The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caukins Opera House
Denver, CO
November 30 - December 28, 2013

The Nutcracker has become a holiday tradition for my family, just like many others. Once again, it did not disappoint.

The sets are one of the stars of the show. They are detailed and change smoothly as we move through worlds. I love the moment when the Christmas tree grows (or perhaps we are shrinking.)

The production always has such beautiful moments. The Dance of Snowflakes, complete with falling snow, is captivating. I also love the Dance of the Flowers. The beautiful colors and petal-like skirts really make you see the flowers they are portraying.

The best part is the cultural dances in the Land of the Sweets. The Chinese Tea dancer is always a highlight with his acrobatic leaps. And the Russian dancers impress as well. And, of course, there is always Mother Ginger to make us laugh. But this all leads up to the spectacular sequences featuring the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The Colorado Ballet does an exceptional job of bringing this holiday classic to live every year. No wonder so many family traditions revolve around it.

Halloween Spooktacular

Halloween Spooktacular
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
October 27, 2013

Every year, the Colorado Symphony presents Spooky Symphony, a special Halloween concert. This is a special family event where all the kids and many of their parents, come dressed up in their costumes. When I arrived it turned out that the members of the symphony were also dressed up. W were especially impressed with the conductor who came out dressed as a Jedi. He even used his light saber to conduct the first piece.

The music selection was done with the holiday and kids in mind. It included pieces from the Harry Potter films and several classical pieces. The conductor introduced all the music in a kid-friendly manner.

This was a fun way to introduce children to classical music. I would be happy to go again!

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Theatre-Hikes Colorado
Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver, CO
October 4-27, 2013

After a fun show this summer, I was interested to see how Theatre-Hikes Colorado handled a classic monster story. October seems like the perfect time for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

We chose to see a performance at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The show started in the evening, half an hour after the gardens close to the public. As the sun set, the weather turned cooler and the empty gardens were a bit spooky.

As we walked from scene to scene, we had a guide and a flute player leading us. This version of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson story was adapted assuming the audience knew the story already. From the beginning, Mr. Hyde is hovering around, watching everything and laughing menacingly. Dr. Jekyll, played by another actor, seems unaware of him most of the time. There are a few confrontations between the two.

The story plays out as a mystery as the character try to figure out who this Mr. Hyde is and what his control is over Dr. Jekyll. And of course, in the end is tragedy.

The brightest spot in the show is the portrayal of Mary Reilly, Dr. Jekyll frightened and very funny maid. Her antics keep the story from getting too heavy. And when you are in a deserted garden, that is a good thing.

Giselle

Giselle
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO
October 4-13, 2013

As a new ballet fan, I have heard of Giselle, but I hadn't seen it. Before purchasing tickets, I looked up the synopsis. The story seemed a bit strange, but I decided to check it out anyway.

The ballet itself was beautiful. The set for Act One was a charming village. All the villagers had pretty costumes and the dancing was delightful to watch. The story was a simple one. Giselle, a sickly young woman, falls in love with Duke Albrecht. Unfortunately, he is already engaged to a woman of the court. Hilarion, who is in love with Giselle, tells her who her new lover is, and she dies of shock.

At intermission I think the audience was a bit stunned. Two dogs who had been on stage during Act One were brought out for the kids to pet. That helped lighten the mood.

Act Two was set in a dark forest where Giselle had been buried. We learn she has become one of the Wilis, the spirits of young women who died before they married. Far from being scary, the Wilis were gorgeously attired in while, a startling contrast to the dark forest. The complex dances they had were even more beautiful.

The dancing and visual effects of Act Two made up for the silly storyline. Giselle asks forgiveness for Albrecht, her deceptive lover while completely ignoring the cruel fate of Hilarion, who really loved her.

Even though I found the story unsatisfying, the presentation was stunning. This production was well worth seeing.

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz
Boulder Dinner Theater
Boulder, CO
May 18 - August 31, 2013

Musical don't get much more beloved than The Wizard of Oz, but clearly it's a challenge to stage. How does one take live actors from sepia Kansas to colorful Oz? How do you create a tornado on stage? And can you cast an actress who won't make the audience wish for Judy Garland? 

Boulder Dinner Theater proved to be up for the task. Their Dorothy held her own on "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," and never lost the innocent charm we love. Her friends were equally endearing. Even Toto, played by a real dog, brought a touch of believability to the show. The Wicked Witch is much more glamorous than we remember, but it's a fun new twist on the character.

