My father, sister and I went and saw the Orem Hale Theater production of The Hit by Mike Buckley:
“Susan is dying. But when she hires an inept hit man to speed thing up, things get topsy-turvy funny in a hurry. A zany and heartwarming play about dying and learning to live.”
We went to the afternoon showing and noticed that the audience was made up of more of the mature set then other performances I have gone to, which is not bad just an observation. Since it is a theater in a round, you feel part of the production like you are witnessing it as a fly on the wall. The play was funny, it was enjoyable, and for only $15.50 way worth the money. The bit players coming into the antique shop to make “purchases” were a delight especially the ones played by Levi Larson. Plus I loved the running gag of the family heirloom for every character. After the play I asked my sister didn’t David St. Julien’s funny performance reminded you of Kirby Heyburn and she agreed. You still have another week to catch it, don’t miss it.
Showing posts with label Play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Play. Show all posts
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
White Christmas
No, this post has nothing to do with the weather. Every year as part of our Christmas gift my parents treat my oldest sister and I to a Christmas performance. This year we went and saw White Christmas at the University of Utah’s Pioneer Theater.
The film, White Christmas (1954) starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye is one of my favorite holiday films that I watch every year. So I pretty much know the film by heart and love it. But I still enjoyed the play. The sets were top notch, the choreography fun (I do love tap dancing), and the actors did a descent job (a nod to Tally and Kaitlyn). The script was a little different and so were the characters but I kept an open mind. I’m so glad that they kept the “Sisters” routine that the guys perform it’s one of my favorite scenes.
Just a few observations: John Shuman who played Ezekiel did a great interpretation of Pa Kettle. Mary Driggs who played Martha was more Ethel Merman than Mary Wickes but the character worked. I also thought it was interesting that they threw in “I love the Piano” which is from another Irving Berlin film Easter Parade.
I’m glad we have this new family tradition now that we are older it always helps me get into the Christmas spirit. Plus, we stopped off at Baskin Robbins for a nutty coconut shake afterwards. I do love those shakes.
The film, White Christmas (1954) starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye is one of my favorite holiday films that I watch every year. So I pretty much know the film by heart and love it. But I still enjoyed the play. The sets were top notch, the choreography fun (I do love tap dancing), and the actors did a descent job (a nod to Tally and Kaitlyn). The script was a little different and so were the characters but I kept an open mind. I’m so glad that they kept the “Sisters” routine that the guys perform it’s one of my favorite scenes.
Just a few observations: John Shuman who played Ezekiel did a great interpretation of Pa Kettle. Mary Driggs who played Martha was more Ethel Merman than Mary Wickes but the character worked. I also thought it was interesting that they threw in “I love the Piano” which is from another Irving Berlin film Easter Parade.
I’m glad we have this new family tradition now that we are older it always helps me get into the Christmas spirit. Plus, we stopped off at Baskin Robbins for a nutty coconut shake afterwards. I do love those shakes.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Thriller
AJ, AMM, my sister and I went to go see the Odyssey Dance Theatre production of Thriller last night. I have seen the advertisements around for years but when AJ suggested we go this year I thought it was a good idea. Of course I had no clue what the production would be like, but I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it (minus the video clips, I really want my ten minutes back for the shopping car clip. I felt like I was watching a really bad Sundance film). My favorite was Dem Bones that was done with black lights. It really looked like skeletons dancing on the stage. Ray Harryhausen would have been proud. I also enjoyed the River of Blood Dance (river dancers being shot) Frankenstein and Frankenstein number (the Bride of Frankenstein was so flexible). Over all you could tell the dancers were having fun which makes the event fun.
The production was playing at Kingsbury Hall and the U of U football game got out the same time we reached the campus. Roads were blocked off where we knew where to turn, so we took a scenic route around campus and arrived a little late. But of course going to an event is also part of the adventure.
The production was playing at Kingsbury Hall and the U of U football game got out the same time we reached the campus. Roads were blocked off where we knew where to turn, so we took a scenic route around campus and arrived a little late. But of course going to an event is also part of the adventure.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Utah Shakespeare Festival
Why should you go to the Utah Shakespeare Festival? To see Brian Vaughn and David Ivers. The first time I saw them perform was a few years back when they starred in the two man play Stones in His Pocket with them playing all 15 characters. I thought they did a terrific job. Since then anytime I see that they are going to perform in a play I am attending, I know I am in for a treat and this year was no exception.
