By Melissa Een with Alayna Een, a review by Front Row Reviewers.
Based on the beloved series by Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief is a fun new musical by Joe Tracz and Rob Rokicki that hits the stage in West Valley, Utah, this June. The story follows sixth grader Percy Jackson as he is thrown head-first into a world of gods, monsters, and demigods. He has been accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt and must go on a quest to recover it. His best friend and satyr protector Grover Underwood comes with him, as does the clever and fierce Annabeth Chase. Time is ticking as these three young heroes search for the lightning bolt, hoping to return it before the gods go to war.
Ren Cottam nails Percy’s wry sense of humor, balancing sarcastic quips with the deeper emotional beats as Percy works through his insecurities to become the hero we know and love. I particularly enjoyed his heart-wrenching performance in “Good Kid.” Hanna Schneck slays not only the monsters she faces but every musical number she takes part in. Her powerful vocals are a true highlight of the show—especially in her solo power ballad “My Grand Plan” and when she’s paired with another vocal giant, Natalie Wren’s Clarisse, in “Put You In Your Place.” Schneck and Cottam have great chemistry on stage, and their character’s budding friendship is a joy to watch. Rounding out the questing trio is Kile Allen as Grover. While his character may be half goat, Allen’s acrobatic portrayal of the nervous satyr made him the real G.O.A.T. in my mind. Though I knew logically that the magical winged shoes Allen wore on the quest were just Converse, the way he flipped through the air made it easy to forget—at times I was genuinely convinced some invisible force was pulling him toward center stage.
Zack Grob’s Luke shows the bitterness of a seasoned demigod, which they explore in “The Campfire Song”—one of my favorites. MacKenzie Skye Pedersen plays both Sally Jackson, the caring and daring mother to our protagonist, and Charon, tour guide to the recently-dead. Pedersen gave a touching performance as Sally in the tender moments she shared with Percy, and I loved her spunky charm as Charon in “D.O.A.”
Kelly Griffiths plays Percy’s smelly step-dad (Gabe), the irate camp director and god of wine (Mr. D), and the god of war (Ares). Each character is a unique brand of awful, and he skillfully plays up their key characteristics to make hilarious antagonists you love to hate. Chiron, the wise and sure-footed centaur, is played by David Weekes, who also plays the god of the underworld, Hades. Weekes interacts especially well with the main trio.
Whether standing still as a statue, wriggling as elaborate appendages to monsters, or twirling as a tumbleweed, the ensemble fills the stage with energy and sets the tone of each scene. A few members stand out with impressive displays of athleticism as Matthew Tripp sprints around the stage in five-inch heels during their portrayal of Mrs. Dodds and Grayson Kamel fights against Percy and Sally on jumping stilts as the menacing Minotar.
From subtle touches to distinguish the orange-clad campers from one another to a giant detachable horse’s hindquarters—with legs that move with the turning of its wheels!—Alicia Kendrick works magic as the show’s costumer. Other than some moving platforms and stairs, the main stage used relatively little set pieces, allowing for the cast to make it their own and utilize the whole theater space—even going up into the aisles and higher platforms at different points. Thanks to the meticulous directing of Jennifer Parker Hohl, the cast and crew hit every beat with truly impressive timing, working perfectly in sync with music transitions, sound and light effects, and prop work. The fight choreography (Spencer Hohl) was believable, dynamic, and engaging throughout but especially mesmerizing in the capture the flag scene.
One thing that West Valley Arts does especially well is capitalizing on the themes of the show to create fun and memorable audience experiences. At intermission, I saw kids and teens wearing Camp Half Blood T-shirts buying blue candy and posing with an impressive array of photo props while I explored the Greek myth-themed art exhibit. On the heels of a struggle to save the building from being torn down, this production proves again just how valuable an asset it is to the local community. The energy and excitement around this family-friendly story is palpable within the audience, which makes the performance all the more striking. The Lightning Thief is a fun and funny show, perfect for the start of summer break. So if you’re on a quest for an excellent theatrical experience, look no further than the West Valley Arts performance of The Lightning Thief.
West Valley Arts presents The Lightning Thief. Book by Joe Tracz with music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki. Adapted from the book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
West Valley Performing Arts Center, 3333 S, Decker Lake Dr. West Valley City, UT 84119
June 7–29, 2024 at 7:30 PM. Thursdays–Saturdays
Tickets: $18–25
Playbill
Facebook page
Contact: 801-965-5140, artsboxoffice@wvc-ut.gov
Box Office Hours: Wednesday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Photos by Laurie Baird.
0 Comments