A Utah Theater Review by Hailey Nebeker
Let me preface this review by saying that I’m not particularly fond of musicals. I find the music part of musicals to be decent…generally. However the lyrics are, more often than not, inconsequential and are usually accompanied by less than stellar choreography. I can always make it through the first half, eat my way through intermission, but five minutes in to the second half I am transformed into a 5-year-old on a road trip, fidgeting in my seat while asking repeatedly “Are we there yet? How about now? Can we be done now?” After several of these experiences I decided that all musicals were the same and why would I ever intentionally put myself through that again? Well, The PG Players production of The Spitfire Grill has forced me to reevaluate me prejudices.
The plot: Percy Talbott (Tanika Little) has just been released from prison. Looking for a fresh start, she finds her way to the small town of Gilead, Wisconsin. The local sheriff, Joe Stutter (Alex Lund), who is also Percy’s parole officer, finds her a job at Hannah Ferguson’s (Luone Ingram) Spitfire Grill. Percy brings a new outlook to the struggling town, finds strength, and invokes the same in her newfound friends: Hannah, whose son went missing in action while serving in the Vietnam War; Shelby Thorpe (Kristen Leigh Metzger) who is struggling with her marriage to Hannah’s nephew Caleb Thorpe (Jeff Thompson); Sheriff Stutter who sees Gilead as a black hole that one should escape as soon as possible; Effy Krayneck (Devon Marie Trop), the local postmistress and town gossip; and the nameless, silent Visitor (Will Ingram).
Located in the Pleasant Grove Public Library, this tiny theater provides a perfect intimate space and continues to be one of my favorite venues. Kathryn and Howard Little prove to be the perfect directing duo, helping the actors to create an environment that pulled the audience in and held them there. The music was beautiful and the lyrics moving. I found that I was looking forward to the next number and was never left feeling disappointed. And let’s not forget the insanely delicious chocolate sold at the concessions table. LOVE.
The acting was heartfelt and the singing was solid. Everything jived. But Metzger was the one who stood out for me. Her beautiful and sincere portrayal of Shelby reduced me to tears on more than one occasion. A feat that few can claim. Just ask ANYONE who knows me. Thompson proved a worthy counterpart. He successfully conveyed the burden and responsibilities that Caleb had imposed upon himself, and I ached for both characters as they struggled in their relationship. It was wonderful.
Ingram, a regular performer with PG Players, was lovely as always, showing us a woman who lost a child and the sorrow that continued through the years followed by the healing that starts with the arrival of Percy.
Just so you know, there’s singing and then there is Tanika Little. This lady has a set of pipes that will blow your beautiful minds. Little’s portrayal of Percy was easy and unpretentious as were her interactions with the other actors, Ingram and Metzger especially. I loved seeing the relationship between the three women develop.
Lund, who played the Sheriff, was a joy to watch. He kept things light and happy, and with this play being on the heavier end of the spectrum, I welcomed it.
Trop provided the comic relief. Barging in with the latest gossip, she always left me smiling. My one critique would be that on occasion things felt forced which pulled me back into reality a few times. But all in all she was a delight.
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And last but not least, Will Ingram proved that an actor doesn’t need lines to pull an audience in and hold their attention.
To sum up: The Spitfire Grill is a beautiful story about healing and second chances. I laugh and I cried. And, just to let you know, I cried a lot. And I left feeling uplifted. My inner 5-year-old did end up rearing her tiny face, only this time she was yelling “AGAIN!” So if at this point, for whatever reason, you are still wondering “should I go see this play?” my answer to you is yes. Yes you should. And don’t forget to buy the chocolate.
What a delightful review! It makes me sad that I missed this show. I’ll have to check out the next production. 🙂