The year before Lydia was born, David surprised me with season tickets to the Hale Center Theater Orem for Christmas. It was such a huge and thoughtful gift, probably one of the biggest and best surprises he's ever given to me. Wendy and Sam (who we love and admire) often get season tickets and we were able to attend several plays with them. Our first season was 2012, and we've gotten them a few times since then (not quite every other year) mostly when our babies were big enough to leave on a regular basis to attend the play. (Insert years here....)
We love attending the theater for many reasons: It's such a fun atmosphere, we've really enjoyed the plays that we've watched, we'd rather attend a play than a movie at the cinema, we love having 6 set dates every single year. We've realized that one of the best parts of having season tickets (other than being able to be on the date in the first place) is being able to see
all the plays even the ones that we wouldn't normally choose. Some of our favorite plays have been ones that we wouldn't necessarily have picked. One of our favorite examples of this was "The Secret Garden", neither of us was particularly excited for it but we both
looooved it. Our other favorite play that we did not know much about- but loved, was "The Nerd." We literally laughed so hard during the play that we cried.
We've found that we actually enjoy Comedies more than even musicals, which we were both surprised at! I think part of that reason is that the comedy genre in television is filled with degrading humor and inappropriate scenes. But the plays here at the Hale are filled with clever banter, irony, and hilarious storylines. That has been a very pleasant surprise.
We decided that we wanted to start writing about the plays that we attend. Instead of writing a separate post every couple of months, we decided to keep a Play Review post that we will add to throughout the year and then post after our last play so that we can easily find the plays that we attended and have all the reviews together!
And so, without further adieu:
"Dear Ruth"
By Norman Krasma
During Word War II, teenager Miriam poses as her older, happily-engaged sister Ruth in a pen-pal romance with a soldier overseas, sending Ruth's picture instead of her own. But when the soldier shows up on a two-day leave to propose, it shocks everyone and leads to a hilariously complicated weekend. Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
We were excited to get season tickets again this year, and even more excited when Wendy and Sam decided to get tickets, too. We didn't get seats next to each other when we were planning it out, and only have about half of our plays on the same nights, but we were pleasantly surprised when we saw Daniel and Aubrey sitting just a couple rows in front of us at this play! We visited with them for a minute during intermission, and took a picture to send to their parents, who weren't feeling well so had sent Daniel and Aubrey instead. (sidenote: how can I raise my boys to be like these Rencher boys? It was so sweet that Daniel was willing to bring Aubrey to the play!)
Shantel's thoughts: When the playbill includes the words "a hilariously complicated weekend", you pretty much can't go wrong. This play made me laugh, and I enjoyed the storyline. After reading the playbill and watching the play I decided that I want to watch the 1947 movie. I wonder if in movie format it would be easier to develop their relationship. Overall, it was funny and an enjoyable evening.
David's thoughts: It was very fun and enjoyable. It kept us laughing. Also- we were not exactly sure how it was going to resolve and that made it even more fun. Also- the end note was absolutely perfect. The story kind of wraps up and then it had one more fun moment that really ended it so perfectly.
"The Little Mermaid"
Music by Alam Menken; Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Glenn Slater; Book by Doug Wright
A headstrong mermaid trades her beautiful voice for a pair of legs and a chance at true love. Based on the 1989 film (and the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen), this Disney musical features songs, old and new, that will submerge fans, young and old, into an exciting adventure under the sea. Star rating: (split review) Shantel- 5 out of 5 stars; David- 4 out of 5 stars
Neither of us were particularly excited for this play. I know that sounds terrible. Let me rephrase, we were both
very excited for our date. But the play itself wasn't something that we were really looking forward to. In general, we are drawn to plays that we aren't very familiar with. Stories that are well-known always have great theatrical elements, but we usually don't enjoy the storylines as much. (An example of this was Peter Pan. It was an incredibly acted show, with lots of production value, and we enjoyed that aspect of it, but it still wasn't our favorite. We even had a conversation before we went about how in the future maybe we shouldn't get season tickets, we should just pick a few plays that we wanted to see and then use the extra money to see a show at the HCT in Sandy (which is a huge and much more elaborate stage), "especially because now we know more about which plays we really enjoy - like the comedies we haven't seen before". That plan was shot to pieces because we certainly wouldn't have picked to watch this play and we both loved it!
