By Kimberlee St. Clair
Desert Star Playhouse presents a laugh-out-loud production of My Big Fat Utah Wedding, in Murray. A small town Mormon (can we say that anymore?) girl, well past her prime at 26 years old, falls in love with a boy. The only problem? He isn’t her religion. Written and directed by Scott Holman and music directed by David Slack, this is an amusing parody on My Big Fat Greek Wedding and combines every aspect of stereotypical Utah culture.
The backdrops for the scenes, by set designer Tracy McGee, detailed a Taj Mahal looking Salt Air, as well as Salt Lake City, and a cute family restaurant that doubled as the family home. The other set pieces were fairly simple, and worked well with the overall set changes throughout the show. With Allison Cox as choreographer, watch for some amazing over-the-top gestures that add to the overall comedy. Costumes by Lynn Funk pull out the best of the 80’s, with classic lace, ruffles, and leopard stilettos.
The show follows Gretchen (Francesca Mintowt-Cyz) and Dax (Richie T. Steadman, also played by Todd Michael Thompson) to their wedding day, as is tradition, in the cultural hall of an LDS chapel, complete with crepe paper. After waiting until the unusual age of 26, Gretchen finally finds “the one” and in a matter of minutes, falls madly in love. Mintowt-Cyz plays the role of a typical Utah girl to a T, even though nearly all the people around her are completely over-the-top in their stereotyped roles. Steadman makes for a very likeable Dax, who ends up engulfed in the LDS culture and even joins in on some church ball.
Gretchen’s parents, Mother Betty played by Sara McDonald and and Father Heber, played by Lee Daily (also played by Daniel Akin) are comical in their interactions with each other. Watch for Heber’s hysterical shuffle as he tries to keep his wallet in his pants.
With Camee Faulk as Annie (also played by Brittany Shamy), her facial expressions are so outrageous she will have you laughing as she come on stage and Cruella De Vil is playing in the background. Sweet, unassuming Marma (Madison Bartell, also played by Samantha Isom) creates a dichotomy to Annie as she tries to find some solace in finding herself “always a bridesmaid, never a bride”.
Taking the show by storm and creating characters reminiscent of Wayne’s World, Doug (Daniel Akin, also played by Matt O’Malley) and Caros (Dan Larrinaga) don all kinds of wigs, mumus, accents, and even appear in the wedding party twice!
Last but certainly not least, and seriously holding the whole show together, is the amazing comedic accompanist Catie Omer Quigley (also David Slack). Playing the piano from the moment the audience enters the theater until well after everyone has left the show, Quigley even manages to bust out a little keytar during the Grandsons of the Pioneers concert.
With a good mix of spoofs on class rock music combined with the best of LDS primary songs, the lyrics will leave you laughing out loud. As is tradition as the Desert Star Playhouse, after the curtain drops, the cast comes back onstage to sing the Olios, several numbers that keep the audience clapping along in their seats. From beginning to end, Desert Star’s My Big Fat Utah Wedding encompasses all the best of Utah culture, green Jello salad with shredded carrots included.
Desert Star presents My Big Fat Utah Wedding by Scott Holman
Desert Star Playhouse Theater, 4861 S State Street, Murray, Utah, 84107
January 10 – March 23, 2019, times vary
Tickets: $15.95 – 26.95
Contact: 801-266-2600
Desert Star Facebook page
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