The last weekend of August AJ, AMM, JR and I headed to Cedar City to the Shakespeare Festival. Just an FYI there are two Best Westerns in Cedar City (yeah, I went to go check in after waiting in line to find out I was off by a few blocks) and if you miss the overpass to get to the west side of the freeway to go eat at the elusive Café Rio you end up on the freeway heading south to Kanarraville (10 miles south) which is the next time you can turn around to head back in the right direction. So after a rushed dinner at Del Taco (order medium because I can’t even imagination how huge their large portions would be) since I took everyone on an adventure we went to the Friday evening performance of The 39 Steps, a hilarious spoof on Hitchcock films using the plot of 39 steps to deliver it.
Once again it was 4 actors playing about 30 roles it seemed with Brian Vaughn and David Ivers stealing the show once again. The best part was David making Brian forget his line because he was trying so hard not to laugh that he came out and said I forgot my line. The props were part of the spoof – the phone still ringing when it was picked up, the birds falling from the sky, everything was made out of luggage. The train chasing scene with its special effects was amazing. I am so impressed who came up with that. It really looked like Brian was on crawling below the train. I laughed so hard and enjoyed the performance so much, I have to say it ranks as one of my favorites.
After the play we headed to our hotel and slept to the noise of everyone’s toilets flushing. The plumbing was so loud you heard water continually running from all the surrounding rooms. Next morning after breakfast we explored Cedar City. We went to a furniture/jewelry/bookstore. Then we took JR to a Cedar City classic the store that has everything it is a drugstore/sporting goods/computer/jewelry/home décor/kitchenware/nick knack collectible store. JR loved it and said it was worth the trip just to go through four different stores without ever walking outside. Then we headed to a clothing store to shop the high fashions but it really lacked. Then we ate at the Pastry Pub. The food is average but the reason you is to eat the Chocolate Tiger Cake. I do not know what they put in it but it really is heaven on earth. I crave it year long.
Then we saw Much Ado About Nothing which is the second time this summer to see this production (Whole Lotta Fussin’ Over Nothin’ being the other). David once again made the performance for me. I wonder if he is just as funny in real life as he is on stage. Then we hung out around campus in a wind storm and finally gave up and decide to go eat dinner and came back for our final evening performance of Pride and Prejudice.
I could write a blog post just on the book Pride and Prejudice and one day I will but let me just get back to the play. I loved Brian’s performance as Mr. Collins. Ellen Crawford did excellent job as Mrs. Bennett as well. I thought it was funny how Mr. Darcy’s character kept ending up in the time out corner it seemed. After the performance we would have headed to the Pastry Pub for dessert but no, they were closed so no chocolate tiger cake for me.
We drove home and right when I pulled into my driveway at 2:45 am I noticed my car was smoking (really steaming) and I was leaking radiator fluid. Luckily I made it home and we were not stranded in the middle of nowhere on our journey. Until next summer, I will dream about that chocolate tiger cake since there is not a fall performance we are going down to see this year.
The last weekend of August AJ, AMM, JR and I headed to Cedar City to the Shakespeare Festival. Just an FYI there are two Best Westerns in Cedar City (yeah, I went to go check in after waiting in line to find out I was off by a few blocks) and if you miss the overpass to get to the west side of the freeway to go eat at the elusive Café Rio you end up on the freeway heading south to Kanarraville (10 miles south) which is the next time you can turn around to head back in the right direction. So after a rushed dinner at Del Taco (order medium because I can’t even imagination how huge their large portions would be) since I took everyone on an adventure we went to the Friday evening performance of The 39 Steps, a hilarious spoof on Hitchcock films using the plot of 39 steps to deliver it.
Once again it was 4 actors playing about 30 roles it seemed with Brian Vaughn and David Ivers stealing the show once again. The best part was David making Brian forget his line because he was trying so hard not to laugh that he came out and said I forgot my line. The props were part of the spoof – the phone still ringing when it was picked up, the birds falling from the sky, everything was made out of luggage. The train chasing scene with its special effects was amazing. I am so impressed who came up with that. It really looked like Brian was on crawling below the train. I laughed so hard and enjoyed the performance so much, I have to say it ranks as one of my favorites.
