By Benjamin Brockbank
The world premiere of Bank Holiday by The Hive Collaborative in Provo, Utah offers a new Christmas show that will give you laughs, introspection, questions, and hope. The story follows three work colleagues who are snowed in at the bank on Christmas Eve and experience dealing with their pasts and facing what is and what could be with their opportunities, struggles, and romance in unexpected ways. While you will not get a formulaic ending, it is a show that will make you want to reach out to the person you’ve been meaning to call and treat yourself and others with more kindness and understanding.
Will McAllister provides a comical and heartfelt approach to the character Boyd, an overly optimistic security guard who is working to come to terms with his present situation when his past catches up with him. Chelsea Hickman gives a phenomenal performance as Grace, a genuine but insecure new employee excited for her new job but dreading her Christmas plans and questioning her choices. Hailey Nebeker delivers an incredible performance as Lisa, a banker who has everything figured out about her job and who thinks she has a steady hand on the rest of her life. The characters must face each other while reconciling their past, wrestling with the present, and fearing, hoping, and taking the leap of faith for the future.
The actors take you through many familiar conversations and emotions and you feel as if you were there talking with them. You will feel the uncertainty and pain as characters reconcile with their pasts and wrestle with their questions and concerns for the future. You will cringe and laugh at attempted flirting and an over the top look on the bright side approach to life. You will see yourself in them all as they navigate family concerns and work to see themselves and others for who they think they are and who they really are at heart.
Writer Max Reuben provides an engaging and enlightening story with realistic and relatable characters. His use of engaging characters in vulnerable, awkward, courageous, and hopeful conversations along with a variety of situations that result from being snowed in on Christmas Eve provide a story rich with introspection and entertainment. Audiences will love Bank Holiday as they watch it, but will carry it with them as they reflect on how they relate to the characters through similar worries, fears, hopes, and dreams.
Director Shelby Noelle Gist makes the best use of her talent by ensuring that the interactions between characters feel natural with strong facial expressions, reactions, and incredible use of comedic timing, and ensuring the dialogue is natural. I felt as if I was snowed in with the characters. The choices made with blocking and transitioning will make you wonder what will happen next. Most importantly, you will reflect on how your own story might resolve itself given these same problems and attempts at solutions by the characters.
Technical Director Davis Agle and Production Manager Sierra Crawford provide incredible lighting, visual effects, and music. These elements offer a wonderful winter atmosphere perfect for a holiday performance. Producers Ken Agle and Dennis Agle, Jr. give an excellent, welcoming atmosphere—we can feel their genuine love and excitement to offer such an interesting, thought-provoking, enjoyable piece.
Bank Holiday at The Hive in Provo, Utah provides a comical, intriguing, and fresh approach to the holiday magic of losing and finding yourself. Come experience uncertainty, hope, loss, love, and gain and share its special magic of Christmas and the holiday season.
Bank Holiday is all ages appropriate, but recommended for ages 12+. Children under 8 not permitted.
The Hive Collaborative Presents Bank Holiday, written by Max Reuben.
The Hive Collaborative, 591 S 300 W St, Provo, UT 84601
December 5-23Monday, Thursday-Saturday 7:30 PM
Tickets: $15 (General Admission) $7.50 (Groups of 8+)
The Hive Collaborative Facebook Page
Bank Holiday Facebook Event
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