Shantel's thoughts: I loved this play. Like, loved it. I have a whole list of reasons that I liked it, but mostly I just remember sitting there in my seat just feeling so happy and thinking "I hope this never ends!" It was just packed with entertainment and I think it should get major points for just being so incredibly fun and engaging. I loved the love story, I loved the songs. I just loved everything about it.
David's thoughts: I really enjoyed this. One thing that made it very enjoyable was that I grew up watching the Little Mermaid from the kid point of view- but tonight I saw the play as a parent. They did a really good job of developing the love story between Ariel and Eric and that made a huge difference because they really showed them falling in love because of who they are. Also, there were some things that were in the play, but not in the movie and those really added a lot. Also, I think that sometimes with play's, your experience can really depend on the actors/actresses and getting the right one (when they switch days for actors). I feel like the ones we had for this were the right people to make it an enjoyable experience for us.
"Sense and Sensibility"
By Kate Hamill; Based on the novel by Jane Austen
This fresh, charming, and innovative stage adaptation of Jane Austen's novel follows the lives, losses, and loves of the Dashwood sisters. Both funny and emotional, Elinor and Marianne must navigate a delicate social climate after a sudden loss of their fortune. Will they cling to their reputation or follow their hearts? Star rating: 3.5/5
David's thoughts: I really liked this play (probably right in line with the Little Mermaid for me). It was interesting because they used chairs to create movement and situations so that the actors were just sitting and they had people move them. The most fun part of the whole play is that for a second they had a couple of guys sweeping and then they pushed the chair on rollers and then guys acted like they were sweeping for curling. I'm sure they were preparing for this during the olympics and decided to add that in and it was perfect and so funny. The best part is that after they did it (to tons of laughs) they just went right on with the serious part of the play as if nothing had happened. It was a great play.
Shantel's thoughts: I'm not sure that I should admit this, but I'm not sure that I've ever read Sense and Sensibility, as much as I do love Jane Austen! I almost read the book before watching the play but decided that then I might be disappointed in the play. Now I am planning to read it for sure. It was performed really well and I was very impressed with the set design. A regular play has like 0-6 set changes, but this one had like 30. There were multiple scenes in a drawing room, in the dining room, in a bedroom, and out walking in the country. Plus there were people posing as trees, people posing as horses for the carriage, people posing as dogs, and even puppets posing as people. One character was even played by multiple people and you had to keep track of who was wearing a specific scarf to know who they were. But the best part was that all of this was that the majority of it was done while the characters sat on little wooden chairs with rollers on the bottom. I was just impressed with how well they were able to convey the mood and create mini-set structures just by moving the chairs around. It was well done and I enjoyed it.
Midway Play Ranking of All Time Plays
David's Ranking of Top Plays:
The Secret Garden
The Scarlet Pimpernel (2009)
The Nerd
Shantel's Ranking of Top Play
The Nerd
The Scarlet Pimpernel (2009)
The Little Mermaid
"Daddy Long Legs"
Music and lyrics by Paul Gordon; Book by John Caird
This heartwarming Cinderella story about a witty and winsome young woman and her mysterious benefactor has charmed audiences of all ages. Based on the classic novel which inspired the 1955 movie starring Fred Astaire, this off-Broadway hit will delight you with its clever story, soaring melodies and captivating performances. Star Rating: 5/5
David's thoughts: The very first thing I noticed when I opened the playbill was that there were only 4 actors/actresses in the whole thing, the cast was tiny! Then I looked closer and realized there were only two actors/actresses. Immediately Shantel and I were so intrigued. I did not know anything about the play, but had a feeling I would really like it if somehow they can pull off only have two people in it. The set was so cool. They had a giant bookshelf full of old books that spanned the entire stage. Then they had the stage set up so it would spin the middle. This was actually important, because that movement added a lot since there were only two people. The entire show had the two characters on screen the whole time. It was a musical with amazing music. The end result was one of the best plays I've ever been to. It was amazing. It was funny at all the right parts, and yet it pulled you in emotionally to the story and the two characters. It was absolutely fabulous and I loved it. I'm giving it 5 stars and I would put it just below those top three I listed earlier. It was not quite at that level, but pretty close. Such a wonderful play.
