A Symphonic Tribute to Comic Con

A Symphonic Tribute to Comic Con
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
March 24-25, 2017

Comic Con has become a local phenomenon in the last few years. While the Colorado Symphony may seem like an unlikely partner for this event, it turned out the two are a perfect match.

In the lobby before the show were cosplayers in Star Wars and Avengers gear as well as a booth for Pop Culture Classroom, the organizers of Comic Con as well as many other representatives of the “geek” culture. It was a festive atmosphere to start the evening.

The program consisted of selections from science fiction films as well as music from video games. The gaming music was particularly impressive. It’s not the place I would think of for interesting and complex music, but that is what we were treated to. The “Assassins Dance” was a highlight die to the extraordinary violin solo by guest artist Sandy Cameron.

The movie music took on a richer sound when performed live. Most impressive was the “Duel of the Fates” from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. The symphony with the choir created an epic sound.
  
The always entertaining Christopher Dragon conducted the concert. He introduced himself as a “shapeshifter.” He was true to his word. He made his entrance dressed as Jack Skellington. Before intermission he changed into a Tyrannosaurus Rex and actually conducted the theme from Jurassic Park dressed that way. After intermission, he sported a Harry Potter outfit and completed the show dressed in a onesie that was modeled after Chewbacca from Star Wars.

The Salute to Comic Con was more than a concert. It was an experience worthy of the connection to the colorful convention it is named for.

Cinderella

Cinderella
Ballet Ariel
PACE Center
Parker, CO
March 16, 2017

Ballet Ariel is a dance school with a close relationship with the Colorado Ballet. Due to this connection, their productions offer audiences a chance to see talented students alongside talented professionals in an intimate environment.

The choice of the ballet Cinderella drew many children into the audience and the production was perfect for them. The PACE Center doesn’t offer subtitles for ballets like the Ellie Caulkins Opera House does, but they were not needed at all. The story closely follows the famous fairy tale and choreography clearly told the story.

The professional dancers who played the lead roles were a delight to watch. Their performances seemed effortless. Particularly intriguing was the jester, whose high jumps were awe-inspiring. Cinderella danced with the grace and beauty befitting a Disney Princess.

The older students in supporting roles were impressive. The two stepsisters never ceased to elicit laughs from the audience. The fairies were lovely to watch. The choreography for the younger students was entertaining and perfect for their dancing ability. It never felt like a ballet recital!
The sets were simple but effective. The costumes were beautiful. I was happy to see Cinderella’s ball gown looked more like a dress than a tutu.

The only disappointment was the recorded music. It wasn’t quite loud enough and the timing of it seemed off with the dancers at time.

An American in Paris

An American in Paris
National Tour
Buell Theater
Denver, CO
March 8-19, 2017

To say the musical version of An American in Paris is based loosely on the Oscar winning film is putting it mildly.  In truth, the stage show has very little to do with the movie. The dancing is clearly inspired by Gene Kelly’s style.  But the storyline is very different from the original. Even the famed Gershwin songs performed are not the same.

A new element is the main characters coming together to create a new ballet. It centers around everyone’s fascination with the character of Lise. While she is attractive, she lacks the intrigue and charisma she needs to carry the show.

Much of the story is told through dance. Unfortunately, the storyline doesn’t come through in many of them. The opening sequence was supposed to show Jerry seeing Lise on the streets of Paris and his attempts to keep up with her. Instead we get a series of people dancing around with Jerry and Lise showing up from time to time. At one part a woman is dragged into a building screaming for no understandable reason.

The famous ballet at the end of the show was also a bit confusing. It shifted between Lise performing the new ballet and a sequence with Jerry. It’s unclear what the Jerry and Lise segment is. The fantasy of one or both of them? A sequence inside the ballet with a man who looks like Jerry? Not only does it make little sense, but it is much too long.

Despite the clear problems with the script, it is an enjoyable show. The performances were first rate, the dancing spectacular and the songs are classic. You would be hard pressed to find a more stunning performance that the song “Stairway to Paradise.”


An American in Paris is an entertaining show, but it is far from perfect. Fans of the film might be disappointed with the departure from the original and those who don’t enjoy dance may find much of it boring. But for most, they will enjoy their trip to Paris.

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Jester's Dinner Theater
Longmont, CO
February 3 - April 2, 2017

In 2014 I saw the Denver Center Theater Company’s production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Having never seen the original show I wasn’t sure what had been reworked. So I was very interested in seeing the original work at Jester’s Dinner Theater.

After a few scenes into the show, the changes made by the Denver Center production were clear. The original script veers far from the real Margaret Brown, whose life the story is based on. Most disappointing was her survival of the Titanic disaster was only a brief mention near the send of the show.

Despite its inaccuracies, the plot is enjoyable. Everyone loves a poor girl makes good story. The songs are light and fun with plenty of dance numbers.

The role or Molly was well cast. Her voice was powerful and she had a bullish quality that came through Molly’s strong character. John Brown put forward a strong performance. The ensemble, however, was uneven. Some members were quite talented while others came across as amateurish.

Jester’s is a small space and I wondered if a show with such a broad scope would work on their stage. It turns out they were more than capable of staging the show. The sets made good use of the wings and the curtain rose and fell to create new spaces. There was an awkward set change when the lights went up too early, but otherwise the transitions were smooth.

 The costumes were inconsistent throughout. Molly’s parade of red gowns were evocative of her childhood dream to have a “red silk dress,” but they because a bit tiresome over the course of the show. Some the evening dresses worn by the society ladies were modern and seemed out of place in a period piece.

Overall, the show is fun. Those with knowledge of the real Margaret Brown will dislike the script. But as a musical, it’s a fun one, filled with catchy songs and a happy ending.