By Christy Hudson
Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University impresses me with the caliber of their productions, and their current one is no different. Light Up the Sky by Moss Hart takes place on the opening night of a new, Broadway-bound play. Directed by Leslie Brott, it is clear that a lot of work and detail has gone into its creation, and it has paid off.
Imagine the different types of characters a play from 1948 about show business would contain; it’s funny how easy it is to visualize exactly what archetypes pop into your head. And they are all in this play: The flamboyant director, the fast-talking producer, his frustrated wife, the dramatic leading lady, her Wall Street husband, her overbearing mother, the timid beginner playwright, the experienced playwright, and the leading lady’s ghost-writer. Throw in a couple of Shriners, and there’s nothing else you could possibly want.
The play is filled with intentional overacting. Cameron S. Neeley plays director Carleton Fitzgerald, who finds everything so beautiful it makes him cry. I was trying to figure out who Neeley’s performance reminded me of, and I think it was like a mixture of Steve Martin and Nathan Lane, with lots of big gestures and facial expressions. Mollee Barse plays leading lady Irene Livingston, who makes herself the center of attention as much as possible. Barse’s performance never let up; she was completely in overly-dramatic character the whole time.
Hayden Sproul plays fast-talking producer Sidney Black with a lot of charisma and wit. Sidney’s wife Frances Black is played by Rachael Hodge. Her best friend is Stella Livingston, Irene’s mother, played by Madison Archibald. Hodge and Archibald are both sassy and hilarious, and they provide a lot of the show’s funny moments. Irene’s Wall Street husband Tyler Rayburn is played by Mitch Shira. Tyler is the odd one out because he is the only one there who doesn’t really understand show business, and no one else thinks he is very intelligent. Shira is hilarious in this role, with his ignorant smile when he doesn’t realize he is being made fun of, and his insertions into the conversation that no one else appreciates. Pretty much he speaks, the audience laughs.
Then there are the shows more realistic and relatable characters: up-and-coming playwright Peter Sloan, played by Cameron Eastland; experienced playwright who serves as a sort of guide and support for Peter, Owen Turner, played by Dane Michael Braddy; and Irene’s ghost-writer Miss Lowell, played by Rebecca Swan. Eastland’s character is the most likable, and he is the one who progresses and learns the most by the end of the show; he is the one you root for to succeed. Eastland’s performance is charming and sincere, and I found myself relating to him the most. Owen is basically an example of what the end result of what Peter’s life could be if he succeeds at playwrighting, and he is one of the only characters who actually cares about Peter. Braddy fulfills this role with honesty and geniality. Miss Lowell provides an onlooker’s point of view and commentary on the events and other characters, although truthfully her character doesn’t really do a lot in the second and third acts. But Swan plays the part sweetly and beautifully. She’s like an actress straight out of a classic black-and-white movie.
The remaining parts are played by Porter Lance, Jake Hansen, Noah Gentry, and Travis Charron. They most notably play the Shriners, who are having a convention in the Ritz and make a lot of noise outside of Irene’s suite long into the night.
An important aspect of any play is having strong actors, but a higher level of professionalism is added when a production features a strong ensemble. Every character in Light Up the Sky is colorful and memorable, and as I was watching, I was trying to look for one that stood out from the rest. But as each new character was introduced, I realized that they are all at the same level. I don’t mean that they blend together; they do just the opposite of that. But no actor is weaker than another. They have chemistry with one another, even though they differed so much from each other. They all fit into their roles and played their characters uniquely, and I felt that in that regard, their entire performance was flawless. I feel I can say that they are talented and funny, and it applies to all of them. As I was leaving the theatre, I heard an audience member mention that she never sees such a talented, solid cast.
When a play is set in the 1940s, the costumes need to establish the time period clearly, and Costume Designer Sara Shouse has done that incredibly well. All of the costumes fit the time period and the characters’ personalities, with a lot of attention to detail. And they all look great, which is also important. It’s clear to see that a lot of time and effort was put in the costume design, and I really appreciate that.
The entirety of the play takes place in Irene Livingston’s suite at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, so there are no set changes. Set Designer Sterling Brenna built a cute hotel suite living room (I would totally want to stay in that hotel suite). Again, there is a lot of little detail in the set that adds to the effect of the whole show.
Lighting Designer Dwight Camillucci has created the effect of the old-timey electric light switches, which don’t flip on and off, but brighten and dim gradually. Sound Designer Breylen Stallings uses subtle sound effects, like background music and the phone ringing. None of the actors wear microphones, which is fine because all of the actors can project their voices well enough to be heard and understood in the theatre. The only time this ever became a problem, for me, was when there were lines being said from offstage. It was difficult to hear what the parrot was saying, as well as the loud neighbors outside of the suite. Their lines are clearly funny, but the jokes don’t land because they can’t be heard well enough, which is disappointing.
Utah State University’s Department of Theatre Arts production of Light Up the Sky is professionally pulled-off. The actors are talented, the show is funny, and it has all come together so well. The audience laughed out loud through the whole thing. It’s nice to see a show that comes off without a hitch, and it is obvious that a lot of care has been put into making it as great as it can be.
Utah State University’s Department of Theatre Arts Presents Light Up the Sky, written by Moss Hart
Caine Lyric Theatre, 28 W Center, Logan, UT 84321
November 30-December 1 and 5-7, 2018, 7:30 PM, December 8, 2018, 2:00 PM Matinee
Tickets: $13 adults, $10 seniors, $10 youth, $8 USU faculty and staff, FREE USU students
Doors open 30 minutes before curtain
Box Office: 435-797-8022
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