Shantel's thoughts:
I basically just echo everything that David said above. Once we realized there was only one actress and one actor, we couldn't wait for the play to start just to see what was going to happen! I will say, we had basically no idea what the play was about before it started, zero, zip, nada. So it was really fun to be pulled into the story and it was done incredibly well. At one point I leaned over to David and said "This is my favorite play I've ever been to!" Which probably isn't really true. But it was just so different and well done that you couldn't help but be caught up in the magic. This is why I love having season tickets to the Hale. We might have picked this play if we were going to go to three plays, but we might not have, and we definitely wouldn't have if we were only going to one play, or two plays. Having season tickets gives you a reason to go and see all the plays, even the ones you know nothing about - and it would be so sad to miss out on a true gem like this! Because this was a gem. I loved it. Jerusha Abbott and I, we would be friends, I'm sure.
"Frozen" - Broadway, St. James Theater, NYC
From the beloved 2013 Academy Award winning Disney film, this is the timeless tale of two sisters pulled apart by a mysterious secret. Both are searching for love. They just don't know where to find it. “Tony-winning director Michael Grandage refines FROZEN by putting the focus on emotion first. The bond between the sisters effectively and literally takes the spotlight. Star Rating: 4/5
David's thoughts: Bruce called in March or April and invited Lydia (and Aubrey) to come to New York to see Frozen on Broadway. It was so incredibly kind of him and so much fun. Of course Shantel and I (and Wendy) joined them and loved visiting him and seeing New York. One of the highlights was getting to see the play. I have always wanted to go to a play on Broadway and this did not disappoint. Shantel and I were a little worried because we don't particularly like the movie Frozen. The way things are portrayed and the messages we feel don't really build and teach correct principles. (The parents are not supportive and there is no other adult figure to teach and help). There are a million little things like that and so I really dislike the movie. However, the play was great! They made a few small adjustments in how the parents were portrayed and a few other things that really made it much better. The broadway effects were tremendous and the actors did a fantastic job. Best of all was being there with Shantel, Lydia, Wendy, Aubrey and Bruce. I'd love to go back to New York and see another show.
Shantel's thoughts:
Okay, so time for a bit of honesty. I don't particularly like Frozen the movie. I don't like the way they portray the parents, I don't particularly like the music, and there is a non-conformist part of me that just really really doesn't like how it basically took over everything when it came out. But this play was wonderful! I feel like the production was amazing, the acting was incredible, and they did such a great job of furthering the character development. I felt like they changed the tone in the family from non-supportive, to "we are a family, and we are going to figure this out together because we love each other" which I loooved. There was this funny part where one of the songs talked about "hygge" (hoo-gah) which made me laugh because it's this really trendy thing that was popular last year (a Danish philosophy of staying warm and cozy - I actually really love it). I asked David if he knew what they were singing about, which he didn't - but it made me laugh. I stopped laughing at the end of the song though, when the actors basically stripped down to their leotards and pretended to be naked. Ugh. It was just so annoying and the only part of the play that I didn't like. I just wish that people didn't have to stick inappropriate things in all over the place. I loved watching this play with Lydia though, and loved seeing how much she loved it. It was an incredible opportunity and we are so grateful to Bruce for making it happen for us!
"Anything Goes"
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter; Original Book by P.G. Wodehouse & Guy Bolton and Howeard Lindsay & Russel Crowse; New Book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman
What do you get when you cram an evangelical nightclub singer, a Wall Street broker, and aristocrat, his fiance, a con man, and more aboard a passenger ship bound for England from new York City? - A night of classic Cole Porter songs, ship-stopping dance, and non-stop antics. Come aboard the S. S. American where, on this voyage, anything goes. Star Rating: 1/5
Shantel's thoughts:
I didn't know much about this play, and the description sounded fun. But the title should have been a clue, and although the costumes were amazing and the music and choreography were everything my heart could want. The content, tone, and message made me uncomfortable. We left halfway through and I don't regret that decision for a moment.
