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Show The Salt Lake Tribune ARTS Sunday, December26, 1999 DI3 Theater 99: The Stage Is All the Rage Right Here BY CELIA R. BAKER ‘THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Theater in Utah was lively and varied scenein 1999, The best performances of resigent meoteeeaelcompanies Pioneer Theatre Company and Salt Lake Acting Companycontinued to prove thathigh-quality theater ¢an happenrighthere, while Theater League of Utah packed in the érowds for touring companies of Broadway shows. The Utah stretched its season, too, and a host of semi-professional and ¢ommunity companies made live fee affordable and available for most. From shows that won Tonys to showsthatfeature Farleys, there were highlights and lowlights. Herewith, a sampling: Irigh Eyes Reviling: “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” won four Tonys on Broadwaylast year and got a spine-tingling regional premiere at Salt Lake Acting Companythis fall. Set in an isolated Irish cottage, the taut family dramais by an eloquent new voice in Irish drama, Martin McDon- smoldering fears and resentments explodein violence. On the Road Again: Broadway touring companies visited Salt Lake City’s Capitol Theatre with mixed success. A lackluster adaptation of “Victor/Victoria” took all the fun outof cross-dressing. “Sunset Boulevard” told the story well, but from a technical stand- point the show was a scaled-back shadow of its Broadway self. icals “Phantom of the ough (actually a Londoner with Irish roots). Salt Lake City actors rived with production values es- Marilyn Holt and Joyce Cohen continued to be a Utah phenome- gave gripping performances as the mother and daughter whose sentially intact. “Les Misérables” non; ,were down a bit for “Phanto1 Current and Classy: PTC’s well-acted production of Wendy Wasserstein’s “An American Photos by Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune Daughter” dealt bravely and hon- Sean Dougherty and Patrick Page in PMT’s production of “RichardtheIll.” estly with the contemporary is- sues facing women who wantit all. The humorandfrustration in- “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” became a concert performance. herentin trying to balance career and family stood out against against a background of politics the plays — including the yiul years to sell the spectacle and ex- Roger Daltrey was a no-show as role of Gloucester in “King Lear. Richard Hill saved ““Lear” by pher Lloyd was an excellent stepping into the part admirably after only a few hours of rehears- travagance of “UTAH!,” which featured stampeding horses anda real flood, but it ignited few dramatic sparks. Last summer Tu- Fagin in “Oliver!,” but Christo- and media machinations in this funny and thoughtful play. replacement. The World is Welcome Sneer: al. Also at the festival, seasoned Can Act; Looks Good in Tights: Oneofthe state's favorite actors, SLAC’s annual parody of what's current or campy in Utah took Patrick Page, returned to the stage sharp aim atan easy target — th 2002 Olympics. of Pioneer Memorial Theatre as the dastardly “Richard the III.” More Will, More Ways: William Shakespeare proved himself a man for all seasons (or at least two) as the Utah Shakespearean Festival — a staple of summer — inaugurated a new fall season. With programming choices (“Complete Wks of Wilm. Shkspr, Abrgd.” and “ForeverPlaid”) that played it safe, the new season was a success. Plans for further expansionare in the works. Skillful trimming of the Shakespearetext by Charles Morey, plus Page’s seething performance, added up to a Tudor drama worth tooting about. Plan-B,Plan-C, Plan-D... Tobin Atkinson's unconventional Plan-B Theater Company survived numerous shake-ups — scheduling its Downstairs Theatre. Good atre is not just for musicals any- more. Renovations at the theater, varied programmingand salaries thing somebodyfinally cut these guys some SLAC. High Altitude, High Concept: Aas ‘Dudley Kaueht who ‘aie tendons iin both for all actors signal professional ambitions. Summer shows at Sundance Theatre featured director Damien Gray’s nontraditional view. “Ol- iver!” was given the minimalist treatment, “Cinderella” was restyled with a pop-rave look and “Stitf”-est Performance: Hale Center Theatre Orem broughtlife to a comedy abouta corpse in the regional premiere of “Lucky Stiff.” Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens ("Once on This Island,” “Ragtime,” “Anastasia”) wrote the show; HCTO madeit sing. “UTAHI” We Love Thee Not: Tuacahn Amphitheatre tried for acahn abandoned the show and presented “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and the ever-popular (in Utah) “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” +complete with exotic livestock. The award for Best Performance by a Large Cud-Chewing Hump- Backed Mammal goes to Willy, a camel. The winnerfor Supporting Actor in the same category was Jim —also a camel. Scott Morgan and Nancy Melich contributed to this story. conflicts, scuttled performances anda lost lease — and continues to provide alternative theater experiences in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake Acting Company has given the beleagured troupe a home in Isn't That Grand? With Ken Plain at the helm, the Grand The- actor Leslie Brott gave a remarkable performance as Eleanor of Aquitanein “The Lion in Winter.” eed the Tony. Wina Millennium Part . Purple knees during the opening performance of Troilus and Cressida” at the Utah Festival last summer. The injuries required surgery and sidelined Knightfor the season fromthree of Post Christmas Sale Post Christmas Sale Greenhaqrsé Design Rabbit Cooking with the Chef ~ Knife Skills & oe Vegetable Mittleider Vegetable GardeningClass Production Class TP Basic Gardening Class Cooking with the Cass Chef - Mittleide getable tig. 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