OCR Text |
Show ‘Curses’ — but no ee Valley Center Playhouse offers up wholesome melodrama ‘Curses, Foiled eco SarahLight DAILY HERALD Jean humor. For Valley Center Playhouse owners Jody and Keith Renstrom, this is hard to comeby. Because their theater is family oriented, Renstrom said she and her husband screen eachpotential play before clearing it for production to make sure the content is appropriate for both young and old audiences alike. Often, however, they end up without any luck. Asa result, oe ere ee one of their original classics, “Curses, Foiled Again,” from when the playhouse first opened in the 1980s. Renstrom said this clean, wholesome,old-fashioned melodrama is soe , = fi Per by acast Where:Valley Center eee 780 N. 200 East, ranging by Tim Rice. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Mondayand will run through April 15. There will be matinee performances at 12:30 and 4 p.m. each Saturday, and 4 p.m. March 31, April 7, 10, 13 and 14. The Hale Centre Theatreis at 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive in West Valley City. Tickets are $20 for adults and $14 for children MondaysThursdays and matinees, and $23 for adults and $15 for children Friday and Saturday Curses, Foiled Again : evenings. Call (801) 984-9000 or visit www.halecentretheatre. org for reservations. . agefrom When: 7:30 p.m.Friday, pee te Cost: $6 for adults, $5 for lationship, (65+), and $25 for families Tribute reading 10 to 60, Saturday and Mondaythrough the play ex- March 27 The Utah Arts Council and the City Art Reading Series will host a tribute reading in honor of Utah State Poet Laureate Ken Brewer, who is suffering from inoperable pancreatic can- sus hero re- students, children andseniors when a Info: 785-1186 cer, on Wednesday. This reading is an opportunity for Brewer’s friends, colleagues and readers to celebratehis life and poetry. The free reading will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Salt Lake City Library Au- on hardtimes faces the threatsof their villainous landlord. The hero saves the day when he offers to pay the rent for his love, Polly Praiseworthy, and her family. “The music is delightful, and it’s really a fun story,” Renstrom said,pointing out the wholesome value of the show.“The songs are very funny,and the lyrics are delightful.” In addition to entertaining music and watch the show. Because ofthe nature of the play, people also will have the chance to cheer for the hero, boo for the villain and sigh for the heroine at indicated times, which is a unique characteristic of an oldfashioned melodrama. J. Kevin Hill, who playsvillain Delvin Dastardly,said his favorite part of preparing for the show has been the process of familiarizing himself with his role — feeling the emotions his character might experience and actually becoming the character. Hill said he looks at acting as a more technical wayofplaying the childhood pastime of “pretend” that most children do when they play “cops and robbers” or “house.” ditorium, 210 E. 400 South in Salt LakeCity. Contact Guy Lebeda at (801) 236-7553 for moreinformation. Valley Center Playhouse Jedediah Justice, played by Tyrone Svedin, Polly Praiseworthy, played by Janae McKay, and See Dastardly, played by J. Kevin Hill, in “Curses, Foiled Again.” The melodrama style is also fun for au- diences because in the play,Hill said, the audience is left in suspense until the hero comes at the last minute to save the day. “It’s just a fun, old-fashioned musical melodrama,”said director Kathy Draper. “It gives us the chance to showoffour talent both dramatically and musically.” Drapersaid she thinks one of the main highlights of the show is “The Potato and the Bean” scene in which the daughter and young son ofthe family find one potato and one bean — enough for them to have for a meal. During the scene, the children dance and show their excitementfor the small token of hope they have found. In addition to this highlight, the play has also giventhe actors the chance to develop unique techniques that are specific to the style of the play, she said. “Curses,Foiled Again”originally premiered in Provo andhas previously been performed at the SCERA Centerfor the Arts, the Valley Center Playhouse, Spanish Fork High Schooland several other schools in the area. ‘Noises Off!’ AmericanFork High School's drama departmentwill present Michael Frayne's hilarious farce “Noises Off!” which details the on- and off-stage chaos thatarises from the antics of an ill-prepared acting troupe. The play will open today and continue through Tuesday, running nightly except Sundayat 7 at the American Fork High School Auditorium, 510 N. 600 East in AmericanFork. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students, — Ashley Banks * @ e 900‘91 Kenugay ‘Aepsunyy ‘pjesay Ajieg audiences alwaysen- joy. If you missed Brigham Young University’s recent run of.“Aida,” another performance of this Broadway show will open Mondayat the Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley City. This musical tells the timeless lovestory of a handsome captain ef the Egyptian armed forces who is betrothed to the Pharaoh’s daughter but falls for an Ethiopian slave. “Aida” features Tony Award-winning music by Elton John and lyrics |