David's thoughts:
Agree with Shantel. Honestly, the tone was really disappointing. It promoted ideas and messages that were not in line with what Heavenly Father would want us to watch. It is the first time I have ever felt that way at a Hale Center Theater play. We went and ate Mexican food after instead of staying for the second act and it was definitely the way to go.
"The Scarlet Pimpernel" (Hale Center Theater - Sandy)
Play by: Knighton and Wildhorn's, Original Book by Baroness Orczy
A spectacular Broadway musical ignites Hale's new centre stage with all the mystique and romance of the classic novel... England becomes entwined in the French Revolution...Is Sir Percy's new, French bride loyal or a traitor? The music is thrilling, the story, enthralling. The stage and costume breathtaking. Star Rating: 4.5/5
Shantel's thoughts:
Spectacular is the right word for this production. It was an incredible work of art and ingenuity. The set itself was enthralling. Whole pieces of scenery moving up and down, the floor opening and closing and creating different levels upon itself. Working water fountains, sets that changed mid-song... everything about it was perfection. The Scarlet Pimpernel is one of my favorite books, and has long been my favorite play (or at least one of them). This production was amazing. However, for whatever reason, I didn't leave the theater just bursting with feeling. Maybe it's because I'm used to the simple and out-of-necessity creativity from the Orem Hale Center Theater, or maybe it's because the large-ness of the production sometimes made it hard to understand the words in the songs. But I didn't feel that the actual performance was any better than normal. The production certainly was, but the performance wasn't overwhelming. I didn't feel that Marguerite loved Percy through the whole thing, or... I don't know. There was just a small emotional piece that was missing for me. (Clearly I'm a harsh critic). That being said, Chauvlin's character was almost a perfect imitation of Severus Snape and I chuckled through the whole thing. (And really, there are some similarities with Harry Potter - the whole Severus-Lilly-James thing - maybe JK loves the Scarlet Pimpernel, too.) Overall the play was incredible, but I can't say that it takes the top - which is why it only gets 4.5/5 stars.
David's thoughts:
I love this play. I think it has the perfect blend of action and drama and humor. I got a gift certificate for tickets to Hale Center theater in Sandy for Christmas last year. We looked at all the plays and had to go with the Scarlet Pimpernel. The play was fantastic. The cast did a great job, but the thing that really made it different was the stage. The new set is incredible. The floor opens and and they can bring in whole new sets from both below the stage and above. In just 10 seconds they can bring out a whole new elaborate stage from the floor. Then 5 minutes later they can bring a new elaborate stage from the ceiling. It was awesome. Overall it was great. Not quite as good as when I saw it in 2009 and not quite the same level as the Secret Garden or Daddy Long Legs when you just walk away touched/emotionally tied to the play. In fact, I would give it 4 stars, and then a half star bonus for the incredible stage/set changes.
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And that's a wrap for our 2018 Theater dates. Let's end with our updated play rankings:
2018 Year-end Ranking of All Time Plays
David's Ranking of Top Plays:
The Secret Garden
The Scarlet Pimpernel (2009)
The Nerd
Daddy-Long-Legs
Shantel's Ranking of Top Play
The Nerd
The Scarlet Pimpernel (2009)
The Little Mermaid
Daddy-Long-Legs
We both kind of cheated, because we just added Daddy-Long-Legs to the end our list, but this is our review blog post so we can do what we want. David says that Daddy Long Legs was the best play of the year for him. I think The Little Mermaid takes that spot, but only because of how much I absolutely loved it in the moment.
We have loved spending this time together, loved watching these plays, and loved discussing them after we were done. This is something we enjoy being able to do together, and we are grateful we have been so blessed to enjoy the theater in such an uplifting way.
