For my sister's birthday a few nights ago, we other sisters took her to see a musical at a new theater in the area. This venue had a very small stage that projected out from a small proscenium. The seats for the audience were placed so that they went up from the small stage on three sides. The action was blocked to take advantage of playing to all three side of the audience, almost theater-in-the-round.
This production was staged in a way that as an audience member you thought that there were no bad seats in the house. The scenes, songs and dances were "played" to every vantage point of the audience. Even though we sat halfway up on extreme stage left, we could see all of the action and were well-entertained.
I knew next to nothing about the show before we came, just that it had something to do with Shakespeare. The stage was decorated in Elizabethan style, and when the minstrel came out in his elegant Renaissance costume and beautiful lute in the opener, I realized that the rest of the production would be costumed to the hilt. Apparently, this production was just as polished as the show on Broadway.
The acting, singing, and dancing were very well done. I loved how the actors in this show were all triple-threats. They had fabulous voices, great stage presence, and could even tap dance. (Quite a surprise for a show set in the 16th century in England.) I found myself enjoying this show as much or more than any show I've seen on Broadway.
This production was staged in a way that as an audience member you thought that there were no bad seats in the house. The scenes, songs and dances were "played" to every vantage point of the audience. Even though we sat halfway up on extreme stage left, we could see all of the action and were well-entertained.
I knew next to nothing about the show before we came, just that it had something to do with Shakespeare. The stage was decorated in Elizabethan style, and when the minstrel came out in his elegant Renaissance costume and beautiful lute in the opener, I realized that the rest of the production would be costumed to the hilt. Apparently, this production was just as polished as the show on Broadway.
The acting, singing, and dancing were very well done. I loved how the actors in this show were all triple-threats. They had fabulous voices, great stage presence, and could even tap dance. (Quite a surprise for a show set in the 16th century in England.) I found myself enjoying this show as much or more than any show I've seen on Broadway.
What show you ask? "Something Rotten." written in 2015 by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, and John O'Farrell.
It struck me, though, that the reason I found it so funny was that the musical quotes not only Shakespeare, but nearly every famous musical produced on Broadway. So, in order for an audience member to really understand it, they must have at least some knowledge of famous quotes by Shakespeare as well as know a lot of songs from Broadway musicals.
Fortunately, I am one of those who fits that profile. And I was in good company on the opening night of this production. "Something Rotten" at the new Ruth Theater in Orem Utah is delightful!
It struck me, though, that the reason I found it so funny was that the musical quotes not only Shakespeare, but nearly every famous musical produced on Broadway. So, in order for an audience member to really understand it, they must have at least some knowledge of famous quotes by Shakespeare as well as know a lot of songs from Broadway musicals.
Fortunately, I am one of those who fits that profile. And I was in good company on the opening night of this production. "Something Rotten" at the new Ruth Theater in Orem Utah is delightful!
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