By Jennifer Mustoe and Craig Mustoe
Though I’m a little on overload with Beauty and the Beast, I know Salty Dinner Theater always has a fresh and funny take on a familiar show, and this Valentine season’s offering is no exception. Slight Spoiler Alert: playwright Beth Bruner sticks to the original story (the French La Belle et la Bête by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve) and not the Disney version–sort of. This is one of the themes SDT often uses and I love it. Did I know that Beauty has three sisters? Now I do. In SDT’s version, there are the three: Beauty, played by a delicately lovely Jessica Touchet Yergensen, Jamie Haderlie is Grace/narrator/singer, and Rylan Stocker is Charm. Yergensen is sweet and kind and is, in fact, beautiful. Haderlie as Grace is anything but and plays her foil to Beauty very well–sarcasm, humor, and an amazing voice that serenades us throughout the evening. Stocker is really funny. That’s all I’m saying. I’m not going to spoil what SDT and Bruner do with Charm.
Other characters include a very talented Ryan Golding as Father/wizard (he’s funnier as the father than the wizard, which had some costume malfunctions that distracted from that character); Jason Jones as Servant,who has great timing and very good with ad lib; and Dallin Bradford as Beast, who delivers the best line in the show with great aplomb and the perfect amount of humor and deadpan.
Mindy Eckroth directed this fun production and she nailed it. I did have a hard time hearing the Beast but it may have been because there were a bunch of people in a small space and there was a lot of background noise–people clinking silverware, talking, and even the laughter was a little distracting with its noisiness. But all the actors, who come out dressed in big heart costumes and some fancy tights and funny headbands before the show, are honed and ready to joke, interact with guests, and makes us ready for a fun evening. The actors all are ready with ad libs and are able to take the unexpected that happens in live theater that is constantly breaking the fourth wall.
Joe Vera‘s has a separate room used for this production and though cozy to the point of crammed, it was very fun. The food was good and the actors took what is basically one middle hallway and pull off the entire show, include Beauty and her Beast waltzing. The prices are reasonable and they give three choices for dinner that will please everyone. I asked for a corn tortilla with my tostada instead of flour and they were able to do this, even though the food came out quick to 70 people (whoa) and it was all steaming hot and surprisingly easily served.
One of the things Craig and I look for in this kind of production is how the audience is reacting. This is hard to do in a play that we are watching from a darkened room and a well-lit stage. But in a dining room that has regular lighting, seeing the responses of the crowd is easy and fun. All were engaged and a one boy kept fist bumping all the actors. One Joe Vera server even started dancing as he picked up plates.
Salty Dinner Theater’s Beauty and the Beast is fast-moving, sweet, and fun, and actually fresh enough that even the most jaded BATB fan (meaning me) can enjoy it. I would say this show is for kids but not too young. We were there for two hours. After the show, have your photo taken with the cast and it’s posted on SDT’s Facebook page.
Salty Dinner Theater has nine venues they play at, and though it is dinner theater, if you want, you can just go watch the show and not have dinner. The food is good, so it’s great to enjoy a meal with the show, but if food isn’t your thing, it’s not a requirement. For Joe Vera’s, because it’s on Provo’s always busy Center St., parking can be iffy, so park around the block on 100 South. There’s a lot there with open spaces unreserved for other shops.
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Salty Dinner Theater presents Beauty and the Beast by Beth Bruner
Various restaurants in Murray, two in Layton, two in Orem, two in Provo, Midvale, and Taylorsville.
Tickets: $8.00 children, $15.00 adults, plus dinner
Contact: 801-262-5083, info@saltydinnertheater.com
Salty Dinner Theater Facebook Page
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