By Megan Holley
At Weber State University in the Val A. Browning Center, located in Ogden, the Department of Performing Arts is performing Ruthless! The Musical. Ruthless! The Musical is full of unexpected events that will keep you on the edge of your seat all night, from finding out who Sylvia (Max Gilchrist), Judy (Katelynn Ostler), and Eve (Mckenna Tedrick) really are, to finding out what teaching third grade is really like.
Tina (Landry Thomas) does an incredible job at acting like an 8-year-old and is a wonderful dancer, her character would do anything to get the lead in her school play of Pippy Longstocking and eventually does shock the audience with how she gets to become the lead. Ostler as Judy, Tina’s mom, does a nice job portraying a dumb blonde, then after an unfortunate turn of events, turns into a stuck up Broadway star. When Sylvia is introduced into the show, she seems like an awkward character at first. Yet as the show progresses, she seems to become more comfortable in her role. Tina sings and tap dances beautifully during the song “Born to Entertain”. During this song she is trying to convince her mom to let her work with Sylvia to get into show business. Eventually, Judy gives in and allows Tina to work with Sylvia. When Tina does not get the role of the lead she is devastated and Sylvia brings her to get a giant Slurpee. Tina’s third grade teacher, Miss Thorn (Carly Barlow), comes to see Judy to talk about why she did not choose Tina to be the lead. When one of the mirrors fell, Ostler did a nice job at adding an improv line that kept her in character, tied in with the scene, and flowed nicely into the next sets of lines. Lita (Cassidy Wixon) cleverly worked around her hat slipping and eventually falling off while performing “I Hate Musicals”. During the song “Angel Mom”, Judy is helping Tina practice for the show, and it is a nice bonding moment between them. While Tina was away for three years, her mom learns who her parents really were and that her real name is Ginger, and she eventually becomes like her birth mom. The change between the loving mother Judy and the career focused Ginger is nicely done and very believable. When Tina comes back, Sylvia sings “I Want the Girl”, which is about how she wants to make Tina a star just like she wishes she could have been. When you learn who Sylvia really is, it is jaw dropping.
The direction by Andrew Barratt Lewis, music direction by Kenneth Plain, and choreography by Riley French flows together nicely and you can tell everyone works incredibly hard to make the show as amazing as it is. The lighting design by Daniel Garner is simplistic and refreshing because it is exactly what the show needs for lighting—not over the top, adding in a few dramatic light cues is an added bonus. At the end of the show when the word Ruthless is lit up on the stage is a nice design by the Scenic Designer Sam Transleau. The set is simple yet adequate to the show and looked breathtaking. Costume Designer Alicia Kondrick created marvelous costumes—so elegant and fit the characters perfectly. The Sound Designer Michah Maxson creates a nice balance of the music tracks with the microphones so the audience could hear them equally well.
The theatre venue is small yet comfortable. This is a casual event. There is an age warning on this performance due to the amount of profanity in the show it is recommended for ages 16 and older.
Ruthless! The Musical at Weber State University is a fun show that all will enjoy. It is top quality, and gives you something to think about and hum about after the show ends. Don’t miss the wonderful show and bring your female pals, or the males in your life who like to see fun, engaging productions in north Utah.
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Weber State University Department of Performing Arts Presents Ruthless! The Musical, Book and Lyrics by Joel Paley, Music by Marvin Laird
Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts, 1901 University Cir, Ogden, Utah 84408
1901 University Circle, Ogden, UT 84408-1901
November 10, 14-17, 2018 7:30 PM. Matinee November 17 2:00 PM
Tickets: Adults $13, Students $8.25, Seniors/Military $11
Contact: 801-626-7000
Weber State Performing Arts Facebook Page
Ruthless! The Musical Facebook Event
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