Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast
Inspire Creative
PACE Center 
Parker, CO
January 20 - February 12, 2017

Inspire Creative has made it a tradition every January to present a family friendly show. This year, it seems that everyone has Beauty and the Beast on their schedule. They will have a difficult time surpassing the production Inspire has created.

The cast was one of the strongest you will see in regional theater. The Beast from the very beginning is a tormented and confused creature. His transition from an angry beast to a loving man is gradual and smooth.


On the opposite side, Gaston was a monster from the very beginning. At his first irritation with Belle he exploded into a full-blown narcissistic rage. While his arrogance was still funny, his determination to kill the beast wasn’t about jealousy or even a trophy – he was avenging his damaged ego.

And Belle wasn’t a forgotten figure. She was our eyes into this world. We felt her hope and heartache. Her song in Act 2, “Change In Me” made more sense than any production I’ve seen. The Beast and Gaston haven’t changed much. It’s how Belle sees them that changed the most.

The ensemble was as talented as the leads. The production numbers were fully enjoyable. “Be Our Guest” filled the stage with energy. The dancing Salt and Pepper Shakers was particularly fun. The choreography for “Gaston” and “Kill the Beast” was traditional and yet fresh. 

The set had a cartoon-like appearance, lest we forget how this show first appeared. The sets changed quickly and created the full effect of being there. Even the castle seemed cavernous at first. The costumes were inspired by the film, but didn’t look like carbon copies.

Every show I see by Inspire Creative seems to be better than the last. They are an exciting company that know their audience and give them what they want.

Tommy

Tommy
Equinox Theatre
Bug Theatre
Denver, CO
January 7 - February 4, 2017

Tommy is an ambitious project for an intimate theater to take on. Equinox Theater was created a memorable show. The story is somewhat choppy which is due to it's concept album roots. The atmosphere felt like a rock concert. The music was loud, but concert decibels, Although at times soloists were difficult to hear.

The cast was young, but talented. They made quick transitions form scene to scene. And there were enough people to made the scenes feel full of people. Mrs. Walker was a standout and Uncle Ernie gave you the creeps from the very beginning. His "Holiday Camp" number was enough to make you want to take a shower. Casting a female actor as Cousin Kevin didn't really work. The performance was fine, but the gender change created confusion where there shouldn't have been any.

The set was simple – a large backdrop made to look like a war themed pinball machine. It had limited use – it created a small playing space above the heads of the other actors. The scoreboard served as a calendar with cast members changing the year as the show went on. The lights on the machine was a fun touch during the scenes where Tommy played pinball.

The costumes stood out throughout the first act. The small ensemble changed outfits often and with breathtaking speed. The impressive changes did not carry through to Act Two, however. The ensemble wore the same clothing throughout. Even when they portrayed members of the media they only added hats. The war uniforms were believable enough and with each scene the costumes reflected the time period.

Particularly effective was the use of color throughout. The ensemble wore bright and vibrant colors. In contrast, Tommy wore drab browns and greys through his catatonic state. And when he emerges and reclaims his life, he wore a snazzy silver suit – a  reminder of the silver ball he clung to in his childhood.

The story is ultimately one of love and redemption. Tommy's transitions and ultimate forgiveness was powerful. Despite the very dark themes throughout, the light at the end made the journey worthwhile.

The Wiz

The Wiz
Ignite Theatre
Aurora Fox Arts Center
Aurora, CO
January 7-29, 2017

Earlier this month, Ignite Theatre announced that their January run of The Wiz would be their last. After seven years, the company will be shutting its doors. It made attending the show bittersweet.

Before the show began, one of Ignite’s board members pointed out that the set was composed of pieces from the previous 30 productions by the company. It was interesting, however, sentimental collection did little to set the scene for The Wiz.

The story for The Wiz is familiar even if many of the songs are not. The script seemed choppy and the band usually overpowered the vocalists. All these elements made the story hard to follow – it’s fortunate that most of us already know it.

The cast was young – overall the singing was stronger than the acting. A high point was the song “Lion,” by the Cowardly Lion. His performance was over the top and fun. Dorothy and her other friends were more generic.

The costumes for the show were well thought out as modern clothing and yet relating to the traditional characterizations. The Tin Man’s silver jeans and shirt were perfect for him and Dorothy’s silver sneakers were sparkly enough to make traditionalists happy.

After the show the majority of main characters circulated with the audience still in their costumes. Dorothy, in particular, made herself available to meet the children and take photos.  It's these special moments that make local theaters special for patrons.

The Wiz was not Ignite’s strongest production. But it is an enjoyable way to say goodbye to a talented member of Denver’s theatre community.