CEDAR CITY — On Saturday February 21, I had the privilege of seeing The Yellow Boat by David Saar at the Second Studio Theater on the campus of Southern Utah University. The cast consisted of eight actors who are current SUU theatre students and runs around an hour. This play, while tragic, is intended for young audiences and was profound to watch.
The play centers around a young eight-year-old boy named Benjamin who was born with congenital hemophilia and later dies at the age of eight from AIDS-related complications.
Upon entering the theater, I noticed a fun, simple, and colorful set arranged with three-sided audience seating. This configuration created a cozy and intimate atmosphere. The set included colorful walls, a window, a bed, and chairs that were moved in a variety of creative ways to convey different scenes throughout the story. I especially loved how Ashley Hall, who played Benjamin, used real colorful sidewalk chalk on the stage floor and in the air to help illustrate Benjamin’s feelings and thoughts as we were guided through the play.
Ashley Hall did a phenomenal job bringing Benjamin to life and told his story with love and respect, honoring such a heavy topic with care and sincerity.
The use of the four-person chorus—Javier Alejandro, Tristen Roark, Avery Larson, and Sheila Rains—was a genius choice. They performed beautifully, seamlessly delivering choral statements while also stepping into various roles to bring scenes to life. This was especially powerful during Benjamin’s school, friendship, and hospital experiences, which tugged deeply at the heartstrings.
Morgan Olsen and Harrison Buchanan portrayed Benjamin’s mother and father. I laughed and cried at the parental reactions they shared as they navigated the rollercoaster of raising such a smart, creative, and artistic boy while facing the heartbreaking reality that their precious son was dying.
This story hit me particularly hard. I have five sons myself, and my middle child is the same age Benjamin is when he dies. That same son also loves to draw and use color to describe his world, much like Benjamin. It felt close to home for this admittedly gushy mom. The connection reminded me of how powerful theatre can be when it reflects pieces of our own lives back to us.
The title The Yellow Boat comes from a song Benjamin’s parents sing to him throughout the play. The song describes three boats: the father as the blue boat who goes out and comes back, the mother as the red boat who goes out and comes back, and Benjamin as the yellow boat who goes out and continues on to the sun. The metaphor is simple, beautiful, and heartbreaking, perfectly capturing the emotional core of the story.
The final piece that felt like icing on the cake was Alexis Barton as Joy, a non-medical hospital worker who helps Benjamin process his world through the language of color as he prepares to navigate life’s greatest exit. My favorite scene between Joy and Benjamin occurs when she creates a doll using a medical glove and asks Benjamin what colors she should use to draw the doll’s different body parts. She then uses the doll to explain the medical procedures and tests Benjamin must undergo. Later, she again uses color to help Benjamin communicate his pain levels to doctors by marking different areas on a scan of his stomach. These moments embodied deep love and respect for children facing frightening realities.
The overall pacing and direction of the show were much appreciated. The production flowed smoothly without feeling rushed, allowing space to sit with both the joyful and heartbreaking moments. The backstage theatre crew also deserves recognition. Their use of colored lights and effects enriched the storytelling and added emotional depth to the production. Overall, this production reminded me why live theatre matters and why stories like Benjamin’s need to be told. I attended the closing production, but I walk away with a strong recommendation for these students and their work.
Bravo, Second Studio Theater and SUU!
MORE INFO: The Yellow Boat is presented by Southern Utah University and will be performed at the Auditorium Studio Theatre (AUD 108) on the Southern Utah University campus (Auditorium (AU), S 300 W, Cedar City, UT 84720). Performances are scheduled Thursday, February 19; Friday, February 20; and Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 7:30 PM, with an additional 2:00 PM matinee on Saturday, February 21. Tickets for The Yellow Boat are $5 and may be purchased at the door or online through the SUU theatre ticketing link. The play is presented by the SUU Department of Theatre, Dance, & Arts Administration’s Second Studio, and celebrates the life and courage of a young boy based on a true story. For more information about this and future shows, please visit https://events.suu.edu/