By Larisa Hicken, with Jen Mustoe
Two women walked into The Tavern… Last weekend, my friend Jen and I braved the random winter weather in September to visit Cedar City and catch a few shows. When we entered the theater, I was feeling emotionally fragile from watching the intense How to Fight Loneliness earlier that afternoon, and I was ready for something that would make me laugh. Thankfully, The Tavern did not disappoint.
The Tavern is based on a script adaptation by George M. Cohan which ran on Broadway for 252 performances in the 1920s. The Utah Shakespeare Festival presents a new world-premiere adaptation of The Tavern, adapted and directed by Joseph Hanreddy. The Tavern takes place in the newly settled community of Cedar City during the late 1800s when the Utah Territory was administered by territorial governors. There are several tongue-in-cheek references to nearby towns and Southern Utah residents will appreciate the local humor.
This melodrama/farce begins on a dark and stormy night where a fierce wind blows a variety of characters into a rustic tavern, run by Freeman (James Newcomb), his son Zach (Fred Geyer), and their hired help, Sally-Mae (Kelly Rogers) and Wile Ed Coats (J. Todd Adams). The fantastic set, designed by Linda Buchanan, includes awesome special effects like a massive window that shows items blowing past and furniture which blows across the floor when the door opens. The window bit was used throughout the play, but because it was always timed perfectly and it often had items that were so unexpected, we laughed every time.
One of the characters is a mysterious vagabond who enters with a humongous flair of drama. He informs the tavern owners that a strange woman is hiding in the shed and she must be rescued. From there, things just get more and more confusing and the characters must figure out what is happening right along with the audience.
The storyline is lacking in typical Aristotelian structure, but it’s an intentional choice and important to the unfolding of events. While it makes for a somewhat anticlimactic plot, the reasons become clear at the end of the play. The dialogue is delightful and there are several Shakespeare references that are not lost on the intended audience.
Andrew May is spectacular as The Vagabond. His presence on stage is so strong that it’s easy to forget there are other actors in the scene. Fortunately, the supporting actors understand that the other men and women are “merely players” and they help to magnify the humor of the Vagabond. May has a unique talent for physical humor and he gives a truly masterful performance.
Other standout performers include Rogers as Sally-Mae and Cassandra Bissell as Rosalind. Rogers shines with perfect comedic timing as the feisty love interest for the tavern owner’s son, Zach. Rogers played Puck in the recent Utah Shakespeare Festival’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and I can only imagine that she had equal measures of physicality in that production. Bissell is refined and beautiful as the governor’s daughter who is engaged to Tom Allen, played by Eric Schabla. Bissell has a rich vocal timbre and I wish I could’ve seen her play Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
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Costume Designer Karin Simonson Kopischke garbs her cast in lovely (most of the women) and cowboypioneer clothing (some of the men), depending on the character, with precision and panache. Everyone looked perfect in their role.
Director Hanreddy has created a wonderful farce with all his actors timed perfectly every minute they were onstage. I had heard The Tavern was really funny, but I was really pleased and surprised at how really funny it was. I consider this a family show, but the 8 PM curtain may suggest that younger kids need to stay home. The terrific acting combines with dazzling technical elements to create a uniquely funny show full of surprises and intrigue. If you love to laugh and you enjoy observing truly talented performers, don’t miss The Tavern at Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City.
Utah Shakespeare Festival presents The Tavern, by George M. Cohan, adapted and directed by Joseph Hanreddy
September 19 – October 21, 2017
Randall L. Jones Theatre
Tickets $29-68, Purchase Online
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