Month: March 2019

By Steve Odenthal

                One of the very best things that can occur in a Theatre environment is the development of new voices and the emotional adventures those new voices beckon us to. That process always starts with a need, and then an exploration of possible answers, better put, a Workshop. Our community, like so many across the nation, has been affected by unnecessary loss of life through tragedies that we, those left behind, have difficulty coming to terms with. Many “if only” and “I should have” sentiments are expressed in the sorrowful times that follow and then we, like time, march on. We never quite fully re-address the real issue–for a thought unspoken is still a thought and thereby a trigger for action in a moment of despair.

                In an effort to open a dialogue and address the situation which crashed down upon them, three young playwrights collaborated on a workshop of their new work, Flamboyant Occasion at the Brigham City Fine Arts Center March 7,8,9 & 11 2019 with the performance starting at 7:00 PM each night. For Colton Kraus, Anni Molgard, and Heather Karren life became distorted last year as one of their own, a fellow student and beloved friend who seemed to have it all, Jeremy Shipp, chose to depart, leaving them to question and grasp. Their script is a result of what they came to grips with in this situation. It is not a drama or angst-ridden exploration, but almost a comedic celebration and certainly an event that their friend Jeremy would have enjoyed being a part of. This piece is a work by teens, for teens—but it gives insight that their elders will benefit from as well. It will open some doors that need to be opened as appropriate discussions are bound to continue through the evening.

                I spoke with Kraus throughout this process as the three Playwrights built the script and assembled the Cast of over 30 young actors who are presently involved in this workshop production. He has specific goals for this production and hopes audiences will attend this first staging of the courtroom comedy. Flamboyant Occasion is a show meant for a broad audience, is a little out of the box, and uses glitter liberally. That does not mean you will have to dust yourself off after the production, but you will see that everyone, all of us, has at least the beginnings of a special sparkling streak inside. What we chose to do with it is very much a choice we make as our lives go on.

               In Colton’s own words, “So basically it’s a courtroom comedy. With everything that is going on in the world, I feel like it is important for an audience and a cast to be able to escape for a little bit. Especially with things specific to Box Elder in the last year, there have been about 4-5 deaths that have affected people I know and even more accidents. The one that affected me the most was Jeremy Shipp. He committed suicide at the end of July. This sent a shock wave of emotions throughout Box Elder due to the large involvement Jeremy had in theatre and sports. I do not know what caused Jeremy to do the things he did, but I do know that a lot of it could have been pressure to choose between Theatre and Lacrosse. Often times in high school, guys that do theatre are seen as showy, weird, and flamboyant. I do not necessarily find that to be a bad thing. I wanted to create a show for actors that would give them a chance to go against the status quo. To show an audience that it is okay to be different. Not everything has to fit inside a little box due to other people’s standards. It should be okay to be a bit crazy now and again and show off what you got.”

                I applaud these young authors and the cast who are inviting you to be part of the discussion of teen suicide. Although the atmosphere is light in this production the bigger picture and issue is still with us. The troupe invites you as an audience to be entertained but also to hear their voices and be mindful of the rifts and ravines that clutter our conversational landscapes. Let us talk about these things.

Thanks to the following authors, actors and technicians who have contributed their time and talent to this production. More importantly, let’s support them by filling the seats and taking an active part in this exercise. No one knows where this script may head, but it is enough to know that in this community these Teens took the time to raise their voices for both entertainment and love.

