By Ashlei Havili Thomas
Theater was never meant to be everyone’s cup of tea, and has been used to take a radical look at society throughout history. Let the Right One In by An Other Theater Company in Provo is no exception. Dark, vulnerable, and fairly uncomfortable, Let the Right One In takes a good look at hard situations though the eyes of a child. Located on the second floor of the Provo Towne Center Mall, An Other Theater Company’s intimate setting of this show allows for a beautiful experience that left this reviewer feeling both privileged and renewed.
Let the Right One In–based on the Swedish novel and movie by the same name–tells the story of a twelve-year-old boy Oskar, who befriends the odd new neighbor Eli who is the same age. Oskar lives with his alcoholic mother, who worries about him with child murders growing in the neighborhood. As Eli and Oskar get to know one another, Oskar realizes Eli has been twelve for a very long time. Eli lives with Hakan, an older man who claims to be in love with Eli, and goes as far as to scar himself with acid to prevent authorities from linking them together after Hakar kills a kid to feed Eli. Oskar continues to get to know Eli, eventually admitting his budding romantic feelings for Eli and helping him hide from the authorities. With themes such as bullying, gender, pedophilia, and the meaning of love, this half romance, half horror story keeps the audience squirming in their seats while pulling them into the action with the theater in the round style set.
With only five people in the cast, many of the actors played multiple roles to flesh out the story, most of the characters appearing for only a few moments. The exception to this is Scout Smith who plays Oskar. With Smith’s petite frame and short haircut, she definitely can pull off a youthful character, but it’s her acting that sells Oskar, portraying him as an awkward boy trying to grow into himself. The extensive, almost acrobatic movement enacted by both Oskar and Eli (Brian Kocherhans) is both familiar and ritualistic, creating a bond between the two characters that is nearly tangible. Kocherhans, as the play’s otherworldly character, has the most athletic of movement, climbing up, down, through and around the set’s many ladders with amazing dexterity. To add to his character’s ambiguity, Kocherhan’s vocal choices and mannerisms pair beautifully with the odd language Eli uses. His usually roundabout way of addressing those around him shifts only when he confronts Hakan (Kacey Spadafora) about his feelings toward Eli. To portray someone who is at once very old and still so young is mesmerizing to watch.
Ashley Wilkinson–Oskar’s mother–depicts a woman trying to be a strong mother while dealing with so much that could break her. Her character contrasts perfectly with Spadafora’s Hakan, who both hates what he is and loves Eli as best he can. Last but certainly not least, Tyler Fox as both Jonny (Oskar’s bully) and Mr. Avila the gym teacher, shows two characters at odds with each other. Mr. Avila is both at home in his masculinity as the gym teacher, while teaching Oskar what it is to love someone in a beautiful, vulnerable scene. On the other hand, Jonny is mean, unrepentant and preys on weaker Oskar in an obvious ploy to prove himself the biggest guy on the block. The whole cast works together seamlessly to bring this show to life in a way no one else could.
The space An Other Theater Company currently resides in is not large; the audience size for this show is capped at 48 people according to the usher. Yet the close confines of the space work perfectly for scenic and prop designer Madeline Ashton, who uses three ladders, several entrances and spaces behind the rows to give the actors levels and areas to play with throughout the performance. Streamers hung from the ceiling combined with Jaron Kent Hermansen’s lighting design create a variety of settings, from the dwelling shared by Oskar and his mother to the dark alleys and woods Eli roams. The sound design Miles Clark adds to the already immersive atmosphere and keeps the audience on edge. The directors Christopher Clark and Morag Shepherd, with the added efforts of choreographer Graham Brown, create a chilling and yet sweet story of young love that is just wonderful. The end creation is unlike anything I’ve ever seen and may ever see in Provo, and truly a job well done.
I didn’t originally love the show. It is not an easy pill to swallow or digest; I had to stew over it and think about my takeaway. I would not recommend this show for everyone. The themes in it are mature in content and the language is strong throughout. It isn’t something I wish I would have skipped, which I can say of some shows I’ve seen, nor is it one that while showy and sparkly has no real meat to it. This is the sort of show that made me want to be in theater: unapologetic, quirky and real. It’s a once in a lifetime kind of show, and I’m glad I didn’t miss the opportunity.
An Other Theater Company presents Let the Right One In by Jack Thorne
An Other Theater Company, 1200 Towne Center Blvd, Ste 2008, Provo, Utah 84601 (on the second floor on the Macy’s end of the mall)
October 19-20, 26-28, 31, November 2-3, 9-10
Tickets: $12-17, available at An Other Theater Company’s website or at the door
Contact: anothertheaterco@gmail.com
An Other Theater Company Facebook Page
Let the Right One In Facebook Event
0 Comments