A Review by Breanne Sanders, Front Row Reviewers
Bet on an evening of laughs at Lucky Stiff presented by Sugar Factory Playhouse and you won’t be disappointed. While it’s true that the musical begins with an (accidental!) murder, that won’t stop any of the characters from having the adventure of a lifetime – especially not the victim, Uncle Anthony, whose will states that in order to win the inheritance, his nephew Harry Witherspoon (Riley Kinsey) must take Anthony’s wheelchair-bound corpse on one last vacation to Monte Carlo. Harry soon finds there are others after the inheritance money, too. Anthony’s former lover, Rita (Meg McCoy Reitz), says the money originally belonged to her. Rita’s brother Vinnie (Gary Kemp) wants it to save his hide. And Annabel (Kayley Singson), a representative from Anthony’s favorite charity, hopes the money will keep the Universal Dog Home from closing.
As Lucky Stiff begins, the exuberance of the actors immediately draws the audience into the story. Kinsey’s portrayal of Harry Witherspoon is relatable and charming. Singson as Annabel Glick, is so easy to listen to–her voice has a lovely precision that matches her character’s diligent personality. Reitz gives the somewhat villainous Rita La Porta a dynamic singing voice and an air of sincerity that almost garners sympathy for her character’s wild actions. Kemp is hilarious as Vinnie Di Ruzzio, especially when he phones home to explain to his wife what’s happening. Keri Griggs adds a sense of fun and confidence to her character Dominique Du Monaco, and Don Smith plays Luigi Gaudi with panache.
The ensemble (Kristi Anderson, Denise Gull, Alek Harding, Kalib Christensen, Alex Taylor, Xander Christensen) do an amazing job of making sure that they are fully immersed in every scene. Each ensemble member plays multiple characters as needed, but they give each of their roles a vibrant and distinct personality that really helps create the world on the stage. Of course, an extra round of applause goes to Gary Rasmussen who plays the dead body of Uncle Anthony throughout the show.
Brightly colored sets (Kassidy Rackham (also the director) and David Rackham) help offset the sometimes dark humor that is inevitable when a corpse is being carted around as per his last wishes. Fantastic costumes (Denise Gull) help individualize each character, like Harry’s drab attire and Rita’s cheetah-print signature style. Also of note is the fun ensemble costuming for different events that Uncle Anthony requires Harry to do, such as the woman dressed as the roulette wheel, the people wearing fish hats when they go scuba diving, and the actors who become paintings, complete with frames, when they go to a museum. Lighting design (Robbie Dalley) is seamless between the main stage and the times when actors go into the aisles, even accommodating character Dominique Du Monaco when she asks for a blue spotlight to accentuate the sadness in one scene.
Come and see why Lucky Stiff is a sure bet this funny show will make you realize it’s good to be alive.
The Sugar Factory Playhouse and West Jordan Arts present Lucky Stiff by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
Midvale Performing Arts Center, 695 W Center St, Midvale, UT 84047
July 13-22, 7:00 PM
Tickets: $12 Adult, $8 Senior/Child/Student
Contact: 385-313-0278
Sugar Factory Playhouse Facebook Page
West Jordan Arts Facebook Page
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