Review By Avery Dall-Hilton, Front Row Reviewers
Front Row Reviewers is always on the lookout for new works, local theatre, and great talent; with Vicariously Staged Productions’ newest show, Paper Weight, playing at The Hive Collaborative in Provo, we get all three. This beautiful performance is moving, funny, and an outstanding example of the marvelous local talent we have here in our own backyard.
The story follows Rosie (Eden Bostrom) and her family as the struggle through her diagnosis and progressing of early-onset Alzheimer’s. It is presented nonlinearly with Rosie’s memories of family and friends intertwined with her experience living with her disease. While many nonlinear stories can be hard to follow at times, that is not the case with this well-crafted script and performance. The sorrow and pain of the situation is broken up with loving memories and moments of comedy that create a compelling combination of haunting beauty and everyday joy.
Setting the scene for an unforgettable performance, the cast enter the stage without announcement and slowly start the action in an authentic and unassuming way. The story unfolds as each character is highlighted with their relationship to Rosie. Her complicated life and magnetic personality are portrayed in short vignettes broken up with abstract movement fragments displaying her current frame of mind.
Bostrom brings an impressive and diverse energy to her performance as she transitions from a mature adult to a young child to a person struggling with memory loss. Her performance is enthralling and raw at every moment of the production.
In the role of Rosie’s husband Oliver and daughter August are Jared Kamauu and Aunah Johnson. Both actors are incredible in their roles as they navigate the loss of their wife/mother. Each moment of memory is treated with care, lending emotional depth, humor, and tenderness through their exceptional performances.
Rounding out the cast are Alex Glover, Natalie Green, Sydney Southwick, Alex Russon, and Maddie Halliday (swing). They take on Rosie’s other family members and friends. They complete the picture of a close-knit group that are there to support Rosie through her struggles. Each cast member brings so much energy and heart to the show. I was impressed with the strength of the acting as well as their execution of the modern dance elements throughout.
One of my favorite moments in the show is when Rosie and Oliver first meet. A simple glance turns into a dance-like sequence that portrays a whole array of feelings and an entire lifetime in a single moment. The story resumes as if nothing happened at all. It’s a masterful moment of composition and performance. Bostrom and Kamauu have great chemistry onstage portraying a deep friendship and caring love for one another.
Director/writer Skyler Denfeld creates a masterpiece of storytelling with a well-written script blended with contemporary dance. The movement portions of the show transport the audience into the chaotic mind of a person suffering from memory loss. As the show progresses, the stage becomes more and more cluttered with papers, book pages, and photographs as Rosie’s mental state deteriorates. It is a vivid and striking picture that helps the audience experience the turmoil in a visceral way. There is never a dull moment with staging that is creative while simultaneously being completely natural. Denfeld and assistant director/stage manager Melanie Kamauu are to be commended for their exceptional creativity and vision.
Paper Weight utilizes original piano music by composer Brandon Merill and is beautiful and melancholy throughout. Both music and sound design (Joey Wright) work to elevate the show and give it a strong personal touch.
The set (Taylynn Rushton) is simple but effective in creating different scenes quickly without being distracting or overdone. The lighting design (Taylor Tew Nelson) also adds to the confusion and chaos Rosie is feeling and helps cue the audience when memory and current events are shifting.
The entire cast and crew are to be commended for their excellent work in bringing to life this extraordinary production and touching story. Support local theatre, new work, and the arts by attending Vicariously Staged Productions’ breathtaking performance of Paper Weight. You won’t regret seeing this incredible production of love, loss, joy, and connection.
Audiences should be advised that this production contains some strong language and brief discussions of child abuse.
Vicariously Staged Productions presents: Paper Weight by Skyler Denfeld.
The Hive Collaborative, 290 W. 600 S., Provo, Utah, 84601
May 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 7:30pm at 2:00pm (Saturday matinee)
Tickets: $21.40-26.50 (Livestream available)
@vicariouslystaged Instagram
Photo credit: Donelly Clark
Full cast photo: Castal Creative Co
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