MY THREE ANGELS, StageRight TheaterCompany, Realms of Inquiry school, 1140 S. 900 East; continues at 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Fridays & Saturdays through Jan. 2. No performance Dec. 25. Tickets: $7 for adults and $6 for students and senior citizens. Box office: 485-8038. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes (one intermission).

"My Three Angels," the latest offering from the StageRight TheaterCompany, is a disarming, nontraditional tale of hope and redemption, perfectly timed for the holiday season.In a penal colony of French Guiana in the early 1900s, three convicts are assigned to work at the home/shop of befuddled businessman Felix Ducotel. It is Christmas Eve, and the Ducotel house is in turmoil: Felix's too-trusting nature has left his business in shambles the day before nasty Uncle Henri arrives to audit his books; daughter Marie Louise has just learned of the upcoming marriage of her dearly desired to another; and wife Emilie is simply, sigh-fully discontent with life in sticky-hot, primitive Guiana.

Enter the convicts, three condemned men who witness the Ducotels' plight and set themselves to save the day.

Jeremy Thompson, Mark White and Jeremy P. Jonsson deliver exceptionally strong performances as the three "fallen angels." Their natural onstage chemistry belies the fact that the trio had never met before rehearsals began.

View Comments

Thompson, still relatively new to Salt Lake theater, is as luminous as he is devilish in the role of con man Joseph. His antics in Ducotel's shop demonstrate his well-honed comedic ability and the sparkling writing from playwrights Sam and Bella Spewack.

Jonsson's portrayal of Jules, convicted of strangling his wife after finding her amorously involved with another man, is strong in its subtleties. His character is clearly the anchor, not only of the trio's friendship, but of the play itself.

Bob Walkingshaw was also impressive as the mean-beyond-mean Henri, a man who chose lucre over family loyalty, with no apologies and no regrets.

On its surface, this play can be seen simply as frothy, good holiday fun. But look deeper, and there are powerful messages to be heard and learned. Messages of the season -- of hope, of the goodness to be found in each of us (even the "worst" of us), and of love, both here and from on high. Go see it.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.