Front Row Reviewers

Mar 31, 2022 | Reviews

In West Valley City, Utah Shakespeare Festival’s Give ‘Em Hell, Harry! at West Valley Performing Arts Center Will Gratify Some and Astonish the Rest

Front Row Reviewers

Front Row Reviewers

By Ben Watson

In this time of political unrest, Give ‘Em Hell, Harry, presented in West Valley City by the Utah Shakespeare Festival, is an astonishingly relevant, yet nostalgic, one-man play chronicling the life and administration of America’s 33rd President, Harry S. Truman. Fred Grandy’s dramatization of Samuel Gallu’s 1975 play is directed by Hunter Foster, who will return to USF to direct Clue, and the tightly-paced, 90-minute monologue is as much memory play as it is history lesson. While the audience at the former Hale Center Theater facility in West Valley City skewed decidedly towards The Greatest Generation, my daughter, a high school Junior, was engaged and entertained.

Named for the encouraging shouts of “Give ‘em hell, Harry!” from Truman’s supporters on the campaign trail, the play uses the president’s own words as well as his wit and wisdom, and is worthy fodder for Grandy’s capable hands and voice. Recent events and misadventures in the current political milieu stand out as echoes from the challenges faced by Truman, and as stark contrast to the seemingly by-gone era of politicians more concerned about getting things done than getting re-elected.

Grandy, familiar to most for his nine-season stint on the sit-com The Love Boat, has firsthand experience in the political realm, having served four terms in the U.S. Congress, representing Iowa’s Sixth District. Stepping effortlessly into the Missouri mule-trader’s characteristic vocal inflections and definitive posture, Grandy brings Truman’s humor, humility, and internal struggles into dazzling focus.

Give ‘Em Hell, Harry! reminds the audience that ideas and values have meaning, and hard work and dedication, combined with a desire to find a way to make it work for the good of the country, are desirable traits in a politician. Its content is appropriate and accessible for high school-aged children as well as adults.

Give ‘Em Hell, Harry! is content appropriate and accessible for high school aged children as well as adults. It is running through April 2, so act quickly to catch this wonderful presentation. Because, as Grandy’s Truman reminds us, “there is far more risk in failure to act.”

Utah Shakespeare Festival presents Give ‘Em Hell, Harry! By Samuel Gallu
West Valley Performing Arts Center, 3333 Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, UT 84119
Mar 29-Apr 2, 2022 – 7:30 PM
Tickets: $59
Contact: (801) 965-5140
http://www.wvcarts.org
http://www.bard.org
Utah Shakespeare Festival Facebook Page
West Valley Performing Arts Facebook Page

Front Row Reviewers

Front Row Reviewers

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