By Alayna Een and Eliza Een
Front Row Reviews went back to high school with Great Hall Theatrical’s original rock opera, Gideon Versus the Gods of Cool, now playing in the Angelus Theater in Spanish Fork. The story centers on Gideon Greenwich, a nerdy Eastward High student in the 1980s, and a strange sequence of events that are weird even by high school standards. Gideon and his friends Dwight and Wanda are always at odds with the jocks and cheerleaders, but tensions run even higher when an off-putting administrator forces Gideon to join the football team. Surprisingly, Gideon starts to hold his own with the jocks and follows them to an after-hours meeting in the park. Things take a strange turn when he sees them perform a ritual that summons Sportacus, one of the Gods of Cool! Gideon and his friends soon discover that many of the school’s faculty are nefarious gods in disguise, and the nerd crew sets about trying to vanquish them while preventing a homecoming catastrophe. Gideon also befriends jock Doug and cheerleader Cynthia, who team up with the nerds to take a final stand against the gods of cool and their evil mind games.
Our unlikely hero is played by Joe Nelson (Gideon), who shows off his great vocal range as he sings to save the day. Nelson gave me really strong “Seymore” vibes as the stronger-than-he-seems nerd who discovers supernatural happenings. He commits to his movements, which all befit the moment and his motivations. He also has great interactions with the other characters onstage, which leads him to the satisfying ending of saving the day and getting the girl of his (revised) dreams.
Sami Nordin (Wanda) plays the classic “girl next door” without coming off as pathetic; she knows her nerdy worth and helps other characters realize theirs. I loved seeing that! She is Gideon’s voice of reason, and she does an excellent job with her sung motifs. Also, she is consistently good with her character choices. Eli Hewett (Dwight) is the right amount of uptight and stubborn in his nerdy ways, and it balances well against Gideon’s journey of nerd vs. cool. Hewett wholeheartedly supports (vocally and otherwise) his friends when they need him most, even if he’s initially salty and skeptical. Hewett slays while spouting some rapid-fire lyrics and is always steady in his 80s power-ballad duets.
On the jock side of the divide, Austin Ray (Doug) is the chill guy you actually wish you were friends with in high school. My favorite bit was Ray’s interaction with Nelson in “Nerd Training,” where Ray turns into an unlikely but genuine ally. Ray plays well with characters on all sides of the “cool” divide, and he easily wins over the audience too. Cynthia (Eden Black), Gideon’s crush, has a stereotypical taste in guys and popularity, but she isn’t afraid to be vulnerable. Black’s strong female vocals provide balance and harmony, and her awkward misunderstanding with Nelson in “Walk” is a highlight.
Norma (Chelsea Lynn Tramell) is the mysterious British driver of the dark forces—otherwise known as a school administrator. Tramell is the most persistent of Gideon’s foes and helps clarify some plot points and introductions with the Gods of Cool, and she expertly balances the sinister with the mysterious.
The rest of the ensemble includes talented actors of all ages and stations on the cool spectrum. Garion Jorgensen (Sportacus) brings brute strength to the stereotype by being the ultimate jock, but he has some unexpected surprises up his sleeves. Stephen Gashler (Coolar) is a gold, bedazzled David Bowie figure ready to roast anyone who stands in his way. He has undeniable energy in his main scene, which contrasts well with his deflated power once Gideon breaks through his magic. Savannah Arnold (Nerdaca) appears near the show’s climax and rises with the action, belting the praises of nerdom and solitude to distract our heroes. Kirsten Fowler (Ms. Pimple) is a fierce fashionista with a siren-like voice. And Michael Mehner (Muzo) is the DJ God, dropping some of the best musical moments of the show with “Hyperventilate” (a clever mashup of an 80s ballad and a Shakespearean sonnet) and his part in “Fourth Wall.”
The group choreography (Rebecca Cobb, Haze Nielsen) helps to set the tone of the scenes and make each number feel like a showstopper. Each character also has fabulous and fitting hair and makeup (Ruthie Cobb) to highlight their character’s allegiance, including a divine glow for the Gods of Cool.
The action in this show is both clever (using a well-placed country dance or fashion faux pas to undermine the gods) and cringy (slow dancing with a cross-dressing homecoming queen), which makes the show both a good representation of life in high school and an enjoyable audience experience. Each of the songs has its own catchy motif and is based on a specific 80s hit, listed in the program. The confetti cannons and psychedelic lights add to the magic and are an excellent final touch. For fans of Sky High, Percy Jackson, and 80s music, Gideon Versus the Gods of Cool from Great Hall Theatrical is an energetic rock opera full of surprising and humorous twists that you simply can’t miss!
Review by Front Row Reviewers
Great Hall Theatrical presents Gideon Versus the Gods of Cool
Written by Stephen and Teresa Gashler
The Angelus Theatre, 165 N Main St, Spanish Fork, UT, 84660
June 12 to 24, 2023. 7:30 PM
Tickets: $16-$18
Great Hall Website
Great Hall Facebook
0 Comments