Love Never Dies

Love Never Dies
National Tour
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
October 23-28, 2018

As a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies has a lot to live up to. This show has had a rocky road to its first US tour with too many revisions to keep up with.

The show begins with the assumption that every audience member has seen Phantom and knows it well.  The Prologue let the audience know he was still pining for Christine but gave no other expository information.

The character of the Phantom didn't seem to have changed much in the ten years since the end of The Phantom of the Opera. Raoul became a gambler and drunk while Christine's career blossomed. Most strange was the inclusion of Madame Giry and her daughter Meg. Both have seemed to forget their fear of the Phantom and gone into business with them. Madame Giry still commanded the dancers but somehow acquired a greedy sense of business while Meg has a strong desire to be Christine.


The storyline also took liberties with the original script. Suddenly the Phantom's psychotic need to control Christine has transformed into a love affair.

The script by itself was uncomfortable. While Raoul and the Phantom were still fighting over Christine, they made an agreement that her decision to sing a song would determine who would be with her - taking Christine's future completely out of her hands.

The music, unfortunately, was not as memorable as the original. The title track "Love Never Dies" was beautiful and climatic "The Beauty Within" and "Beneath a Moonless Sky" were nice to listen to at the time but most of the rest of the songs just served to move the story along.

The sets and costumes for the show did not disappoint. During the circus scenes the backdrop lit up like a carnival and the smooth transitions to the Phantom's Lair and Christine's dressing room were exactly what Phantom fans would expect. The use of mirrors for the Phantoms entrances were expected and yet they still managed to surprise.

Christine's costumes were enchanting, especially for the show's title song. However, they did undermine her situation of being short of money. The circus like costumes of the ensemble were colorful and fun but they directly contrasted the creepy music behind them.

When comparing Love Never Dies to its predecessor, it won't even come close. But taken on it's own, it is an enjoyable night at the theater.

The Sleeping Beauty

The Sleeping Beauty
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
October 5-14, 2018

The Sleeping Beauty is a classic ballet. While it doesn't bear much similarity to the Disney film, there is plenty in the show for young audiences.

The sets for the performances were just what audiences want to see - including ornate palace rooms and dark forests. The costumes were glamorous. While most of the cast were dressed realistically, Princess Aurora wore a fancy tutu throughout. While this is the classic way of costuming her, it seemed odd.

The role of Princess Aurora was danced by a young dancer who seemed to lack the skills needed on some of the more difficult combinations. The fairies did not disappoint with their performances. The fairy tale characters in Act Three stole the show.

Fans of the film will undoubtedly recognize some of the music. The Tchaikovsky score was worth the price of admission on it's own.

The Sleeping Beauty proved it is timeless and the production at the Colorado Ballet did not disappoint.

Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration

Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
October 6, 2018

The music of Rogers and Hammerstein seems timeless and a concert at the Colorado Symphony seemed a natural fit. The addition of three talented soloists brought the show to life.

The song selection included their most famous songs including some pieces they wrote before becoming a team. The show began with songs from Rogers and Hart and Show Boat. The rendition of "Ol' Man River" was stunning in it's depth and beauty.

The Rogers and Hammerstein portion was crammed with classics - most from South Pacific and The Sound of Music - arguably their most popular scores. However, every work from this famous team was represented by at least one song. Each one was performed flawlessly.

The glamour of the evening was heightened by the soprano's constant change of evening gowns.

It was surprising the at the standard "You'll Never Walk Alone" was not included on the program list. It was a much appreciated encore song. And it was worth waiting for - the performance brought the audience to their feet.

While generations of audiences may be familiar with this music, few will ever hear them presented with a full symphony orchestra, which is a shame because the results were spectacular.

Beautiful

Beautiful
National Tour
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
September 4 - 9, 2018

To be fair, Beautiful was more about the creation of Carole King's immortal Tapestry album than a biography. But that is not a detriment to the show. The meaning behind each song only adds another dimension to the album. Fans will never hear it the same way again - in a good way.

Carole was only sixteen when the action begins. The audience warmed to her instantly. Very quickly her songwriting career launched and her writing partner Gerry Geffen entered the picture. After this quick exposition, the story slows down in order to set up Carole's place in music history.

The plot was perfectly set up with the introduction of fellow composers Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The friendly competition made the accomplishments of each team even more impressive.

The strength of the music was on full display when characters talked about a new song and when it was revealed to the audience it was an instantly recognizable classic. The recreation of these songs as they would have been originally performed was electric.

The character development moved smoothly alongside the historic music. Each character evolved into real situations audience members could relate to.

The performances were stunning throughout. Carole matured before our eyes as Gerry fell apart. The ensemble easily transitioned from sixties icons to office workers.

The set appeared simple, but it adapted from songwriting warehouse to television stages. The more intimate scenes were played in front of the curtain with ease. The costumes helped to set each scene in time.

The effects of seeing Beautiful will likely last longer than many theatrical experiences. It is a reminder the songs that tell the stories of our lives first were lived by those that wrote them.

On Your Feet

On Your Feet
National Tour
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
August 8 - 19, 2018

Anyone listening to music in the 1980's has to recognize the music of Gloria Estefan. On Your Feet took this memorable soundtrack and used it to tell the deeper story behind that music.

The focus of the story was on family. While both Gloria and Emilio were immigrants from Cuba, they were shown as an American family. It wasn't until Emilio wanted to release a song in English that the issue of racial bias entered the story. When Emilio declared "This is what an American looks like!" the audience roared.

A major strength of the show was when the famous songs by Gloria Estefan were used in a personal context. It was a strong demonstration of how relatable their music was and still is. Act Two was less dynamic due to the heavier subject matter and the use of many unfamiliar songs to fill in gaps. But it all came to an emotional climax with the famous comeback song "Coming Out of the Dark."

Each character was well cast. Gloria was stunning and she did justice to each famous song. Emilio was handsome, charismatic and the glue that held the show together. Gloria's mother was also compelling, especially when she got into her backstory.

The set was simple was versatile. The show began with the musicians at stage center and they moved smoothly behind the play space. Their presence was a metaphor of the continual presence of music in the character's lives. The set changes were smooth and most were minimal but effective. The use of color and lights brought made the show feel more like a concert at times.

The costumes were an excellent interpretation of each character and it was fun to see them evolve into spectacular performance outfits. Gloria commented on Emilio's bad shorts in the beginning - and they were memorably bad!

Lovers of the music of Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine aren't the only ones who will enjoy this show. The inspirational true story should appeal to everyone.

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.