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Saturday, August 9, 2008

Finally made it up there...

Who's up for a theatre review?
I've been trying all season to get away to the Neil Simon festival...  for those of you who don't live anywhere nearby you have to know about this little gem - it's the only festival dedicated to America's most prolific playwright and hey, they plays are hilarious!  Cedar City (the home of this festival) also has a Shakespearean Festival and probably some other stuff... but I've gotta laugh sometimes, and this is the perfect opportunity.

This years' offerings are: Fools, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and I Do, I Do...

Despite NOT being by Neil Simon (a festival first) I Do, I Do fit right in with the humor level - and as much I'd love to run up and see Fools today (ugh these gas prices are killing me) I think I'm just going to have to be okay with calling it good with I Do, I Do as my show for this years' run.  

We knew from the moment that the recorded message over the speakers encouraged patrons to remove their electronic devices (cell phones) from their pockets and smash them into the floor to avoid interrupting the show that we were in for a funny night.  

The show follows one couple through their transitions of life and marriage.  Act I kept us laughing - even when the tone turned serious - maybe because we could relate to everything in this act...  Act II's tone was more slanted toward the serious but still hilarious.   The "business" of the actors (all that non-scripted stuff they do...) was by far the funniest of the show - watching Jan Broberg (who played the wife) trying to get into her "old lady" dress, I think I bruised a rib laughing.  

This show is actually a musical (another festival first I believe) and luckily both Jan and Rick Bugg (who played the husband and yes, is my uncle so I'm a little biased) have good voices.  My favorite song (probably because it's the only one I'd heard before) was "My cup runneth over", though they were all a riot... especially the one that bridged Acts I and II that talked about Men improving with age while Woman... go to pot. 

With apologies to both MC and MS (who live near this theatre), I would have loved to get together for dinner and chat pre-show - but it was a last minute trip and we barely made it in time for curtain :)  Speaking of curtain, that was a fun part of the show - both actors were just chatting with the audience as they got ready for the show, greeting friends and family...  getting each other breath mints... lots of fun!

6 comments:

Unknown said...

thats okay that you didn't call me to get together, I had plans last night anyway. My best friend's brother got married yesterday and Will and I went to the reception last night. We are going to see "Brighton Beach Memoirs" tonight. Since Will is going to help with strike, putting down the set, we got free tickets to see the show on their last night. We can probably get together some other night. It sounds like you had fun.

cold cocoa said...

Wish I could see it! Sounds pretty fun.
T-aren't you a drama girl? Do you want to be in a production sometime or are you just happy watching?

TisforTonya said...

yeah... maybe when all the kids are in school and I've learned how to budget my time a little better :)
I do miss doing theatre - sometimes... but life with 5 kids is always full of drama!

LC said...

...Until then there are always the family reunion skits.

Why was I thinking Neil Diamond when you were talking Neil SIMON??
I feel like a little more educated in the theatre dept. thanks to your post. Any tips on overcoming stage fright?

Megz said...

Way to be fun, T. I want to go seen a funny play now. Just not enough to get a babysitter and stay up past 11.
A Neil Diamond play, L? It'd have to be really dramatic and patriotic. I bet Rut would be in first in line...

Sherie Christensen said...

That sounded fun. I like a good play!