Hale Centre Theatre: Theatre Review

Hale Centre Theatre Review

A Utah gem, Hale Centre Theatre has been delighting audiences since 1985. Hale produces seven shows each season—a mix of musicals, dramas, and comedies as well as their yearly production of A Christmas Carol—and offers the award-winning Access Theatre Education (Best of State in Arts in Education) that provides educational opportunities such as performing arts classes and the student matinee program to the community.

(Hale Centre Theatre Seating – There is NOT a bad seat in the house!)

Seeing a show at Hale is a unique experience due in large part to their theater-in-the-round auditorium. Theatre-in-the-round, or central staging, is designed with the stage in the middle and on the lowest level with the audience surrounding the stage in stadium seating. Actors enter and exit the stage from various spots including through the audience, leading to the breaking of the fourth wall. (I will admit, I am not the biggest fan of breaking the fourth wall, but Hale achieves it in a seamless manner that always adds to the performance rather than detracts from it.)

(Tarzan, A Christmas Carol: Photo Credit Hale Centre Theatre)

It’s interesting to see plays in the round—it allows for the actors to have a more natural movement which lets the audience catch more nuance from the performance. Hale is good with its staging and works hard to make sure that each side of the audience has a great view. The stage also uses a Spiralift system to create different levels and moving platforms that amaze audiences. Another wonderful aspect of Hale is their intricate set and costume designs. Check out some of their sets on their gallery on flickr.com.

(Preston Yates: Les Miserables: Photo Credit Hale Centre Theatre)

As for their shows, I must say, Hale has chosen their line up well this season (My favorite musical followed by my favorite play? It’s like they knew I was coming to do a review!). I was happy to see Les Misérables last month, Arsenic and Old Lace this month, and look forward to seeing Mary Poppins in July. While this review is specific to Arsenic and Old Lace, I must give a shout-out to Preston Yates for his spectacular portrayal of Javert in Les Misérables. I wish I could have a recording of his performance!

(Joani's, Hubs is afraid she might be getting a few ideas about charity)

“Murdered! Certainly not. It’s one of our charities.” –Abby Brewster

Returning to Hale due to popular demand, Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic black comedy about the eccentric Brewster family (two seemingly sweet, but killer Aunts, Abby and Martha, and their nephews: Teddy, who thinks he’s President Roosevelt; Jonathan, hiding from the law with a new face and cohort Dr. Einstein; and Mortimer, the theatre critic who stumbles into the murderous mess and tries franticly to cover it all up). The story takes place over the course of a single night as Mortimer Brewster comes home to discover a body in the window-seat and the secrets in the cellar.

Hale’s adaptation of Arsenic and Old Lace was spectacular. From the set design to the cast, they really captured the essence of the Brewster home and brought the audience into the story.

I’ve always been impressed by Hale’s set designs and Arsenic and Old Lace did not fail to meet my expectations. Set designer Kacey Udy brought the audience into the home of Abby and Martha Brewster with a rich, inviting living room that presented wealth as well as the warmth of the aunts’ personalities with plush chairs, antique chandeliers, and a lot of attention to detail.

I had the privilege of seeing the MWF cast with Linda Jean Stephenson and Claire Spencer starring as Abby and Martha Brewster. They were completely believable as the charming albeit charitably murderous aunts. While I thought that Brandon Green’s portrayal of Jonathan was a bit over-the-top at times, he really pulled off the comedic-creepy character well—I found myself simultaneously shuddering and laughing. The cast as a whole truly captured the essences of their characters and worked well to create a wonderful, cohesive comedy that had the whole audience shaking with laughter.

Mary Poppins

Arsenic and Old Lace is nearing the end of its sold-out run, but coming up next is another much-loved classic, Mary Poppins. Sure to delight audiences of all ages, Mary Poppins runs June 13 through August 9. Tickets are $32 for adults and $16 for children aged 5-11 (children under 5 are not allowed in the theatre).

But, hurry and buy your tickets because Mary Poppins is selling out fast!

Hale Centre Theatre is located at 3333 South Decker Lake Drive (2200 West) in West Valley City. Their box office is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. You can purchase tickets in person or by calling 801-984-9000. You can also purchase tickets online at hct.org.

Planning on seeing a show? Here are some tips:

• There is plenty of parking, but to make exiting easier and quicker, I suggest parking closer to the exit of the parking lot and backing in to the space. It’s further to walk (not by much) but worth it.
• The restrooms on the second floor have shorter lines before the show begins, but the restrooms on the main floor are quicker during intermission.
• One of the experiences of Hale Centre Theatre is the opportunity to meet the cast as you walk down the stairs and through the lobby. While most people enjoy this incongruous breaking of the fourth wall especially the kids, it can create crowds as you try to exit. If you prefer to bypass the meet and greet, there is an exit on the second floor that takes you straight out of the theater—you cannot re-enter this way—allowing you to avoid the crowds and exit quickly.

Posted by Anie