UTAH SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL

by ed bruce edbrucevegas@yahoo.com

THEY WON A TONY A DECADE AGO....NOTHING HAS CHANGED !

In Cedar City, Utah....on the campus of Southern Utah University lies a piece of heaven and the greatest theatre in the world. For 48 years, originally on a small wood stage, it began with only Shakespeare, and evolved to become the best theatre in the world in every respect. Founder, father and host Fred Adams remains to oversee, guide, orient, and greet you every day. The season runs from June to October, six plays in the summer session (including 3 Shakespeare) and 3 more during the fall season.

Another slice of heaven is the drive up Cedar Canyon in the fall...it's your "weekend in New England" with 3 National Parks a few hours away. You can eat up 2 weeks in an eyelash !

THEATRE !

We have seen the complete canon of Shakespeare's 37 plays here, and now travel from Las Vegas for the indoor plays...this year two that I have never seen.

The festival is fan-friendly to the extent that when a car's driver coming down the street two blocks away catches you in its vision, it stops...a prototype example of how people in the world need to be nice to each other, THEY ALL DO IT !

The big picture is the festival making your visit enjoyable, educational and informative. Everyone plays along...they greet you on the street...complete their production in world class fashion, and send you home wanting more !

You can't do it all here...yesterday at 9:00 a literary seminar talk-back of the previous day's Shakespeare play...a 10:00 literary seminar talk-back of the two prior Randall L. Jones Theatre plays...a 11:00 costume seminar (superb, I might add...a 1:00 orientation for the afternoon matinee...2:00 (they start right on time) play...Foxfire ! That's just me for half a day...included in the week are the six plays, seminars, tours, classes, exhibits and their never-ending glad handing and hugging...I like to hug ! Big plus feeling to your life here.

The plays I grade for entertainment value, just my short read on what I get...The Secret Garden...a play new to me...as well produced a story as anything I have seen in my life. Story, acting, music, staging, costuming, sets...the total picture...98 A+

Private Lives, a play new to no-one...historical...slapstick...great acting... costumes and sets...not my favorite...probably the last time I will see it...95 A

Foxfire, a play also new to me...the Utah Festival elements all in place here...this play is really a study of family interactions...of course, the job for me is to have the production tell the story...they did...some interesting dialogue. 96 A

For the past 25 years the experiences at this entertainment venue is always A+...no different July 13 and 14...RECOMMENDED TO THE WORLD !