By Samantha Baird
Last night I had the opportunity to see Angel Street at the Covey Center for the Arts and I couldn’t have been more impressed. Personally, I had never heard of Angel Street and I couldn’t find a whole lot of information about it in preparation, which is probably because it is suspenseful in nature and should be a little more secretive. Angel Street written by Frank Hamilton in 1938, has since been adapted to many different media formats over the years, including the 1944 film Gaslight, starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. Although it was written almost 100 years ago, the Covey Center’s decision to perform it now is eerily relevant.
The Manninghams, played by Adam M. Argyle (Jack) and Madeline McBeth (Bella), are a young couple living in Victorian England. Both actors play their roles in such a sincere and honest way that I frequently forgot I was watching a show, and instead felt as though I was an intruder looking in on someone else’s life. (It was revealed in the post show discussion that this is McBeth’s first time in a show. Come and prepare to be amazed at this woman’s amazing talent.) Housekeeper Elizabeth, played by Jennifer Mustoe and maid Nancy, played by Liza Tomkinson each contribute unexpected roles in the Manninghams’ lives, adding intricacies that are necessary to drive the story forward. Both of these women are an integral part of the show and couldn’t have played their roles any better. Joel Applegate (Sgt. Rough) adds a very eerie, commanding feeling to the show from the moment he walks onstage. His character is so real, it’s simply splendid. Finally, although he doesn’t have a lot of stage time, R. Kirk Mckinney does a wonderful job as the Constable. This is a show of heroes and villains.
From the moment I walked into the Covey’s upstairs blackbox, I was in love with the set design (Pam Davis and Robert Seely). The room looks so realistically like a living room that it makes you feel comfortable and settle in as if you were in your own home. Likewise, when the actors walked onstage, I fell in love with the costume design (Ashley Magoffin Peterson). The costumes are perfect for this period piece and very beautiful. Richelle Sutton and Shelley Graham have done wonderful as the dramaturgs on the show and coaching the time period and location appropriate dialects for the show. Finally, Director Barta Heiner creates stage pictures that would only come out of someone with a mind so brilliant that it leaves the audience speechless.
We had a talk back after the preview I saw and one audience member said, “I brought my friend who said she had to leave after Act I, but after she saw that act, she told me, “Well, I can’t leave now!”” Meaning—see the show. Stay til the end.
While I have so much more to say about Angel Street at the Covey Center, this Victorian thriller is just going to have to be something you see for yourself. Amongst the spooky, scary, even gruesome Halloween fare Utah residents go to, Angel Street is a show that is often witty, seriously evocative, at times heartbreakingly intense, and very timely. I have been purposely vague about the plot because I don’t want to spoil it. But judging from the very enthusiastic preview audience last night, this show is a winner.
This show is probably not suitable for youth under 12 years old (though there is no profanity, nudity, or gore) and has some potentially triggering themes throughout the show. For those who are very sensitive, please be prepared for some high intensity (shouting and emotions) in the last few scenes. However, the discussions resulting from viewing Angel Street will be beneficial to your tweens and teens and really anyone and I would feel comfortable bringing any person, young or old, who would like to see certain current events and climates similarly presented onstage. Angel Street is relevant and impressive.
The Covey Center for the Arts presents Angel Street, by Patrick Hamilton.
The Covey Center for the Arts, 425 W Center St Provo, UT 84601
October 4-6, 8, 11-13, 15, 18-20, 22, 25-27 2018 at 7:30 PM, post-show discussion led by the dramaturgs on Thursday evenings
Tickets: $14-16
Contact: 801-852-7007
The Covey Center for the Arts Facebook Page
Angel Street Facebook Event
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