After the play we headed to our hotel and slept to the noise of everyone’s toilets flushing. The plumbing was so loud you heard water continually running from all the surrounding rooms. Next morning after breakfast we explored Cedar City. We went to a furniture/jewelry/bookstore. Then we took JR to a Cedar City classic the store that has everything it is a drugstore/sporting goods/computer/jewelry/home décor/kitchenware/nick knack collectible store. JR loved it and said it was worth the trip just to go through four different stores without ever walking outside. Then we headed to a clothing store to shop the high fashions but it really lacked. Then we ate at the Pastry Pub. The food is average but the reason you is to eat the Chocolate Tiger Cake. I do not know what they put in it but it really is heaven on earth. I crave it year long.
Then we saw Much Ado About Nothing which is the second time this summer to see this production (Whole Lotta Fussin’ Over Nothin’ being the other). David once again made the performance for me. I wonder if he is just as funny in real life as he is on stage. Then we hung out around campus in a wind storm and finally gave up and decide to go eat dinner and came back for our final evening performance of Pride and Prejudice.
I could write a blog post just on the book Pride and Prejudice and one day I will but let me just get back to the play. I loved Brian’s performance as Mr. Collins. Ellen Crawford did excellent job as Mrs. Bennett as well. I thought it was funny how Mr. Darcy’s character kept ending up in the time out corner it seemed. After the performance we would have headed to the Pastry Pub for dessert but no, they were closed so no chocolate tiger cake for me.
We drove home and right when I pulled into my driveway at 2:45 am I noticed my car was smoking (really steaming) and I was leaking radiator fluid. Luckily I made it home and we were not stranded in the middle of nowhere on our journey. Until next summer, I will dream about that chocolate tiger cake since there is not a fall performance we are going down to see this year.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
A Whole Lotta Fussin' Over Nothin'
AJ, AMM, and I went up to Logan to see the Wild West Shakespeare Co. put on A Whole Lotta Fussin’ Over Nothin’ a remake of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. It’s part of our adventures to go and explore Utah festivals and community events.
We arrived early in Logan to drive around and explore the area since I have never been there and grab lunch at the Beehive Grill (good root beer) before the play. We thought the play started at 5 pm but we were wrong, it started at 7 pm so we went back into town and explored both Logan Libraries (were librarians remember) and then went to Utah State University to grab ice cream and AJ gave us a short tour of the campus since she graduated from there.
When we arrived to the American West Heritage Center, they let us go on a short train ride around a pond, which actually was a bit fun and made me feel like a kid again. The play was held at an outdoor Pavilion setting the mood for the West. At first I was not too sure how the play was going to be but as the night moved along it really was Teresa Jones who played Jenny that made the show for me. Her portrayal of Jenny stole the show. It was community theater, but you could tell the cast was having fun and so it made it fun to watch.
We arrived early in Logan to drive around and explore the area since I have never been there and grab lunch at the Beehive Grill (good root beer) before the play. We thought the play started at 5 pm but we were wrong, it started at 7 pm so we went back into town and explored both Logan Libraries (were librarians remember) and then went to Utah State University to grab ice cream and AJ gave us a short tour of the campus since she graduated from there.
When we arrived to the American West Heritage Center, they let us go on a short train ride around a pond, which actually was a bit fun and made me feel like a kid again. The play was held at an outdoor Pavilion setting the mood for the West. At first I was not too sure how the play was going to be but as the night moved along it really was Teresa Jones who played Jenny that made the show for me. Her portrayal of Jenny stole the show. It was community theater, but you could tell the cast was having fun and so it made it fun to watch.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Wednesday night JR and I went to the Hale Center Theater in Orem to see the production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I read so many good things about it so I was looking forward to the production. I didn’t realize it was going to be a musical and I was a bit concerned how they were going to make it work but it did. I laughed so hard at one point my eyes were watering. The cast did an awesome job. My favorite actor was Natalie Wheeler. Her dead pan humor was perfect. Dave Tinney reminded me of a classic 40s film star and Brett Merritt’s energy had me rolling in my seat. All the supporting cast, production crew, etc. made it a wonderful evening out. If you get a chance catch it before it closes next week.
The only problem I had was that the guy seating next to me practically sat in my lap. Why do guys not understand you stay in the arm rest area? That includes your legs as well. Why would you want to be that close to a stranger anyways?
The only problem I had was that the guy seating next to me practically sat in my lap. Why do guys not understand you stay in the arm rest area? That includes your legs as well. Why would you want to be that close to a stranger anyways?
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