Review by Kate Neeley, Front Row Reviewers
Listen one and all, this Christmas Season is going to fly by fast and let me tell you, Bandito’s Holiday Heist is one show you will not want to miss. With shows on-the-go, you can snag a performance in one of the following locations playing in November and December: Logan, Salt Lake City, Roy, Idaho Falls, and Burley. Written and directed by the one and only TJ Davis, Bandito’s Holiday Heist is stuffed to the brim with magic, whimsy, laughs galore, and more seasonal sentiment than a partridge in a pear tree.
Returning this year is the beloved bad guy Juanito Bandito, played by TJ Davis, and you guessed it, he is up to no good yet again. Not to spill the eggnog, but you will laugh (and probably cry for one reason or another) as the story unfolds. Will Bandito always keep his spot on the naughty list? It is true he is one of the baddest bad guys, but can the Christmas spirit ever sway a crook in a new direction? You will have to see the show to find out.
With Teaira Burge as Alia, you will be amazed at this lovely lady’s vocals. Her warmth onstage and sweeter-than-honey vibrato makes her easy to fall in love with. No wonder Santa Claus trusted her with an important task as an elf. Her character is determined to see the good, and the heart she conveys will have you believing in everything good in yourself and the people all around you.
Jaycee Harris is brewing up a ton of fun as Frizzelda Snizzlewick, the zany witch flanked by her partner in crime Mungo MacDoogle. This duo are Juanito Bandito’s trusted (and ridiculous) assistants. With a name like Mungo MacDoogle, y’all know you are in for some good clean goofs, and Kyle Cottam does not disappoint. Both Cottam and Harris play multiple roles, and are exceptionally hilarious however you shake it with those two.
Chloe Rose Allen’s Astrid the Elf, is so darn cute you are going to want to roll her up and take her home in your Christmas stocking. She is unstoppable with her sidekick Otto the Elf (Nathan Scott). Otto is playful and endearing and talented to boot. These two are jolly, animated, and so full of fun. Cary Youmans is perfect as Santa, very convincing and his presence fills the stage with magic.
Okay, stop, collaborate and listen, the dancers in the show are definitely going to knock your stockings off. Abby Woolley, Adisyn Preece, Aubrey Creger, Elena Daniels, Estee Stevenson, and Morgan Horsburgh shine just like at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. They add so much and their versatility will blow your mind, shifting seamlessly with the changing scenes. A huge shoutout to the queen, Sharli King who choreographed the show.
With so many moving parts, there is just simply no way that the show could go on without Chrissy Andreasen, keeping the magic going backstage as Stage Manager. Andreasen keeps things right on schedule and she rules a tight ship. What would this season look like without lights? Dreadful, right? Same with the stage. So thanks to Paul Yeates and Carter Lee, the lighting design is spot on. It’s lit to be exact. Do you hear what I hear? The beat dropping and voices singing and bells ringing? Well, you have Trevor Jones on audio to thank for that.
Remember when the Grinch stole all the presents and loaded them in his sleigh? That takes skill and there is at least that much stuff to load in and bust out to make this show happen.
Blake Oyler operates the spotlight, along with his trusty sidekick Gavin Lee. Behind the scenes, you have Carter Davis on stage crew, Kenzie Kremin making sure the costumes are spot on, Erin Davis also on costumes. If there is a task that the cast or crew just doesn’t know who is supposed to help with that, Erin’s got you.
Okay, and if you notice any type of video, branding, website, graphics, and all things design, you will want to steal them because no one does it better than Bodie Brower of Bodwa Productions.
Time to shine up your sleigh and find your way to a theatre near you to catch Pickleville on Tour’s Bandito’s Holiday Heist. It is jam-packed with everything from heart-melting vocals to bumpin’ beats, and is a sure bet to get your heart in the right place this holiday season.
Pay attention carefully to these dates so you know where to direct your reindeer and a few of your little elves, too.
Shows are performed–
11/28-29, Salt Lake City, UT
12/5, Idaho Falls, ID
12/6 Burley, ID
12/12 Roy, UT12/19-20, 23 Logan, UT
Tickets: $36+
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