. This was confusing and rather tedious a set up that I just didn’t enjoy. However, once the actual characters and story starts everything perks up quite a bit. Act II especially is one thrill after another and I left feeling very satisfied with an exciting theatrical experience.

I’m actually surprised The Woman in Black isn’t done more because it has a cast of only 2 people making it very approachable for a community theater to put on. At Covey they have wisely cast Samuel Wright as the Actor and Mathew DelaFuente as Arthur Kipps. DelaFuente is one of the finest actors we have working in Utah today and he carries this production on his back and does so well. Especially as things became more tense and scary he commits fully to the moment which was impressive with so much being left to the imagination (even the dog is imaginary.)

Director Morgan Gunter uses DelaFuente and the simple sheer black curtains of a theater to create atmosphere and tone. Spencer Powell’s lighting, and the Robert Seely/Mark Pitt sound design are also critical in making the scares pop when they need to (and pop they do!)

In the end, The Covey’s The Woman in Black does take a bit to get going but if the audience can have some patience they will be rewarded with a fun night of scares and surprises. It might be too scary for young ones but anyone teenager age should be fine and they’ll have a great time. It is playing until Oct 21st 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 9/17-9/22 (SWEENEY TODD, BRIGHT STAR, THE SEAGULL) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 55)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi theatre friends! I hope you are doing well. I have had an eventful week with lots to report on and some changes to my process. First thing is I have decided to retire from UTBA. I am grateful for everything I’ve learned there and the opportunities I’ve received but it was time for a change. I should have one more review for them in October and then it’s moving on to new outlets including my own writing and podcasting.

On the same breath some new opportunities for this site are emerging including covering the Broadway Across America series! This is the first time I have been individually approved to cover the national Broadway tours and I’m thrilled. In addition, I am reviewing all the Hale Sandy shows and hopefully more as I continue to grow this site and find more venues interested in my unique brand of theatre criticism. If you know anyone looking to have their shows critiqued and publicized let me know!

With all of that I have 3 shows to report on in this post as well as a review for a new outlet to share. It’s an exciting time to be Rachel’s Reviews!

SWEENEY TODD- DRAPER HISTORIC THEATRE, DRAPER

Everyone who follows my writing knows I am a bit hit and miss when it comes to Sondheim. I don’t always love his work as much as others but I certainly respect him and all he was able to create over his career. One of his most iconic musicals is Sweeney Todd and I had a terrific time seeing it at Draper Historic Theatre last week.

I attended the show on Tuesday so I saw the Razor Blade cast directed by Melissa Van Dam with choreography from Mike Romney. It’s always amazing how much they are able to do with such a small space at DHT and such was the case for Sweeney Todd. This becomes particularly challenging with the setup for the chair and having it all feel believable but they used the space well and especially the bakehouse and furnace were very well realized.

The cast is also very talented with Jonathan Saul giving a sense of unease and mania to his Sweeney and Matthew Davids chilling as Judge Turpin. He was honestly one of the creepiest performances I’ve seen in years particularly in the scenes with Joanna.

One thing I realized in watching Sweeney Todd this time is how slow the first act is. Not much happens for that first hour. She doesn’t even start baking the pies until we are almost at the intermission. It’s one of those shows where act 2 is way stronger and more memorable than 1.

My only real complaint with this production at DHT is not every performance resonated with me. The projections were also not as effective as I’ve seen at DHT in other shows. Felt a little too modern for the story we are experiencing. Still, the show is a perfect way to ring in the spooky season, and I do recommend it.

Sweeney Todd is playing at Draper Historic Theatre until Sept 28th and tickets can be purchased here.

BRIGHT STAR, SCERA CENTER FOR THE ARTS, OREM

Everyone knows how much I love the musical Bright Star. In fact, I love it so much I felt it was worth it to drive down to Orem to see at Scera, even though they are a venue that I have my issues with. I just had to get my Bright Star fix!

This production is directed by Chase Ramsey and stars Kelsey Mariner Thomspon as Alice Murphy and Christian Wawro as Jimmy Ray. While both are more convincing in the older versions of the characters they still have a lovely chemistry and sold the more emotional moments effectively. My favorite interpretation by this production, however, came at the end when Alice Murphy and Jimmy’s father shake hands in a moving demonstration of forgiveness.

The only major critique I’d give is the set has a lot of doors and windows on it where they showcase various projections. The characters don’t use the doors much and I really don’t see what the connection is to the material. It was distracting to have such large visual elements of the set for seemingly no purpose.

Still Bright Star is a beautiful show expertly crafted and certainly one of my favorites. I don’t think I will ever get tired of it whether at the Scera or anywhere else. Bright Star plays through Oct 5th and you can purchase tickets here.

