Plan-B Theatre set for world premiere of Janine Sobeck Knighton’s The Beatrix Potter Defense Society

In her posthumously published The Sense of Wonder, Rachel Carson, the marine biologist whose writings on environmentalism and conservation are as relevant as ever, wrote, “If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the … Read more

Theater roundup: Voodoo Theatre Company’s The Antipodes, Classical Greek Theatre Festival’s The Oresteia, MadKing Productions’ Proof

It has been a busy winter for numerous indie theater companies in Salt Lake City. The Utah Review offers reviews of three productions. Voodoo Theatre Company: The Antipodes At once, the idea of setting a play around a nondescript conference table that could be in an equally nondescript workplace is ripe with surreal theatrical possibilities. … Read more

PYGmalion Theatre Company’s world premiere of Morag Shepherd’s The Big Quiet is superb two-hander

In  Morag Shepherd’s  superb two-hander The Big Quiet, two Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sister missionaries could not be more different. But, by the end of the play, they are closer to each other than either could ever have imagined. In their respective ways, they realize that women in the Mormon community literally … Read more

Salt Lake Acting Company world premiere of Kathleen Cahill’s The Robertassey propelled by quartet of solid actors

In The Will to Power, Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, “Perhaps I know best why man is the only animal that laughs: he alone suffers so excruciatingly that he was compelled to invent laughter. The unhappiest and most melancholy animal is, as might have been expected, the most cheerful.” That quote captures the harmonizing of two polar … Read more

Full throttle excellence in roof-raising performances: Pioneer Theatre Company’s Beautiful: The Carole King Musical continues through March 1

… I’d like to know that your love Is a love I can be sure of So tell me now, and I won’t ask again Will you still love me tomorrow? (Gerry Goffin and Carole King) In 1960, Gerry Goffin and Carole King posed the question in the lyric, “Will you still love me tomorrow?,” … Read more

PYGmalion Theatre Company set to premiere Morag Shepherd’s The Big Quiet, about two LDS sister missionaries

While there have been plenty of stories about male missionaries in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rendered in film, television and theater, there has been a dearth in stories about Mormon sister missionaries. However, last year’s release of Heretic, a horror film about a pair of sister Mormon missionaries who hope to … Read more

’Lightning, legacy and the things we carry’: Plan-B Theatre, Utah Presents set for premiere of Aaron Asano Swenson’s KILO-WAT

In the opening of Aaron Asano Swenson’s new play KILO-WAT, Ken Kushida, a Japanese-American podcaster, sets the stage for telling the story about Wat ‘Kilo-Wat’ Misaka, a Utah native of Japanese descent who played point guard to lead the University of Utah basketball team to an NCAA championship in 1944 and the NIT championship in … Read more

Pioneer Theatre and Arizona Theatre companies’ co-production of fresh adaptation of Dial M for Murder classic thriller is riveting, gobsmackingly good

If World War II had not intervened, Frederick Knott might not have written a play like Dial M for Murder. Before the war, Knott, a talented tennis player at Cambridge, had set his sights on Wimbledon. However, after serving in Britain’s Royal Artillery during the war, he saw writing mainly for the purpose of making … Read more

Unlike any other holiday tale this season in Salt Lake City: The Lord of Misrule: Christmas Play set as an interactive philanthropic experience

It is like no other tale Salt Lake City audiences will hear this holiday season. Televangelist Lucas Karol heals the “sick,” performs “exorcisms,” but most importantly, collects donations from his followers for these miracles on his daytime TV show, Scriptures Unscripted. However, during the premiere of Pastor Karol Presents: A Christmas Carol, a rowdy mob … Read more

Two young reviewers rave about Salt Lake Acting Company’s regional premiere of Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! The Musical!

Keeping with the spirit of the Salt Lake Acting Company’s (SLAC) commendable tradition of featuring a theatrical production annually for young audiences, The Utah Review thought it most appropriate to invite two students from the Salt Lake Arts Academy to wear the reviewer’s cap, by attending the opening night performance of the regional premiere of … Read more