The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute
Central City Opera
Central City, CO
July 7 - August 5, 2018

The Magic Flute is one of Mozart's seemingly timeless operas. It is usually presented as a grand fantasy, however Central City Opera put their own spin on this production.

The performance was set in the early 1900's in the imagination of three boys whose imaginations created a blend of fantasy and their reality. At times it worked but in some moments it was a bit odd.

The show seemed to be slow to start as the ladies of the Queen of the Night were the governesses of the boys. While it was a clever twist, it lacked the fantasy element and revealed the character of the Queen of the Night earlier than it should have.

The appearance of the Queen through a picture was clever. She was every bit the glamorous apparition the audience wanted. Sorastro was equally impressive - appearing as a ringmaster of an antique circus. While that concept was an interesting one, it seemed strange to have ancient Egyptians mixed in at his temple was puzzling.

Pamina and Tamino were the typical hero and heroine. Papageno was a bit more original as an Aussie on an ostrich. But that initial gag did seem to get old after a while.

The performance I was was the young artists and this was a very strong group. Sorastro had a few snags in the opera, but the rest connected beautifully with the more experienced ensemble.

The show was enjoyable, if not spectacular. It was a creative interpretation of the show and fun to watch. But it lacked the wow factor of previous shows at Central City Opera.

Les Miserables

Les Miserables
National Tour
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
July 25 - August 5, 2018

Musicals don't get any more epic than Les Miserables. After more than 30 years, this show still has an audience in London, Broadway and on tour.  The story of the redemption of Jean Valjean has not lost its impact on people.

In 2010, the show was restaged, removing the revolving stage and creating more realistic backdrops. The result was a more intimate and darker show. Some moments, such as "One Day More," were left virtually the same and for good reason, the staging was spectacular.


The actor playing Jean Valjean was difficult to understand in the opening scenes of the show. For a through-sung musical, that's a problem. However, he got better as the show progressed, receiving an extended ovation for a stunning rendition of "Bring Him Home."

The performance of Javert was strong throughout. His character was strong an militant. His motivation was clearly shown in "Stars." Fantine was beautiful and vulnerable and Eponine was as tragic as ever. Marius and Cosette created a moving love story in the midst of tragedy.

Despite being over 30 years old, Les Miserables is not showing it's age. The story and music is still as powerful and human as they were on it's opening night in 1987.

Irish Tales Along the Trail

Irish Tales Along the Trail

Arts in the Open
Chautauqua State Park
Boulder, CO
July 7 - August 5, 2018

Irish Tales Along the Trail seems an appropriate title for a play performed on a hike. This production presented four fun stories from Ireland in scenic Chautauqua Park. While the stories were not familiar to most audiences, they were easy to follow and well told.

The cast all used Irish accents throughout. They were consistent and not at all grating. They easily switched for character to character - often in the same scene. And when an actor played more than one character in the same scene, it was easily distinguishable.

This show did not attempt much scenery other than the framework of the park. But the sets and costume pieces were enough to create each location.

Irish Tales brought audiences what they have come to expect from Arts in the Open - outrageous characters, just enough costumes to create the characters and funny stories.