By Jennifer and Craig Mustoe
This is Jen’s third time seeing Joyful Noise, Craig’s first. This review is especially rewarding because it is by a seasoned viewer and a brand new one.
To start this review–these reviewers need to encourage you heartily to go see this show. It is the Covey’s final time producing it and it is well worth it to add this to your Christmas festivities. Yes, you are busy. But this is a lovely production of the process and the characters that play a part in the creation of the beautiful Messiah, written by George Frederic Handel. The lilting music is strewn through the show. If you like this piece, you’ll love Joyful Noise.
J. Scott Bronson plays Handel and for his performance alone, you need to see the show. He rages, he is kind, he is brilliant, he is a lunatic. He is completely believable and I bet if the real GFH could see this show, he’d love Bronson’s portrayal. This character and actor was Craig’s favorite.
Travis Hyer returns as King George II. He, too, has the accent, the mannerisms, the haughty royal-ness about him that make him a delight to watch year after year. Craig, too, praised his deftness and humor.
Other actors in the show are returns: Adam Argyle as Charles Jennens. Argyle has a quirky humor that makes his portrayl fun to watch. Jeffrey Hanson’s Bishop Henry Eggerton is a character that is rather unlikable and stuck up–and Hanson nails it. The sad and talented Susannah Cibber is played by Julianna Boulter and her fight with Kat Webb’s Kitty Clive is one of the funnier scenes in the play, though in years past, it was more vicious–and I loved that. Both women have lovely voices and play off one another well. Lynne D. Bronson returns as the loyal Mary Pendarves–her rhyming to fight Handel’s detractors is very cute and funny. Eric Geels is the only newcomer to the show and his portrayal of John Christopher Smith–Handel’s right hand man/butler/person to be shouted at is awesome.
The set by Dan James is very basic, with set pieces brought in and out easily and naturally. The costumes by Madeline Plato were a little uneven–Handel, Jennens, Smith and King George II’s costumes are great. The other costumes weren’t as nice and made some of the play look a little ‘off.’
Director David Hanson made some changes to the shows I’ve seen in years past, but not so many that it looked highly noticeable. All actors move well on a rather small, three-sided stage of the Brinton Black Box (upstairs in the northwest corner.)
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Sound, in this show, is critical to sound flawless and the Covey technical staff, headed up by Dan James, does a fine job.
There was only a few problems we could see with the show and they aren’t the fault of the actors or the production staff. One has nothing to do with anything but the crowd was pathetically small and for a show of this caliber, this is criminal. Also, there were two little girls sitting to our right who were hopelessly bored. Friends, this show isn’t for kids–not because there is anything bad in it. It’s just not a ‘car chase’ play as Craig says. It deals with a beautiful spiritual experience and really has nothing that kids would want to see. Finally, the small theater is ‘attached’ to the larger stage and a raucous concert was on next door. The fans were cheering like mad and this was remarkably distracting to the quiet beauty going onstage for Joyful Noise.
So, do yourself a favor and see Joyful Noise. You won’t regret it. And while you’re at the Covey’s beautiful facility, go through the building and look at all the artwork. There are some astounding pieces there.
Joyful Noise, by Tim Slover
Covey Center for the Arts — 425 W Center, Provo
7:30 PM December 3-21, Mon, Thurs, Fri and Saturday
$12 Student/Senior/Military $14 Public Tickets
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