Utah Shakespeare Festival 2011

It was exciting for my husband and I to come back to the Utah Shakespeare Festival for our third year in a row. It is becoming a tradition I look forward to every summer, and while we can't afford to see all of the productions, everything we do attend at the Festival is pretty incredible.

2011 marked the Festival's 50th year! To commemorate the occasion, several rare copies of Shakespeare works were loaned from the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C. It was awesome to see a first edition Complete Works of Shakespeare - dated 1623, as well as first edition copies of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo & Juliet. A Midsummer Night's Dream
From the beautiful costumes (King Oberon's was a particular favorite), to the rich dialogue, and the hilarious slapstick antics, A Midsummer Night's Dream was hands-down my favorite play this year. Directed by festival founder Fred C. Adams, it was clear from the seamless production that he knew this play forwards and backwards. I love how the three separate stories come together: the mischievous fairies, the four young lovers, and the troupe of actors rehearsing a play. Kymberly Mellen as Titania and Betsy Mugavero as Hermia were particular favorites. If you only see one play this year, it should be Shakespeare's popular comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream. "Lord, what fools these mortals be!" Noises Off!
This was my first time seeing Noises Off!, the popular stage comedy written by Michael Frayn. I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in, especially because the synopsis was pretty vague. Needless to say, it was one of the most hilarious and well-executed plays I have ever seen! Noises Off! tells the story of a play within a play. Act I is the play being rehearsed on stage, with the actors stumbling through their parts. During Act II the set is flipped around and we get a behind-the-scenes view of what is happening to the actors between takes. Love affairs gone awry, alcoholic actors, and missing contact lenses are just a few of the humorous things you can expect to happen. By Act III the set is turned back around again and everything has completely deteriorated - both on and off the stage. If you love not just funny, but laugh-your-head-off comedy, you must see Noises Off!
Romeo & Juliet
Romeo & Juliet is probably my all-time favorite Shakespeare tragedy, so I was very excited to see the Festival's production this year. I love the story of star crossed lovers, who, through a series of unfortunate circumstances meet an untimely end. But Romeo & Juliet is not merely a beautifully written tragedy, but a moral lesson on the power of love and hate. It was fun to see the play performed in the Adam's Theater (an outdoor theater similar to "The Globe"), with all of the characters dressed in Elizabethan costumes. Some of the standout performances were Magan Wiles (who was an exceptional Juliet), and Matt Mueller who practically stole the show as the fiery Mercutio. Romeo & Juliet was wonderful Shakespeare drama from beginning to end. "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!"

If you have the opportunity to attend the Festival this year, I hope you will. However, next year's lineup promises to be just as good. With productions of Hamlet, Titus Andronicus, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Scapin, Mary Stuart, Stones In His Pocket, The Drowsy Chaperone, and To Kill a Mockingbird, 2012 may just be the best year yet. Happy viewing!

*Photos by Karl Hugh, Utah Shakespeare Festival 2011.

The Scarlet Pimpernel

A few weeks ago my husband and I went down to the Hale Theater in Orem to see one of our favorite stage musicals, The Scarlet Pimpernel. This is always one of their better productions, as evidence by the fact that they are sold out almost every night. I made sure to get our tickets back in February, which meant that we had FRONT ROW SEATS. If any of you have been to the Hale in Orem, you know it's not a large theater. Let me just say that watching a play from the front row is definitely an experience in itself. Within the first few minutes of the play I had three actors crash into my lap (I was on an aisle seat), spit on me (accidentally), and were close enough I could see the sweat on their faces (among other things). Of course I loved every second of it!

I have always been a fan of The Scarlet Pimpernel in most any form . I have read the book several times, and watched the film (starring Jane Seymour and Ian McKellan) more times than I can count. However, the thing that sets the stage play apart from both of these is the wonderful music. From the rousing Madam Guillotine, to the heartbreaking When I Look At You, the hilarious Creation of Man, and finally the stirring Into the Fire, The Scarlet Pimpernel has something for just about everyone.

My husband and I attended a Thursday night performance (which means we have actors that perform on T/Th/S) and we loved all of the characters. Marguerite was definitely our favorite actor and singing voice, with Chauvelin being a close second. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in our Percy. I'm wondering if the M/W/F Percy was any better? I loved all of the costumes, especially all of Marguerite's beautiful clothes. It's obvious they put a lot of work into the details. If you have the chance, please do yourself a favor and go see The Scarlet Pimpernel before it closes on November 27th. For more information, please visit their website: Hale Center Theater Orem.

Needless to say, the hubby and I left the show whistling our favorite tunes all the way home.

Utah Shakespeare Festival 2010

This year my husband and I decided to make it a priority to return to the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City. One of the biggest reasons, was that the Festival was doing a production of my favorite Shakespeare play, The Merchant of Venice. Of course we were not disappointed! Each show was exceptionally well done and featured fantastic actors, beautiful sets, and an array of powerful emotions. The Merchant of Venice
For 2010 the Shakespeare Festival nabbed veteran television and movie star Tony Amendola (from such films as The Mask of Zorro and Blow) to tackle the controversial character Shylock. The result was a tour de force performance that had everyone in the audience near tears.

