Utah playwright Tim Slover's "Joyful Noise," a drama about George Frederick Handel creating his masterpiece, "Messiah," has been staged before — twice at Brigham Young University (where the script was initially developed), at Lamb's Theatre in San Diego and in an off-Broadway theater — all to critical acclaim.
It's also been presented by a theater company in New Hampshire ("I have no idea what it was like," Slover says), with upcoming productions in Seattle and Atlanta. "But the production that's most exciting to me is Pioneer Theatre Company's," he said, "because I'm a Utahn, and I've always looked at PTC as being the theatrical equivalent of the Utah Jazz."
PTC's staging of "Joyful Noise" is being touted as "the professional premiere" of the production, and Slover notes that this is, indeed, the first fully professional, Actor's Equity production of his work. (The San Diego production was semi-professional, with only one Equity player in the cast, and the off-Broadway version — also produced by Lamb's — was non-Equity.)
For PTC, the timing of "Joyful Noise" on its 2000-2001 season couldn't be more appropriate. It's running Nov. 29-Dec. 16, just as the holiday season's multitude of "Messiah" concerts and sing-ins begins to kick in.
PTC artistic director Charles Morey, who is directing the play, said that there's "a wonderful irony in 'Joyful Noise' in that it's based on the opening performances of 'Messiah' and the attempts of some British religious authorities of the day to ban it. Now, it floats the thought that perhaps some of those works of art that are being criticized today as being unrighteous might, indeed, have merit in the long term."
He added, "The play is, in its own way, a deeply spiritual play. It's about the spirituality of art and the connection of art and spirituality."
The production does include significant pieces of music — the orchestral accompaniment will be on tape and the vocal music will be presented live — but Morey explained, "It's not a 'musical' by any stretch of the imagination, but there are bits of three 'Messiah' arias in it, and it closes with an excerpt from the 'Hallelujah' chorus."
Slover, who has taught at BYU, is currently on campus at the University of Utah, where he is filling in during Richard Scharine's sabbatical. "The fact that Tim is working on campus came about independently (of bringing 'Joyful Noise' to PTC)," said Morey, "and it's a happy coincidence."
Although he was born in Tokyo ("Dad was in the military"), Slover considers himself a Utah native. He attended high school in Provo and went to BYU, earning his Ph.D. in Michigan, "but my wife and I have made Provo our home."
Slover is especially pleased with PTC resident scenery-designer George Maxwell's setting for the play. "It calls for a number of locations," he said, explaining that the somewhat bare but abstract stage features "an elegant set that will really knock peoples' eyes out. It speaks volumes for the period. And everything, including the costumes, has a sort of golden tea wash on it."
Morey notes that "Joyful Noise" calls for a fairly small cast with only eight roles:
— Longtime PTC regulars Robert Peterson, Max Robinson and Richard Mathews will be seen, respectively, as librettist Charles Jennens, King George II and John Christopher Smith, a violist and music copyist who specialized in the replication and sale of Handel's music.
— Charles Antalosky, seen here previously in "Saint Joan," "Twelfth Night," "The Diary of Anne Frank" and "The Front Page," will play the role of Handel.
— The role of Susannah Cibber, the soprano with a scandalous past, is being played by Gloria Biegler, a busy New York performer ("Arcadia," "Spoils of War" and "King Lear") who appeared in PTC's productions of "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Crucible."
— Libby George, seen here before in "Lettice and Lovage," "Noises Off" and the Utah Shakespearean Festival's "Merry Wives of Windsor" and "Richard III," will portray Handel's old friend, Mary Pendarves.
— Also in the cast are Matt Loney, seen previously in PTC's "A Tale of Two Cities," "Arcadia" and "Guys and Dolls," as Bishop Henry Egerton, and PTC newcomer Barbara McCulloh — who played Anna opposite Lou Diamond Phillips in the Broadway revival of "The King and I" — as Susannah Cibber's rival, Kitty Clive.
The day after "Joyful Noise" opens in Salt Lake City, it will also open in Atlanta at the Art Within Theatre, and it's scheduled to be produced next year by the Taproot Theatre Company in Seattle. Slover said "Joyful Noise" is now being listed in the Samuel French, Inc., catalog, "and it's being looked at in London."
Slover has also written a screenplay version, "and it's being optioned as a possible movie."
Among Slover's next projects is a drama called "Hancock County," which may be produced next year at BYU. The courtroom drama, commissioned by a group called the Discovery Grant, is adapted from a book written about 25 years ago, "The Carthage Conspiracy," about the trial of the alleged assassins of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.
"It's my first foray into Mormon history for a long time," he said.
PTC's resident designer staff are all involved in "Joyful Noise," including costume designer Carol Wells Day, with lighting by Peter L. Willardson, sound by Joe Payne, hair and makeup by Monica McGuire and dialect coaching by Sarah Shippobotham.
PERFORMANCES will be Mondays-Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., Nov. 29-Dec. 16.
Two of the performances — Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 4 and 5 — will include interpreters for the hearing-impaired.
All seats are reserved. Tickets range from $17 to $36. Free parking is available. Group and University of Utah student discounts are available. For reservations, call 581-6961. Tickets may also be ordered online at PTC's Web site, ( www.ptc.utah.edu).
E-MAIL: ivan@desnews.com