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Show life B2 MONDAY • SEPTEMBER 10 • 2007 Students! Save Hale Center Theater (left to right) Former UVSC student Alexis Wardle, Justin Bruse and Britni Gibbs Charley's Aunt review Erik Frederickson Life writer If you're a regular college student,odds are that you don't have much interest in going to the theater to watch a play. Butnowcouldbeagreatway to broaden your horizons: The Hale Center Theater is showing an extremely funny play. Hale Center Theater, located at 225 W. 400 North in Orem, is now presenting Charlie's Aunt until Sept. 22. The 90-minute play is hilarious and will keep you entertained and interested from start to finish. The play was written in 1892 by Brandon Thomas and has, obviously, withstood the test of time. The Hale Center Theater provides an intimate setting with the actors usually at arm's reach of the front row. The drama is lifelike and can't help but catch your attention, right down to the actors' facial expressions and posture. And it's as if jokes were written specifically for the actors to say to the audience members. They will, at times, whisper or raise their voices to a random audience member in the front row, and it always gets a laugh. The cast members are wonderful and have obviously worked hard enough to form a good chemistry onstage, from their effective joke delivery to their perfect dialogue with one another. Alexis Wardle is a former UVSC student and a fine, young, aspiring actress. She does a terrific job playing Kitty Verdun, a beautiful young girl looking for love; the romance and comedy are both steady throughout. The question isn't if you will laugh, it is how hard you will laugh. Guys, don't let the thought of romance stop you from taking a hot date; it really is funny. The main plot revolves around a man being forced to dress, talk, and act like a woman, and this woman just happens to be a millionaire. You can imagine the twists and turns the cast takes you through. There is nothing but comedy and romance - in that order — throughout the play's entirety. It is definitely a breath of fresh air to see some good, old-fashioned theater performed by professionals. Find out more about Charley 'sAunt and Hale CenterTheater at www.haletheater.com Smiths FOOD & DRUG STORES With a Student Card Perfectly mediocre Hales Secret Garden almost enlightens Mel Sundquist Life writer The Secret Garden, a musical basedon the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, was lovely. The Hale Center Theater in West Valley did a fantastic job. The dancing was lovely, the music was lovely, the acting was lovely, and the set was lovely. That being said, it didn't quite do it for me. The entire cast and crew were obviously unified in a singular goal: to make the audience cry their fool hearts out. And in the audience, there were certainly plenty of women pretending not to wipe their tears away, but it was just a pretty, empty thing to me. Now, it certainly is worth the drive up to West Val- ley. The singing, especially, is breathtaking at points. I can only account for the Monday-WednesdayFriday cast, but they had marvelous vocal quality. The best voice in the show was attached to my favorite character: Bruce Bredeson as Archibald Craven. He was touching, reiatable and just gut-wrenchingly sad. There were no standout performances because the entire cast was basically on the same page. And let me clarify: It was a good page. There was nothing in particular that stood out as a thing to critique. The only reason I was somewhat disappointed in this production was that it didn't quite fulfill its unwritten promise. Everything about the show implied, "Don't worry, we'll fill the black hole that is your heart." I half expected the emotional outpour of the second act to help me quit smoking, re-bind my ties with my family, and make me realize that I can get that "A" in Statistics, if I only believe. Alas, there was no such inspiration, but it was quite a lovely thing to see. Hale Center Theater Singing abounds in Trie Secref Garden. What: The Secref Garden, book and lyrics by Marsha Norman/ music by Lucy Simon Where: The Hale Center Theater in West Valley When: Through Sept 29, excluding Sundays. Show begins at 7:30 p.m. How: (801) 984-9000, www.halecentretheater.org Cost: $15-23 at D \J i As a Student fresh Values CarM you will receive: • 5%* discount off every order, every day. No limits! • Extra savings on Smith's Fresh Values specials! • Automatic entry into Fresh Values contests and sweepstakes! • Extra savings by enrolling in the Baby Club, Pet Club and Photo Club! • Enrollment is goodfromAugust 1,2007 through July 31st, 2008 *Enrollments for the 2006-2007 school season expire September 30,2007 *Excludes alcohol, tobacco, prescriptions, fael, postage stamps, money orders and other items prohibited by law. G00D0NLYAT: 350 North Freedom Boulevard, Provo 45 South State Street, Orem |