Ive seen four plays in the past month in Southern Utah, two at Tuacahn and two at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Ill be reviewing the other three shortly, but I dont mind telling you that my favorite, by far, is the latters world-premiere adaptation of Jane Austens novel Sense and Sensibility. Well-cast, well-written, and delightfully acted, Austens timeless tale of propriety, betrayal, family loyalty, and deep-running love gets deluxe treatment here. The play is well-written and well-cast, a combination that led our audience to frequent laughter at the witty dialogue, tears of empathy for the sufferings of the characters, and ultimately tears of joy for their well-earned happiness. This is an uplifting crowd-pleaser, appropriate for all ages (although young children may get restless).
The festival takes place annually in Cedar City, Utah, with a slew of Shakespeare plays and a handful of others offering some of the finest theatre one is likely to find. For information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.bard.org
Jonathan Decker is a licensed marriage and family therapist providing face-to-face counseling as well as online webcam sessions. He is the co-host of The KJZZ Movie Show on KJZZ-TV in Utah. His book, 250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families is now available to purchase from Cedar Fort Publishing. Jonathan reviews Hollywood films from a Latter-day Saint perspective at www.mormonsatthemegaplex.com. He is married with four children.