Sam Merrill	Lissie Gunnerson	Molly Glover	Tolman Walker
Jackson Gibbons	Kaylee Whipple	Daniel Chambers	Emily Daugherty
Sarah Peck	Corbin Backman	Gwen Evans	Alex Jeppesen
Jett Johnson	Lily Evans	Cru Andreasen	Tanner Johnston
Gavin Southern	Jacob Millsap	Rain Evans	Joshua Phillips
Sydnee Norman	Logan Stuart	Sydnee Madsen	Corbin Andreasen
John Whipple	Hailey Karren	Larisa Foresgren	Gavin Southern
Emma Parkin	Colton Kraus	Anni Molgard	Heather Karren

By Steve Odenthal

                Something good is happening at the Heritage Community Theatre in Perry, Utah—something that can take captive and flat run away with your imagination. That Imagineering is a good thing because Once Upon A Mattress was written just to do that very thing—break some barriers.  When Mary Rodgers (Music), Marshall Barer (Lyrics), and Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer (Book) put their heads together and opened the Broadway version in 1959 they had a very different vision of a Princess in mind, and a young Carol Burnett was the actress perfectly selected to debut in the role.  Yes, this was to be a less frosty and not-so-porcelain portrayal of a royal—a more relatable, loud, and common princess who could command, conquer, and achieve her heart’s desire on her own terms and in her own good time–even if that requires a quick dip in the moat. This adapted romp retelling and twisting the classic Princess and the Pea ran for 244 performances in its original Broadway run, garnering several Tony nominations along the way.

                If, perchance, it is a good time that you are after between March 1^st and the 23^rd (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at 7:30 PM), you would do well to find a seat and a smile at the Heritage Theatre on Highway 89 in Perry, Utah and let this veteran cast take your imagination and run with it.  Don’t worry; you’re in good hands–from the evil Queen Aggravain (Amber Kacherian) right down to the Jester (Nicole Atkinson) in this Court, although it may not seem so at first. The story opens with the cruel dismissal of the beautiful, young Princess No. 12 (Courtney Fairbourn) who is every bit of charm and grace in her role yet shows us a definite knack for comedy, by the Queen in front of a disappointed Prince Dauntless (Caderik Wilson) and the entirely crestfallen Court of the Kingdom of Drab. We soon find out that the mother-Queen has decreed that her Prince of a son is to be married before any of the other members of her court will be allowed to take someone’s hand.  Wilson’s initial portrayal of Dauntless immediately informs us that this could be a long wait and we can see that the natives are getting restless. Some of the Ladies in Waiting have been… waiting a bit longer than normal in this Kingdom of Drab. We also quietly find out that more than a hand has been held in one case and now the community is united in finding a bride/Princess for the young Prince. At the urging of Lady Larken (Sarah Johnson), her Knight, Sir Harry (Jordan Martineau) sets out to find the most special Princess and right this world.

                Does Sir Harry succeed? I won’t tell you here, but it’s safe to say that a Knight usually does. He brings home a prize beyond the hopes of our young Prince Dauntless and certainly the Queen’s imagination anyway. Someone is needed in this Kingdom to hold their own with the Queen and set things right, after all. Princess Winnifred (Rebecca Genther), or Fred for short, fits the bill exactly. With her fine voice and expressive facials, Genther takes us on her journey with an easy smile and down-home charm—maybe we aren’t up to swimming a moat just yet but we are captured enough by her that we would at least splash around a bit. And certainly, Prince Dauntless is ready to take the plunge.  (Queen-Mom is another story.)

                Charming is a word that gets thrown around easily in fairy tales but you won’t find a single Prince by that name in this show. No. Charming is best used when talking about this veteran cast, some new to the Heritage, but most are easily recognizable and comfortable performers. You can tell that this cast assembled by Director Meg Clawson (in her Directorial debut at HCT) is at home with one another and know how to deliver a show. I have no doubt that rehearsals must have been absolutely delightful. This is not to say that Clawson had a life of ease in her role, as delivering an even show is a challenge even with a veteran group of actors. If she had any spare time at all pre-production it would be a surprise as she also handled the chores of Choreographer and Costume Designer. She also envisioned the staging which is accomplished simply and efficiently so as not to interfere with portrayals in the Kingdom of Drab. A big part of this efficiency is under the guidance of Stage Manager Mikenzee Howie as she coaches the troupe through the scene changes with a professional manner. Notable in the effort are Nancy Baker (Emily the Chambermaid), and Melissa Jones (Kate the Kitchen Wench) who in addition to their singing and acting roles were essential in the execution of so many scenes. They did things that I noticed and you won’t, because they are that good. They should have T-Shirts made that say “Mikenzee’s Minions”. I mention it here, but you should just enjoy the show. Good job.