One of the reasons I like Merchant so much is that it portrays every emotion and sentiment: love, anger, jealousy, friendship, revenge and mercy. From the strong female protagonist Portia, to the cunning and embittered Shylock, Merchant teaches us what it means to be a human being. A fantastic production that was my personal favorite! Pride and Prejudice
One of the greatest love stories ever told, Pride and Prejudice was a real treat to see performed on stage. This was my first time seeing a live theater production of Jane Austen's classic novel (I have read the book and seen the movies several times), and I was totally blown away. The set was functional yet beautiful, and the director staged scene changes with a fluid grace that kept the story and action flowing seamlessly. I especially loved the dialogue between Darcy and Elizabeth, however the best part of the production was actor Brian Vaughn's portrayal of the oily Mr. Collins. Much Ado About Nothing
Most people are familiar with this particular play because of the 1993 film starring Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. And while the movie is fantastic, Much Ado is definitely a play that everyone needs to see performed on stage at least once.

I liked everything about this production, from the actors, to the costumes and sets, and especially the slapstick humor (the scenes in and around a large wine barrel are particularly funny). However the story rests heavily on the shoulders of the two quarreling lovers Beatrice and Benedick (played by Kymberly Mellen and David Ivers, respectively). Their mutual dislike and attraction were executed perfectly, and this is no more apparent than the powerful scene where their love is first revealed.

If you have the opportunity to attend the Shakespeare Festival, I hope you will. Some of the plays coming in 2011 are Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Noises Off!, and Dial M For Murder. However, the 2010 summer plays only have one week left, so hurry and buy your tickets today. Happy viewing!

*Photos by Karl Hugh, Utah Shakespeare Festival 2010.

Utah Shakespearean Festival

My husband and I had the pleasure of spending last weekend in Cedar City with our dear friends Nate and Marie, who took us to the Tony Award Winning Utah Shakespearean Festival. I've been talking about going to the festival for some time now (I was last there in 1996 - over a decade ago), and I guess Marie finally felt it was time for us to attend (she and her husband graciously paid for us to see one of the plays). Marie has a degree in English, and actually did her Master's thesis on Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. Let me tell you, there is no one better to see a Shakespeare play with than Miss Marie! She posted a review of all the plays on her blog recently, so without taking away from what she wrote I will attempt my own reviews of the two plays we saw: The Taming of the Shrew and Cyrano de Bergerac. I hope you will read both sets of reviews and enjoy them equally from our different perspectives. The Taming of the Shrew
Easily one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays; if done wrong, this play could potentially offend half of your audience (meaning the female half). However, I was not offended or disappointed with anything about this production, and found myself spontaneously laughing out-loud through several parts. The play was staged in Italy near the end of World War II, and portrays the hero Petruchio as a self-assured U.S. Army Captain, and the heroine Kate as a feisty local Italian woman. The courtship scenes were very well choreographed, integrating witty dialogue with a fair amount of slapstick humor. Throw in Shakespeare's trademark mistaken identities, bawdy romance, and a hilarious supporting cast, and you have one fabulous comedy! I have it on the best authority that this was the best Shakespeare production at the festival this year, and I do not doubt it, for I have rarely seen Shakespeare done better.

"Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor, For 'tis the mind that makes the body rich." Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac tells the dramatic story of the star-crossed and dashing swashbuckler Cyrano, and his love for the beautiful and educated Roxane. Fearing that she will reject him because of his large and unsightly nose, Cyrano aids the "comely yet stupid" soldier Christian, by sending love letters and whispering poetry to Roxane at her balcony window (which was the best and most romantic scene I have ever witnessed at the theater). It isn't until years later when Christian is dead and Roxane is alone in a convent, that she learns her admirer was really Cyrano. Every emotion and sentiment are beautifully expressed in this play: loyalty, humor, wit, lust, heartbreak, "panache", friendship, longing, and of course unconditional love. I was completely undone by the superb acting (the actors who portrayed Cyrano and Roxane are actually married), lavish period costumes, and a wonderful classic story. Don't forget to bring a box of tissues to the performance, as you are sure to love this outstanding play as much as I did!

"My wit is more polished than your mustache. The truth which I speak strikes more sparks from men's hearts than your spurs do from the cobblestones."

If any of you cupcakes have the chance, I hope you make a trip down to southern Utah to see the acclaimed Shakespeare Festival. Looking over the play roster for the 2009 season, I think my husband and I might go back: As You Like It, Henry V and The Secret Garden are all playing, and promise to be great fun. (The festival also boasts an excellent licensed day care if you have children.) Happy viewing!

Wicked the Musical (Chicago)

Forget everything you think you know about The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! Wicked is the untold story of everything that was happening in Oz before Dorothy dropped in. It follows the life of intelligent and ambitious Elpheba, who is born green (much to the dismay of her family and peers). Throughout the musical, Elpheba struggles to be accepted, even as she tries hard not to care what anyone thinks. After she enrolls at Shiz (a boarding school), her life seems to take a turn for the better. Away from the glaring disappointment of her father, Elpheba flourishes under the care of kind teachers, and has hopes to one day use her magical talents to join the Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately, her social life still leaves something to be desired. That is, until she meets the beautiful and popular Galinda (yes, it is Galinda...she later becomes Glinda), who is everything Elpheba is not. The two form an unlikely friendship, one that will ultimately change both of their destinies forever. The sets, costumes, and production were well worth the cost of the ticket price, and of course the music is wonderfully superb (with songs like Popular, What Is This Feeling?, I'm Not That Girl, and my personal favorite, Defying Gravity). Fans of The Wizard of Oz will love seeing details from the book dropped throughout the plot exposition; such as how the ruby slippers became ruby, why the tin man doesn't have a heart, etc. I also loved the underlying moral issues that Wicked tackles: there are two sides to every story, follow your heart, don't judge a book by it's cover, and it's OK to be yourself.

Wicked is a fantastic theatrical show that will leave you absolutely breathless with delight!