Review by Guest Reviewer Selah DeGering, Front Row Reviewers
Wasatch Theatre‘s Saintmakers, written and directed by local talent Riley Trepanier, is a humble, unassuming performance that charms with substance and thought rather than spectacle. A self-proclaimed “absurdist family tragicomedy,” the story follows adult siblings Danny Bethany (Kobe C. Black), Niamh Bethany (Kristina Shearer), and Piper Bethany (Chelsea Hickman) as they grapple to accept Danny’s impending death and the stress of his dying wish: mail a perfect letter arguing for the sainthood of violent French Revolutionaries Dr. Jean-Paul Marat (Stephen Moore) and Maximilian Robspeirre (Marc Reading) to the Pope, and also watch a complete James Bond movie marathon.
Danny Bethany – Kobe C. Black
Black is warm and accommodating as baby brother Danny, while simultaneously tortured by the weight of his own grave. It is not horror for what brings him there, but for those who will bury him, and Black’s performance is incredibly moving to laughter as well as to tears. Shearer and Hickman deliver clever scene work as a sister-duo, highlighting parallels between their conflicting ideologies and those of Marat and Robspierre. Moore and Reading respectively rise to the challenge with apparent ease, complimenting their cast rather than competing for attention– not a simple task when their costumes, props, and very concept are notably out of place in this post-pandemic drama. The cast of Saintmakers does well to convey balance while maintaining energy, a credit to Trepanier as a director.
The production elements work together to uplift and hone in on the focus of the work, the play itself, and none overwhelm or distract from that purpose. Far from poorly crafted, the set designer (Trepanier) cultivates an intimate, personal apartment space close enough to touch, real enough to relate to, and diverse enough to provide levels and structure for a two-setting play. Costumer Laney Lillywhite illuminates characters with designs motivated by color-theory and comfort. A credit goes to lighting designer Amber Knaras, sound designer Sam Clawson, and board operator Jayden Martin, whose talents brought the whole thing home.
As with all great plays, the jewel of the story lies nestled in the characters and their lives. Despite simple dialogue and deceptively casual interactions, Trepanier reveals richly woven themes of grief, duty, family, the many forms they take, and the power of delusion. The experience of Saintmakers is akin to a really good first date: rare, with an inevitable ending that comes too soon. It will take you off-guard, hold your hand through the trauma, and tell you it’s okay to cry if you need to; a must-see for those gluttons for heartache, and a bonding opportunity with those whom you hold dear.
Wasatch Theatre Company presents Saintmakers. Written by Riley Trepanier.
Regent Street Black Box, Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah (144 Regent St
Salt Lake City, UT 84111)
April 18th – 26th, 2025 7:30 PM
Tickets: $15-20
Playbill
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Photos: cr: @akj.photos Aubrey Johnson
Special Thanks: Miranda and Josh Bauer, Salt Lake City Arts Council, Salt Lake County Arts and Culture, The Zoo Arts and Parks Initiative
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