By Jennifer Mustoe, with Hannah Siegfried
As we walked into BYU’s cool, basement Nelke Theater to see Glorious Story Emporium, we entered into a world of children, at least 2:1 with adults. Wait. This is a kids’ show? Answer: yes, and no. The actors were herding these children, ages 3 to about 10, to sit in front of the seats, right at the feet of the actors and the lip of the stage, and the kids were just sitting, quietly excited.
Wait. What are we seeing here? If we were to judge by the inventive set design (MingXiao Wang), antique stuff and loads of costume pieces and neat noise-making instruments piled in each of the four corners of the stage, string lights twinkling in a square from those points, I felt it was a whirligig of wonder. Really. I was transported into childhood.
In fact, I felt myself making these really weird smiles on my face the whole show and looked at the adults in the audience and they wore this same smile. It was the smile of a child–something we all had left behind long ago. I reprimanded myself a few times: “Jen, stop smiling like that.” But then, I let it go. Kids will be kids, including me apparently.
The actors gathered on the stage, and from the beginning and throughout the Glorious Story Emporium, they asked for audience participation, especially from the littles at the front of the stage. In fact, the first thing changed was the title. They asked the kids to replace Glorious with something else. Turns out, our show was now Enchanted Story Emporium. O-kay! Now we’re getting somewhere. The kids were immediately enthralled and though were asked to participate, either by clapping or answering questions, stayed seated until they were asked to get up. This alone impressed me.
Each of the actors has a part to play, and though we could tell each player had developed characters they could draw on, the kids created the actual story. Ours involved Rick Curtiss as a Troll. Curtiss is hilarious. He starts out as a zombie in the pre-show, but comes alive when he gets onstage. (Don’t we all.) Curtiss stomps, makes up darling, fun, inventive songs, most of them about how much he hates everything. (He’s a troll. Haters gonna hate.) When he said something about never obeying his parents, we all laughed hysterically.
In my interview after the show (go to Videos on Front Row Reviewers Utah Facebook page and look for BYU Glorious Story Emporium 10.5.17 for interviews with all five actors), Curtiss shares that he actually doesn’t do a lot of onstage performance and is actually a Master’s student who favors dramaturgy. But likes to make up silly songs. My advice to Curtiss, quit your day job. You have a future as child entertainer-zombie-troll-who-also-pretends-to-be-a-dragon. Yes, at one point, Curtiss straps on this darling dragon costume (Costume Design by Hanna Cutler) made from a backpack frame and strong wire and fabric draped on the frame. The kids went wild. When Curtiss sang, “I’m not really a dragon, I’m still a troll,” we all fell apart with laughing. So. Fun!
Paige Fletcher ended up playing a Cockatrice and most of her dialogue, once she became this character, was well-timed screeching and flapping her “wings” made of wooden crutches. Saying nothing but shrieks was enough. She followed the Troll who was one time a dragon, screeching, flapping, and making everyone scream with laughter. We loved her.
The kids said Pegasus needed to be in our story, so Calee Gardner donned the coolest cape I’ve ever seen, white and thick and lacy and with sticks on the sides so you could hold onto it and make it look like wings. It was so full and when Gardner flapped her cape-y wings, the blue underlining showed.
At the end, when Pegasus gets back the flower seeds that restore her flight (that was our plot line–created by the kiddos) she flounced and flourished the cape so the kids could touch it. Back she went, over and over, and it was regal, kind, fun, and special. Gardner plays the guitar and has a lovely voice. Her songs are sweet, fun, and filled with laughter. At one point, she created a song about “I Wanna Fly” and we all sang with her. At that point, I did wanna fly. (And steal that cape!)
The levitra cost of sales other 12 states are “safe states” which receive no attention from the nominees. So you want an answer to the million dollar question that is asked by many on how do I last longer? And you are wondering if you there is something in your medical report in order to help you with the identical medication although tadalafil 20mg tablets at a minimal price. Hence, men addicted to alcohol are seen beating and abusing their wives and becoming a potential threat to the growing levitra online india children. There are multiple reasons that contribute to the development of impotence among men by controlling the blood circulation along the Corpora viagra levitra Cavernosa can stress the cell tissue.
Katie Jarvis is the self-proclaimed Comic Relief, but became the Queen of the Swamp, with a ratty turquoise wig and a skirt that had so many layers of green and black sheer fabric, she looked like she was wearing a puffy hula skirt. Again, the kids were fascinated with this piece of costuming and when they were pulled onstage from time to time, we saw their little hands reaching out to touch the skirt.
Jarvis has great timing, and again, in her interview, she is in the same Master’s program as Curtiss, and like Curtiss, doesn’t do a lot of performing. But the opportunity to do improv and take The Glorious Story Emporium to schools and conduct workshops for fourth graders was too good an opportunity. The Queen of the Swamp is instrumental in getting Pegasus back up in the air, and Jarvis and Gardner work well together, playing off one another with a fun, warm vibe.
Courtney Moreland became the Narrator and pulled the audience in as she tied the story together and jumped in when plot was needed. The kids loved Moreland as she jumped into each character. She put on costume pieces and changed her stance, movement, and voice to help us see her changes. In our interview, Moreland is studying Acting as her major and she will make it. She carries herself as if she already has, with poise, confidence, and grace.
Cutler’s costumes are darling–old-fashioned but not at all dowdy. The cast shine with color, with layers, with individuality. It felt like we were being transported to a magical world.
Director Patrick Livingston has taken five great actors and created a fantastic show for kids of all ages and their handlers, too. I have no idea how one directs a show so amorphous, liquid, and different every time, but whatever it is that he did, he did it well.
The Nelke Theater, on the bottom floor of BYU’s Harris Fine Arts Center (HFAC) is a little tricky to find. It’s on the northeast corner, so you go down the stairs to the basement and it’s right there. For The Glorious (AKA Enchanted) Story Emporium, they’ve decorated the hallway leading to the door, so you can’t miss it.
The Glorious Story Emporium is a fantastic show for the whole family. I went there with no kids at all (being unprepared that it was a kids’ show or I would have grabbed a little or two) and still had a wonderful time. Give your kids a treat and go see The Glorious Story Emporium at BYU. It’s a fun time for all. Imagine–fun that isn’t electronic. Yes–imagine is what you will do.
Brigham Young University’s College of Fine Arts and Communications presents Young Company’s The Glorious Story Emporium
Brigham Young University, Nelke Theater, Harris Fine Arts Center, 701 E University Pkwy, Provo, 84602
October 4-6, 7, 11-13, 14 7:00 PM (runs approx 45 minutes)
Tickets: $5.00-7.00
Contact: 801-422-2981
BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications Facebook Page
BYU Young Company Facebook Page
0 Comments