By Amanda Berg Whittle
The Beautiful Game at the University of Utah’s Babcock Theater is an award-winning musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton, which features the stories of members of a star Catholic soccer team and their friends during the 1960s in Northern Ireland. This was a time of great religious and political tensions, which both have great effects on the lives of these young men and women.
Paramount is the story of Mary Maguire (Lindsie Kongsore) and John Kelly (John Peterson), who begin life disliking each other but as they grow, decide to be friends and more. Father O’Donnell, the children’s priest and soccer coach (Derek Dubay) doesn’t approve of their love, as he is focused on helping John achieve success as a professional soccer player. Meanwhile, a Protestant/Atheist player, Del (Devin Rey Barney) and rebel Catholic student, Christine (Madi Cooper) are beginning their secret sexual rendezvous, and Ginger (Patrick Ryan Castle) and Bernadette (Mikki Reeve) have their innocent love begin. All the while, British troops are entering Northern Ireland and threatening violence against innocent Catholic “dissenters,” and some students on the team, Thomas (Cameron Holzman) and Daniel (Sky Kawai) begin to get involved in a Catholic paramilitary organization, which brings the entire team trouble.
All three couples bring magic and chemistry of their own kind. Kongsore and Peterson show love among conflict in “All the Love I Have,” and show their adorable innocence and youth in “Don’t Like You.” The way they portray their characters helps show the growth in themselves and in their relationship. Castle and Reeve’s characters are both naive, young, and sheltered, but sweet and kind, and their song, “Let Us Love in Peace” shows their desire to have peace of mind and heart during the turbulent times the country was facing. Barney and Cooper’s characters are both disrespected by their peers and rebels without a cause, which their song, “The Craic,” shows in a dissonant and fascinating way.
Director Denny Berry, costume designer Peter Terry, and dialect coach Sarah Shippobotham work together to create an authentically 1960s Irish production from the accents, to the costumes, to the props (Stage Manager Macarena Subiabre and Set Designer Gage Williams). Lighting helps set the stage for all moods, which range in the musical from joyful to horrifying (lighting designer not specified). Choreographers Berry (also director) and Jesse Klick bring energy to the stage with powerful ensemble numbers, and I especially enjoy their creative choreography for the soccer scenes. Who knew you could do C-jumps and barrel turns while you play soccer?
A small, live orchestra directed by Alex Marshall helps make Webber’s dream a reality by expertly bringing the slight exocicism of Irish instruments (Dereck Crane), classical music of traditional strings and woodwinds, and the classic Webber Broadway rock genre all in one.
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The Beautiful Game is presented by the University of Utah Theatre program, and playing at Babcock Theater in Salt Lake City from now until March 4th. Just a word of caution: the show is technically for ages 4 and up, but there are some scenes with mature content (profanity, sexual content), so be aware if you intend to bring children. And another quick word of warning, a few things may happen to you after watching this production. First, you may start speaking with an Irish accent. Second, you may want to start dancing and doing acrobatic leaps while you play soccer. Don’t try this at home, ladies and gents. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
The University of Utah Musical Theater Program presents The Beautiful Game by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton
Babcock Theater: 240 1500 E #206, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Contact: 801-581-7100
February 16-March 4 7:30 PM
Tickets: General: $18, UofU Faculty/Staff: $15, Seniors (60+)/Military: $15, Free for UofU students with valid student ID, Other Students: $8.50
No children under age 4 or babes in arms permitted.
University of Utah Department of Theatre Facebook Page
College of Fine Arts, University of Utah Facebook Page
The Beautiful Game Facebook Event
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