The staging was fun. We had to go through many set changes, but they were accomplished quickly with little disruption to the action. The tornado was an entertaining acrobatic act which, while not really like a tornado at all, was at least fun to watch.

I was happy to see "The Jitterbug" added back into Act Two. The song was cut from the MGM movie but it adds a fresh song to a show that most of the audience knows by heart.

There is little new or surprising about The Wizard of Oz, but that's what we love about it. It's comfort food for the soul.

Snow White

Snow White
Theatre-Hikes Colorado
Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver, CO 
June 1-30, 2013

I was intrigued by this production of Snow White presented at the Denver Botanic Gardens. It was called a "theater hike," a term I had never heard before. But I was interested in giving it a try.

We met just inside the Botanic Gardens. The ticket included admission to the gardens as well. The show started in the early evening, so the temperatures were cooler but there was still plenty of light.

We were led by a guide and a violin player who brought us to an area where the actors were waiting for us. The story was told in four scenes, each played in a different part of the gardens. It made a beautiful backdrop.

The story was silly. The Evil Queen was the central character. Most of the actors played multiple roles and the dwarves were played by three actors and four puppets. Snow White was a bit empty headed, but still lovable and the prince was in disguise as well.

The theatre-hike was fun. The show was not stunning, but in this atmosphere it fit. It was an enjoyable way to spend an evening outside.

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO 
June 2, 2013

When the average person thinks of going to the symphony, I'm sure they picture a stiff and formal occasion playing music that would put your average person to sleep. They certainly don't think of a fun place for kids. However, a show like Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, is tailor made to introduce kids to classical music.

Three big screens were set up throughout the concert hall to show Warner Brothers cartoons while the Colorado Orchestra played the soundtrack live. I found it entertaining that the percussionists played the sound effects as well.

Each piece had an introduction by the conductor, spotlighting the instruments featured in certain cartoons. The experience gave me a new appreciation for the soundtracks written for these classic cartoons and the creative team that made them. I will never look either the same way again!

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins
National Touring Company
Buell Theater
Denver, CO
May 1-5, 2013

This was the second time in town for Mary Poppins and I had seen it the first time through. But it had been three years, so it was nice to see again.

After seeing the movie, you think you know the story. However, this Mary Poppins has a few changes in it, ones I hadn't really remembered from the last time I saw it. When Mr. Banks had an issue with Mary Poppins, his wife brings his former nanny (whom he is always talking about) back to care for the children. Miss Andrew is clearly the stuff nightmares are made of and Mary Poppins shows a bit of a dark side getting rid of her.

The new songs are mostly forgettable but the old favorites are there, even if they are in completely different contexts. "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is a big production number and it is more fun than the movie. "A Spoonful of Sugar" is sung, but in this production it has more to do with actually taking medicine than doing chores.


I was disappointed that in the finale Mary Poppins did not fly over the audience as she had the last time she came into town. But there is still much to enjoy in this show.

Jekyll & Hyde

Jekyll & Hyde
Pre Broadway Tour
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
January 29 - February 10, 2013

I saw the original pre-Broadway tour of Jekyll & Hyde years ago. I was impressed by much of the music, but always felt Act Two was a bit flat. So I was interested in seeing this updated version of the show.


Jekyll & Hyde has been brought into the present. Gone are the suggestive sets and bare scenes. (I never got over the pristine white room the prostitute Lucy supposedly lived in.) This production was modern and dark, as the story should be. The script and songs have been changed as well, bringing clarity to the story.

We all know the story, the good Dr. Jekyll ingests his own potion which changes him into the dastardly Mr. Hyde.I never thought of Constantine Maroulis as being nerdy, but his Dr. Jekyll really is. The transformation into Mr. Hyde is so complete that even when you just hear his voice, you know which character is coming out. In fact, whenever Mr. Hyde made his appearance, I cringed inwardly.

The music is strong and moving. "This Is The Moment," a personal favorite of mine, is still magical. And there are beautiful songs of love and longing from the women in the cast.

The sets are electrifying and only add to the horror of the story. Another great improvement is the clarification of Hyde's victims. In the original production, his victim's seemed random. However thsi one makes it clear each is the victim of his revenge.

The story is tragic, but these performances will keep you entertained. In my opinion, this revival surpasses the original.