HARVEY- PG PLAYERs, PLEASANT GROVE

Now that I am retiring from UTBA it gives me the chance to look at other outlets I could contribute to and learn from the unique style each has (in addition to my own reviews and logs of course.) First up is my review of Harvey at PG Players for the Rhetorical Review. This is a site run by my friend Keolanani. I love how she gives all the information about the production but also includes a lesson or moral we can take away from the experience. This is a refreshing and fun way to look at a show and Harvey is a great one to start with as it offers so many life lessons.

The production at PG Players is outstanding as expected (they’ve never missed in the tiny library theater!) It is also special because the show is actor Dennis Purdie’s (who plays Elwood) 50th show for the company! Unbelievable. You can read my full review here. Harvey is playing until Oct 14th and tickets can be purchased here.

THE SEAGULL- STING AND HONEY COMPANY, SALT LAKE

I always appreciate when a company gives me a chance to check off one of my bucket list shows that I haven’t seen yet. It’s also nice when I get to see a new to me company like I did with Sting and Honey’s new production of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull. It was a lot more engaging than I expected.

I’m not sure why but I was prepared for a stiff but proficient experience when I stepped into the Regent Street Black Box at The Eccles Theatre in Salt Lake. I thought it was going to be effective but boring but it actually proved to not be the case and even had more of a sense of humor than I anticipated. It’s not a laugh riot or anything like that but it also doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Javen Tanner directs this production of The Seagull and he smartly keeps things simple so that we can focus on the actors and all the drama they are experiencing. All the acting is excellent and it seems unbelievable such a small black box could boast such talent. I particularly enjoyed Trayven Call as Konstantin Treplieff and Ryann Bailey as his beloved Nina.

This adaptation of the Chekhov play is translated by Tom Stoppard and it focuses on the expectations we have for our loved ones and how those can uplift us but also cripple us if we are not careful. Don’t be afraid of understanding the production. This is a chance worth taking for a memorable night of theatre!

The Seagull plays through Sept 28th and you can find out more at the Sting and Honey website here.

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

THE ELEPHANT DAZZLES MORE THAN THE STORY AT ‘THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT’ AT HCT (REVIEW)(RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 54)

| Rachel's Reviews

One of the downsides of being a theatre critic that is not in New York or London is I do not get the chance to see many new productions. Often even a ‘new to me’ show by the time it arrives to Salt Lake already has baggage of expectations from their initial Broadway run. That’s why it is especially exciting when a company does get to premiere something new and fresh, and even if it is flawed I try to give some grace that the performance is part of the workshopping and testing phase. That’s why I have really appreciated the premieres Hale Center Theatre in Sandy has been doing over the last year or so. I’ve felt the company really pushing themselves and their audience which I find very admirable. And while their latest the US premiere of The Magician’s Elephant is probably my least favorite of their recent premieres I do appreciate the swing.

The Magician’s Elephant is a new musical based on the novel by Kate Di Camillo created by Nancy Harris and Marc Teitler. It was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company in England and this production is directed by Hale favorite Dave Tinney. I have not read the book or seen the Netflix film but the plot about a town who find themselves blessed with a magical elephant and all the adventures that go around with that.

The reason I am being rather vague about the plot is because I honestly found it to be the most confusing aspect of the whole experience. The musical suffers from a wandering protagonist. One scene it seems to be Peter (Hyrum Smith) a young man looking for his sister. Then another scene it seems to be Leo (Keith Evans) who wants to have a baby with his wife but then there is a villain countess, a woman who becomes wheelchair-bound by the elephant, Peter’s sister Adele (Hailey Burnham) gets her own arc, and many more. At one point the Count (Brett Myers) get a whole song and I had no idea who he was or what was happening. Unfortunately this muddled plot caused me and the audience around me to be disengaged. A lot of people were visibly nodding off and one young lady gave up pretense and put her head in her lap to sleep

That said, if you can stomach the weak book the visual delights are very impressive. In particular the elephant might be the most stunning puppet I’ve seen on stage since The Lion King on Broadway. What was particularly amazing is how much emotion they were able to get out of this giant puppet as he gets more frail as the magic is weakened. He slumps down and the sounds get more frail and desperate. I was shocked how absorbed I was in the elephant’s story despite being less than interested in the humans around him! They even have a pink light in the center that pulses to show the elephants heart beating at different levels depending on the scene. The puppeteers behind the elephant deserve the highest of praise (Benjamin Tate, Miranda Renee Smith, Jessica Zoe Bird, Josh Durfey)

I also love the lighting design by Jaron Kent Hermansen with the blues and greens and the way the team uses the stage to create visual interest and has the action happening on any different levels at the same time. The singing is also across-the-board excellent even if the songs aren’t particularly memorable. My favorite song of the show is probably one called “Real Magic” sung by Peter, Leo and more.

