A flipped MIDSUMMER at the U succeeds despite odd choices

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SALT LAKE CITY — By far the most popular playwright whose work we review at UTBA is William Shakespeare. With this review, UTBA has now reviewed 20 productions of the works of William Shakespeare, and this is the sixth review that I have written of a Shakespeare production. I think that this is a sign [...]

UVU’s OTHELLO just might take your breath away

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OREM — One of Shakespeare‘s most enduring plays is the tragedy Othello. Ever since its first recorded performance for King James I of England in 1604, Othello has been hugely popular; several performances are recorded in Shakespeare’s lifetime and after the English Civil War (during which the theaters were all closed by Oliver Cromwell and [...]

NEXT TO NORMAL sheds marvelous light on mental illness

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SALT LAKE CITY —When I first heard that Next to Normal was going to be presented by the Pioneer Theater Company, I was so excited that my newest Broadway obsession would be presented in Utah. I was also very glad that PTC would put it on, knowing they had the means to utilize great actors [...]

Sting & Honey’s WAITING FOR GODOT is simply beautiful

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SALT LAKE CITY—Since starting the UTBA back in January 2010, I’ve seen over 80 productions across the state. Sting & Honey’s production of Waiting for Godot sits in the top 5 for me. Founded in November 2010, Sting & Honey’s inaugural production opened last weekend in the Leona Wagner Blackbox Theatre at the Rose Wagner [...]

IPHIGENIA IN TAURIS is educational, though not entertaining

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SALT LAKE CITY — Of the three big names of ancient Greek theatre—Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides—Euripides is the ancient Greek author with the largest surviving body of work. Probably his most famous works are the tragedies The Trojan Women and Medea. But these are just two of the nearly twenty surviving plays of Euripides. One [...]

Oy vey! BEAU JEST is lots of fun.

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SALT LAKE CITY — I am neither Jewish nor Christian, so seeing a Jewish-themed show at a Christian church was not something I was convinced I was going to enjoy or relate to at all.  Well, Beau Jest, at Parable Productions is very enjoyable, and very relateable to anyone who hopes to maintain any human [...]

Is THE REVOLUTIONS OF OUR LIVES revolutionary for Hunt?

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SANDY — I haven’t seen a Hunt Mysteries production for about a year and a half.  Based on my last experience, I was expecting an interactive show with mediocre talent to accompany my dinner.  Fun, but a bit laborious at times.  Thankfully, that wasn’t the case with this show.  I’m thrilled to say that The [...]

Covey Center brings high adventure in THE THREE MUSKETEERS

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PROVO — Despite their strong grounding in French history and culture, Alexandre Dumas’s writing is beloved throughout the world. Stories like The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask have been read and reread by millions. But Dumas’s most famous tale is probably that of The Three Musketeers. Like many of [...]

THE FOREIGNER not a stranger to comedy

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MIDVALE — “How does one acquire a personality?” a boring Brit, Charlie Baker, asks in the opening scene of The Sugar Factory Playhouse’s production of The Foreigner.  Well, it’s a question that I don’t think was ever answered (unless the answer is to lie to everyone around you and just pretend to be a different [...]

Set Course for Fun at CenterPoint’s ANYTHING GOES

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CENTERVILLE — Anything Goes is probably Cole Porter’s second best known musical, following Kiss Me, Kate,  and has received much attention with the latest revival on Broadway this year.  It is also the latest offering at CenterPoint Legacy Theatre.  The musical premiered in 1934 and has gone through numerous revivals and revisions.  The production at [...]