Aloha

Aloha
Bitsy Stage
Denver, CO
October 12 – November 18, 2018

The Bitsy Stage has made itself known for taking world fables and bringing them to life for audiences. Aloha, a collection of Polynesian tales featuring the demi-god Maui, was well timed after the success of Disney’s Moana last year.

As always, the space was transformed to fit the location. The set was particularly ingenious – a three sided island in the middle what easily rolled to reveal a new tropical location.

Maui was played by a talented actress. She cleverly never played the role as male or female – merely a person. This took away any thought about gender throughout the performance. The rest of the cast quickly changed characters and costumes for each scene. Their versatility was impressive.

Short Polynesian dances and songs were inserted between scenes giving it the feel of a luau. Set changes were quick and the limited props were used to their advantage. A boat with the actors’ legs clearly visible was used for the full comic effect.

Aloha was an enjoyable show that appealed to all the ages present. Once again, the Bitsy Stage has created a fun lesson about culture.

Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland
National Tour
Lincoln Center
Fort Collins, CO 
November 8-10, 2018

The film Finding Neverland was a critical and commercial success. Since the trend on Broadway today is to make musicals from movies, it was no surprise this also became a musical.

The story followed author JM Barrie as he created the play Peter Pan. The treat for audiences was spotting the everyday events which created the characters and events of this well-loved story.

JM was a likeable character in a miserable existence. The situation was a cliché one – married to a woman who doesn’t even try to understand him. One wonders how these two people could have ever gotten together. His character was a bit on the bland side while his wife was materialistic and critical.
The chance in the story came when Sylvia entered with her four sons. Sylvia was a bit on the quirky side, but not enough to be believable. Her boys were mostly personality traits, not fully fleshed out characters.

The music was enjoyable if not memorable. The greatest musical moment came just before intermission when JM sang “Stronger” inspired by Captain Hook.

The story was another cliché – Sylvia was a woman who was so emotionally strong and yet physically weak. And though the audience could easily see her fate coming her death was ultimately magical.

While there is nothing new or spectacular about Finding Neverland, it was an enjoyable show to watch.

La Traviata

La Traviata
Opera Colorado
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO
November 3, 2018

La Traviata is timeless love story, the epitome of opera. It's no wonder that Opera Colorado sold out opening night of the production.

The show started with a bang at a dinner party hosted by Violetta. The beauty of the music and the setting were on full display. The set for the show was open and versatile. It contained a large window with a diagonal staircase and a doorway on the other side. But what the set dressers did with that blank canvas was stunning. The opening scene created a lavish dining room for Violetta’s home, Act Two was a luxurious country house and the finale took place in Violetta’s bedroom which at one time would have been stunning, but instead carried the pall of sickness and struggle.

Violetta was beautiful, charming and talented. Her voice performed the Verde music as it was meant to be heard. Alfredo’s voice was also a perfect vessel for the music. Unfortunately he did not have the same magnetism as his costar.

The costumes were equally magnificent. Violetta’s opening costume was a majestic red gown. She couldn’t help but be the center of attention in that dress. The rest of the cast were glamourous but they were clearly the court of the stunning Violetta.

Opera Colorado’s production of La Traviata was everything opera should be: beautiful music in a gorgeous setting with larger than life characters and a tragic end.