Honestly I feel a little torn on whether to recommend The Magician’s Elephant. On one hand the elephant is just that great it’s worth a ticket but on the other hand the ticket price at Hale is so high I wish the story around the spectacle was more engaging. I guess one might consider this a mixed review but I give them full credit for at least trying something new and ambitious. The Magician’s Elephant plays at the Young Living Centre Stage at Hale Center Theatre in Sandy until Oct 19th and you can purchase tickets here.

 If you’d like me to review more theatre and appreciate what I do please check out the patreon here. You will find the patreon has many benefits including watch alongs with writers and actors of TV and films and more. Please take a look.

“OH WHAT A NIGHT” AT PTC’S ‘JERSEY BOYS’…(RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 52)

| Rachel's Reviews

Way back in 2005 a little jukebox musical first premiered on Broadway telling the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons called Jersey Boys. This musical became a huge critical and financial success going on to win 4 Tony Awards and have over 4000 performances. Despite becoming a phenomenon it somehow eluded me and I had never seen it until this Friday with Pioneer Theatre Company’s new production. While I don’t have anything to compare the it to I left feeling energized and entertained, and I can see why it sets the standard for biographical jukebox musicals.

Jersey Boys has music by Bob Gaudio (the Bob from the band) and Lyrics by Bob Crewe. Of course it features the many hits from the The Four Seasons like “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” which are all a lot of fun to hear performed on stage; however, the real standout of the show is the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The problem a lot of biographic jukebox musicals have is they are so predictable in their rags-to-riches formula and then take themselves far too seriously. Jersey Boys sets itself apart from these copycats by being consistently funny and endearing throughout.

At PTC our 4 leads seem to understand this strength of the show and lean into the humor creating a believable chemistry as a group that makes us invested in what is happening to them. While they are all more convincing as older versions of the characters in act 2 they delivered the dialogue with terrific comic timing and the charm someone like a rockstar should have. Trevor James pulls off the falsetto needed for Frankie Valli but my favorite is Brent Thiessen as Nick.

I think Nick works the best because his section of the story is the most clearly defined. That’s one thing director Karen Azenberg could have emphasized more is making more obvious who is narrating each of the 4 acts. Nevertheless, they are all great in their roles, and like I said, the comedic elements kept it from feeling tired and cliched.

The technical elements of Jersey Boys at PTC is kept streamlined and simple with most of the backgrounds being stages, brick walls or a warehouse. The costumes are mostly various suits that are swapped in and out of quickly, but I wouldn’t have wanted anything more because the simplicity kept me focused on the actors on stage. The ensemble is also small but capable as they swap in and out of various roles. I particularly liked Timothy Aaron Cooper as ‘Joe Pesci and others’ who skillfully brings out the humor to any scene he is in.

The orchestra conducted by Phil Reno is always a standout at PTC, and they do an excellent job with these classic songs. There are times when the actors on stage are more convincing in “playing” the instruments than others but the actual orchestra is fantastic.

Adam Enrique Hollick and Daxton Bloomquist are also very strong as Tommy and Bob respectively although it feels like Tommy should have been far more grateful for Frankie literally saving him from prison than he was. Bloomquist did a good job capturing Bob’s subtle awkwardness so when he says he wants to stop performing in the band and just produce and write it isn’t a huge surprise.

Evidently down at Tuacahn they did a version of Jersey Boys with cleaned up language. While I have only seen this I prefer the more mature version as it feels authentic to the characters.

In the end, I’m grateful to Pioneer Theatre Company for giving me a terrific first time experience with Jersey Boys. The talented cast brought Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to life with humor, humanity and terrific singing. You won’t want to take your eyes off of the stage! Jersey Boys is playing through Sept 28th and tickets can be purchased here.

Also the humor in this show makes it abundantly clear why the Clint Eastwood directed film adaptation failed so badly…

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

| Rachel's Reviews

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

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

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

WAIT UNTIL DARK- COVEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, PROVO

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

MATILDA- DRAPER HISTORIC THEATER, DRAPER

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

GREAT SALT LAKE FRINGE FESTIVAL- 2 SHOWS

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

AIDA- OGDEN MUSICAL THEATRE, OGDEN

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

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

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

THE LITTLE MERMAID- EMPRESS THEATRE, MAGNA

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

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

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

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