The Music of Star Wars

The Music of Star Wars
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
May 27-28, 2017

The Geek Series by the Colorado Symphony have a more festive atmosphere than other concerts. The Music of Star Wars was no different. When entering the lobby, attendees were greeted by cosplayers mostly dressed as stormtoopers. Bounty hunters, Kylo Ren and Princess Leia were also on hand. Many ticket holders were also in costume which only added to the fun.

For “younglings,” the Gallery offered a chance to make their own lightsabers. They were even given a “Kyber crystal” to start with – just like the Jedi. A helpful display on the wall helped each choose the color of their lightsaber to match their favorite character.

Conductor Christopher Dragon came onstage dressed as a Jedi and immediately started the concert with the Main Theme from Star Wars. The music was met with a huge round of applause. Throughout the concert he introduced the various piece, often pointing out musical themes to listen for. The music went through many familiar pieces and a brief tribute to Carrie Fisher before Leia’s Theme.

The second part of the program began with the "Imperial March" and this time the conductor wore a Darth Vader costume. Next on the program was music from the newest Star Wars film, Rogue One. Dragon announced proudly that the Colorado Symphony was one of the first to perform this suite. The music was beautiful. It was followed by pieces from The Force Awakens, which went back to more familiar themes.

The music when played live was more dynamic and stirring than on the films. Part of that is watching as the musicians created it in front of the audience. Clearly the music by itself stands by itself without the movie to distract from it.

I have read criticism of the performing arts for giving concerts like these – appealing to interest in popular works rather than the obscure. However, when I looked at how many people, including children, were thoroughly enjoying an evening at the Symphony, I heartily disagree. Concerts like The Music of Star Wars show why the Colorado Symphony is relevant. Sharing the joy of music, regardless of when or why it was written, is what makes life worth living.

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast
Jester's Dinner Theater
Longmont, CO
April 7 - July 2, 2017

Beauty and the Beast is a very popular show this season – the high budget live-action film likely had something to do with that. And despite numerous productions each one has been enormously popular with audiences. The performances by Jester’s Dinner Theater had larger audiences than I have seen in the past. Despite this, it maintained the same extended family atmosphere.

The set for the show made good use of limited stage space. It was unfortunate that Belle’s home and room in the castle were both on the same side of the stage. For those on the opposite side it was often difficult to see and hear her. The set changes were mostly well choreographed with a few exceptions. They didn’t go overboard in details but we still got a feeling of the Beast’s vast castle.

The costumes closely followed those of the original animated film. The sets were not elaborate, but they conveyed the vast area covered during the action of the show.

The cast overall gave good performances. Belle’s voice was not always strong enough to be heard throughout the theater. Mrs. Potts’ “Beauty and the Beast” and the Beast’s “If I Can’t Love Her” shone. However, the big productions numbers were little more than a large group of people filling the stage. There was little choreography for “Gaston” or “Be Our Guest.”

This is not a slick, lavish production, but it will leave a smile on your face. As always, the cast were gracious with photographs and conversations with the audience after the show.

The Silent Princess

The Silent Princess
The Bitsy Stage
Denver, CO
May 5 - June 11, 2017

The Bitsy Stage is a small jewel nestled in an industrial park near I-25 and Santa Fe. But don’t let its size fool you. Inside is an intimate theater worth making a trip for.

The Silent Princess is based on a Turkish fable – one not familiar to many Western audiences. On the stage was a tent made up of colorful scarves and decorated by strings of light. The seats resembled Persian rugs. Before the show began, two musicians played to set the mood. It was an immersive experience.

The play moved at a quick pace. The dialogue was intelligent and clever. While many actors played multiple characters, their costumes made keeping them straight easy. While the story had some gruesome elements, the humor of the writing kept the mood light.

The show was only an hour long, yet it was ample time for good character development. With a combination of character narration and dialogue, each character’s true nature was evident. The story was complex and yet not over the heads of the children in the audience.

The costumes were colorful and beautiful and the simple set was designed to morph into many locations. The few songs sprinkled throughout added richness to the atmosphere. The talent of the performers was impressive. After the show they were all available for pictures and autographs.

The Bitsy Stage offers performances on Saturdays only. Tickets are free but reservations are required.

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden
Denver Center Theater Company
Denver, CO
April 11- May 28, 2017

The Secret Garden has been a favorite book for generations and that much was evident by the makeup of the audience. It was listed as family friendly show and based on the subject matter that much is true. However, the way the story was presented wasn’t terribly clear for the children in the audience. Having a creature in a blue mask send the actors to the edges of the stage was a confusing way to say that they all died from cholera. And since many of the main characters are dead, there needed to be a clearer way to differentiate them from the ones who were alive.

The sets were beautiful, simple and set the mood. The lowering of different light fixtures from one room to the next was a nice touch. The end scene in the garden brought color into a world we hadn’t realized was so drab.

The costumes were lovely. The actors changed outfits enough times for us to see the passage of time. However some difference in the clothing of the spirits and the live characters they were haunting would have helped. Mary’s mother Rose, in particular was hard to follow as her dress and hairstyle were similar to one of the ensemble members.

The strength of this production was the performances of the actors. Mary seemed to be the only one whose accent caused problems with understanding her. But her singing and harmonies with the other actors were thoroughly enjoyable. The performances of Dickon and Maggie shone every time they took the stage. Lily’s vocals were spectacular. And despite the incredible talent around him, Archie was mesmerizing. From the beginning the audience could feel his pain and the release from it was an epiphany not often experienced in theater.

The Secret Garden is a beautiful, haunting production which ultimately demonstrates the power of love. It is filled with hope and emotion.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Pricilla, Queen of the Desert
Aurora Fox Theater
Aurora, CO
April 21 - May 28, 2017

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a musical from an era where movies were turned into “jukebox musicals.” The success of these shows varied, but very few have the heart and soul of this one.

The plot followed three Australian drag queens in an adventure through the desert on a bus named Priscilla. On the surface, it was a fun, danceable show. But it also contained a deeper story of acceptance. The drag queens struggled with acceptance from the outside world. But, more importantly, they struggled to accept each other and themselves. These issues were presented without watering them down, yet they never took away from the momentum of the production.

The songs were all pop standards from the 1970s and 80s. And unlike many shows from the same period, all these songs made sense in the context of the show. “It’s Raining Men” was a joyful introduction. The performance of “We Belong” for the finale was stirring and beautiful. And making “MacArthur Park” fit into a storyline was quite a feat!

The cast was strong from top to bottom. At first it was tough to determine who the main characters were as we were presented with so many interesting people. The Divas presented a strong backbone for the music throughout. As the show progressed many scene stealers emerged from the ensemble, perhaps none funnier than the bar patron starting “I Love the Nightlife.”

The Australian accents were consistent and never grating. Hearing the actors speak after the show without the accents was surprising since they sounded so authentic throughout.

The costumes were fun and often over the top, just as they should be. But the real star of the show was Priscilla herself, the bus. It was created from a real bus and it showed. It moved a spun around seemingly with ease. And the rest of the set framed it perfectly.

Despite its colorful wrapper, Priscilla is a meaningful show. It emphasized the importance of relationships, especially in the hard times of life. The message of acceptance was overpowering – that despite outward appearances, people are people and love is love.