Evita

Evita
Lone Tree Arts Center
Lone Tree, CO
April 13-29, 2017

Evita is one of the most political shows in musical theater. It seems very timely for the Lone Tree Arts Center to present it.

The focal point of this show is always Eva. The casting of Lauren Shealy was nothing short of perfect. She had the charisma, the voice and the beauty to fully bring this character to life. It was easy to fall for her just as the people of Argentina did for Eva. Her chemistry with Peron paralleled that of the real couple. There was a clear physical attraction beyond the mutual political benefit.

The casting of Che was not as beneficial to the story., Che’s role was designed to be more than just a narrator – his biting commentary should keep the audience from completely falling under Eva’s spell. Unfortunately the bitterness and anger Che usually demonstrates was so watered down that anytime he attempted to interject his option into the narrative it fell flat.

The supporting role of Peron was well cast with a man much older than Eva – as he was in real life. He was commanding and yet malleable in the hands of Eva. On the other side, Magaldi was a bit too talented for his role. I don’t know if I have ever heard “On This Night of A Thousand Stars” performed better, however, he’s not supposed to be a great singer, so that piece didn’t actually fit.

The talent of the ensemble was impressive. At times they seemed to be stretched a bit thin. To have the men playing Eva’s rejected lovers dress onstage to become the military men competing for power in Argentina made no sense. In other songs it was difficult to determine the difference between the aristocracy and the peasants.

The set evolved well with moving pieces to give playing area many levels and some movement. “The Money Kept Rolling In” was spectacularly choreographed. Eva’s costumes were also a highlight, showing the audience what a clothes horse Eva had become.

Despite many flaws, it was an enjoyable production. The performance of Lauren Shealy alone was worth the price of admission. Evita was an ambitious choice for Lone Tree Arts Center’s first original production and I look forward to seeing their next effort.

Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia!
National Tour
Buell Theater
Denver, CO
April 11-16, 2017

Mamma Mia has been an audience favorite for well over a decade. By announcing their “Farewell Tour,” the organizers have assured themselves packed house on their limited engagements. The performance I saw was evidence of that. The people in the theater were rowdy and ready to party.
The production company clearly knows who their audience is and unashamedly played to them. The storyline, songs and shirtless young men were vociferously well received throughout.

The cast was as good as you will find in a touring show. Each actor was well-suited to their role and clearly very comfortable in it. The chemistry among the friends was stronger than that of the romantic partners, but that doesn’t mean that the relationships fell flat.

The set was simple and beautiful. The Greek villa gracefully split to create outdoor scenes and the cool blue and white colors felt like a seaside resort. The costumes ran from the mundane to the outrageous – exactly what each song called for.

While many of the songs felt forced into the story line, they were all well-received. THE most popular engaged the audience. The dance and sing along portion after the curtain call was clearly the audience’s favorite part.

This isn’t groundbreaking, life changing theater, but for those looking for a fun night out, they weill not be disappointed by Mamma Mia.

Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar
Arvada Center
Arvada, CO
March 24 - April 16, 2017

Jesus Christ Superstar has undergone a metamorphosis unlike any other modern musical. It was written as a rock opera, but in the 1990’s was reinterpreted in more classical form. Because of these changes the show has become a timeless classic.

The production at the Arvada center is a traditional take in the story with a modern presentation of the music. Not many risks were taken but with music as this, there is no need to use gimmicky tactics to create a dynamic show.

The cast are all well-suited to their roles. Jesus is charismatic enough to capture the audience’s imagination and he had the vocal skill to perform a very complex score. Judas played his part as a man destined to do the unthinkable. His descent into madness was mesmerizing. Mary Magdalene was angelic – we can see why Jesus was so attached to her, but her complexity was beautifully revealed in “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” 

The supporting cast was no less impressive. Pilate was regal but human. We see the conflict inside him. King Herod was a buffoon, giving much needed comic relief just ahead of some of the darkest scenes in musical theater.

The costumes were effective in setting the characters in their positions. Jesus, of course, was the one in white. Judas’ red tunic wasn’t too bright, but clearly stated his role in the Passion to come. Mary Magdalene was radiant in lavender. The Pharisees costumes set them apart from the rest of the Jews. Pilate was regal in his Roman dress.

The set was simple and beautiful. With the exception of the scene in the Temple, it lent itself easily to each change in location. The rotating element was not used often, but it added a needed element of motion to many scenes. It also worked effectively hiding the sleeping disciples during “Gethsemane” to enhance Jesus’ feeling of isolation and create an intimacy to the song.

If there was an issue with the production it was with the direction. We saw the back of the actor singing too often for my taste and the attempts at choreography were awkward at best. It also seemed like Jesus and Judas didn’t have the chance to connect on stage before their relationship imploded.

Jesus Christ Superstar had much hype around it this season and it lives up to it all. The performance I attended included a “social hour with the cast” afterward. While few audience members stayed, those who did were treated to a group of actors who were engaging and eager to talk about the show.

A Symphonic Beauty and the Beast

A Symphonic Beauty and the Beast
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
April 2, 2017

Recently, the Colorado Symphony presented “A Symphonic Tribute to Comic Con”. After that success, they promoted their “Symphonic Beauty and the Beast” as a Con for All Ages. It certainly had that feel. Attendees were greeted at the door by a huge assortment of princesses, princes and other Disney characters. With such a huge collection of characters available it kept lines down and kept the crowds flowing.

The concert was entertaining. It featured classical pieces like Prokofiev’s Cinderella and “Conversation Between Beauty and the Beast” by Ravel. The children in the audience we thrilled with the Frozen medley and music from the Disney film Beauty and the Beast. They even had a Star Wars play on the theme by playing “Leia’s Theme” followed by “The Imperial March.”

The highlight of the show was when their guest vocalist performed two songs from the Broadway musical version of Beauty and the Beast, “Home” and “Change In Me.” She wore a beautiful pink and yellow ball gown, giving everyone a visual Belle. The songs are not as familiar as many in the concert, but the performance of them was exquisite. It was a thrill to hear per perform the title song from the show as an encore.

Concerts such as this are the perfect way to introduce children to the symphony. It felt more like a party than a stuffy concert and the song selection kept even the small children entertained.
On the way out, the characters were again in the lobby, giving everyone an additional opportunity to meet their favorite.

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid
Colorado Ballet
DU Newman Center
Denver, CO
March 31 - April 2, 2017

The Colorado Ballet has made a habit in recent years of presenting at least one fairy tale each season. This year’s offering The Little Mermaid, is not known as a ballet. Despite that, the single weekend of shows sold out months ahead of time. Clearly their audience was interested in seeing it.

The show started with Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1. It was a beautifully choreographed piece which gave the audience a rare chance to see their lead dancers showcased in the same piece. The costumes were lovely and the different themed colors let the featured artists stand out and highlight the pairs.

The Little Mermaid is not a traditional ballet. It was set to a recorded track which included narration and songs with lyrics. The dancers lip-synched to the soundtrack.

It was a beautiful performance to watch. The costumes were colorful and fun. The sets, while simple, created each location perfectly.

However, the recorded soundtrack took the focus off the dance for telling the story. The choreography was fine, but it got lost in narration. That being said, The Little Mermaid would be the perfect show to introduce a small child to the ballet.