THE MERCHANT OF VENICE dictates its own terms
CEDAR CITY — Shakespeare‘s sermon on mercy and forgiveness, The Merchant of Venice, has returned to the Utah Shakespeare Festival in a production that mixes traditional techniques with new choices.…
Less is so much more at Utah Shakespeare’s BIG RIVER
CEDAR CITY — Rather than a big, flashy musical, the Utah Shakespeare Festival chose this year to produce Big River, the musical adaptation of Mark Twain‘s The Adventures of Huckleberry…
Lessons learned from seeing 4 productions of ROMEO & JULIET
In the space of seven months—from July 2017 to February 2018—I have seen four separate stage productions of Romeo and Juliet in Utah. Now it’s time for me to take…
UTBA reviewers sound off: EXCELLENCE IN 2017
With the end of the year upon us, it’s time for one of our favorite annual traditions: the UTBA post about excellence on the Utah stage in the past year!…
USF is forceful in HOW TO FIGHT LONELINESS
CEDAR CITY — I saw denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Between the tragedies in Neil LaBute’s script, these stages of grief enveloped each character in waves. Because grief doesn’t…
Raucous laughter unearthed with LONG LOST FIRST PLAY
CEDAR CITY — Where do I begin? How do I review a show so filled with mirth and downright belly laughs that come from the absolute shock and surprise of…
It’s a tragedy to miss ROMEO AND JULIET in fair Cedar City
CEDAR CITY — The Utah Shakespeare Festival has decided again to visit fair Verona and stage Romeo and Juliet this year in an insightful, well acted, and gratifying production that…
Dead men tell no tales, but TREASURE ISLAND is still a classic
CEDAR CITY — “There is no honor among thieves,” according to the old saying. This is certainly true of the pirates of Treasure Island, most of whom succumb to an…
Too slow and uneven for this show to be AS YOU LIKE IT
CEDAR CITY — Often in Shakespeare‘s plays, people leave their home to attempt to escape their problems. As You Like It turns this idea on its head by forcing its…
Slumber not at A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM in Cedar City
CEDAR CITY — With A Midsummer Night’s Dream being the most popular non-musical play in Utah, the challenge for any local company is to strike a careful balance. If a…