                Drab is not the feeling you come away with when you visit this production. You experience quite a few smiles and lot of laughter—never hard to take.  Tad Wilson (King Sextimus), Nicole Atkinson (Jester; The Nightingale of Samarkand), and Abby Payne-Peterson (Minstrel) are each delightful individually and collectively as they serenade us with “The Jester, The Minstrel and I”. As much as I enjoyed their rendition, I have to admit that as far as I am concerned the heavy lifting on the vocals is handled by Payne-Peterson and Atkinson–Wilson, not so much. (You will understand when you see the show.)

                  Every Kingdom worth its salt has a Wizard on staff and Drab is no backwater- slacker in this regard as its resident Wizard (Troy Hone) commands the stage at all the right times but also is perfecting a magic act—maybe as a fallback career, before our very eyes. Perhaps Vegas is in his future?

                The Ladies in Waiting [Lady Rowena (Marsha Holmes), Lady Lucille (Alanna Christensen), Lady Merrill (Brooke Wardle), Lady Mabelle (Rachel Hunt), Lady Sythia (Courtney Fairbourn)] each are given opportunity to dance, frolic and express their talents for comedy and each toes up to the line admirably. There were so many times in this show where my eyes wandered just to see what treat was in store for me, as each of these ladies kept in character but fully embraced the funny situation they found themselves in.

                A special note needs to be made about the one lady who waited most anxiously, LadyLarken and her beau Sir Harry. Their situation is well acted by the pair (Martineau and Johnson) without belittling or getting heavy-handed in the show. I enjoyed how they handled their roles, especially after I came to grips with seeming age difference. I would prefer a little more aging on Sir Harry. Maybe a bit of grey.

                I would think that a Music Director (Martineau) would have at least a little grey to his hair—at least if they were working with me, but in this case, with the fine voices that abound on this stage—maybe not. In any case, the voices are rich and pure in their portrayal of the story.

                   Not to be outdone by their counterparts, the Knights of the Kingdom [Sir Studley (Trayson Wilson), Sir Luce (Jordan Gardner), Sir Racha (Ashton Bossa)] run a gamut of incredulous looks all the way to a full Spanish Panic (you will know after you see the show) with Knightly grace.

                Some of my favorite moments in the show came as I watched Princess Winnifred exasperate the Queen. These two, Genther and Kacherian have a special way of disconnecting from each other in such a masterful way, I was entranced. Kacherian has her role nailed and the actress is hard not to watch at every moment she occupies the stage. (But, what else would you expect from the Queen?) Let’s just say that she adds deliciousness to her evil. Genther on the other hand, gives a performance that is firmly not intimidated by the Queen and is very comfortable in her own skin. That is the way it should be. She is very much a role model for today and a welcome treat.

                I really also enjoyed the Wilson family connection as I watched a spirited and tender scene between father and son (Tad and Caderik) as the King, in his own quiet way, explained the birds and bees in “Man to Man Talk” to his son Dauntless.                 Another highlight to this show for me is Nicole Atkinson as the Jester. She brings certain strength to each scene she is in and a strong sentiment as she sings lead with the Ladies on “Very Soft Shoes”.  With a very strong cast, this show is definitely a pleaser and one that you will want to see this season. I know you will enjoy it.

You will have an extraordinary time with this show and if you attend on Opening Weekend (Friday, Saturday, Monday) the Theatre is offering a buy one get one special if you use the BOGO code at the box office or online.  You should go. Maybe I’ll see you there.