The opening of this season's Castle Theatre Festival and the regional premiere of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" are among this week's theater events.
THE CASTLE THEATRE FESTIVAL, held annually near the end of summer in Provo's historic Castle Amphitheater, will present a new stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" in repertory with Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" — the latter being set in "the Victorial Old West."
Both shows, which have "preview performances" Aug. 30 and 31, then continue through Sept. 22, are being directed by new faculty members at Brigham Young University. Reese Phillip Purser, whose previous experience is with the renowned Alabama Shakespeare Festival training program, will direct "Twelfth Night." Megan Sandbourne is directing "Great Expectations."
Purser found that the classic Shakespeare comedy lends itself to updating at a time and place in American history when there was a shifting society and issues concerning gender-role expectations as the American West was forming an identity. The cast includes Sarah Bishop as Olivia, Trish Reading as Viola, Christofer Clark as Sir Andrew, Richard Clifford as Malvolio, Christopher Kendrick as Toby Belch, Paul Olsen as Orsino, Melissa Burke as Feste, Leslie Larsen as Maria and J. Scott Bronson as Captain.
"Great Expectations" will be performed by an ensemble of only six players, all of whom will assume a number of roles. The performers are Ben Sansom, Christina Davis, Bradley Moss, Rosina Sontag, Charnel Taylor and Eric Snider.
Performances of "Twelfth Night" will be Aug. 30 (preview), Sept. 1, 6, 8, 10, 14, 20 and 22, with "Great Expectations" being performed on Aug. 31 (preview), Sept. 3, 7, 13, 15, 17 and 19. All showtimes are 8:30 p.m, except for the final weekend, when they will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $9 for general admission and $7 for students and senior citizens. Tickets will be available at the gate or may be reserved in advance by calling 377-ARTE (2783). The Castle Amphitheater is at 1300 E. Center, adjacent to the Utah State Hospital. Parking is available on the northeast corner of the hospital grounds. Seating is on stone benches. Chairs and seating pads will be available for rent.
"THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL,"the SCERA Shell's recent regional premiere of the Broadway hit, will play for three performances at the Murray City Amphitheater, Aug. 30 & 31 and Sept. 1. Directed by Jerry Eliason, the musical features Brad Montgomery in the title role. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for children and senior citizens and can be purchased in advance at the Murray Parks Office, 330 E. Vine, or at the gate 45 minutes prior to show time. Parking is available at 495 E. 5300 South. Call 264-2614 during office hours for further information.
THE SKINNY LINCOLNS,an "improv" comedy troupe that has been performing most recently at the Draper Historic Theatre, is moving next weekend to one of the theaters in the former Cineplex Odeon four-plex at Trolley Square. Performances will be 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays. For the first few weeks, all tickets will have an "introductory" price of $5 per person.
"BUNDLE OF TROUBLE,"one of Ruth and Nathan Hales' most popular family comedies, recently updated by local comic Eric Jensen, will play Friday and Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, in the Hale Summer Playhouse near Grover. Both performances begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children, with a $1 discount for groups of 25 or more. For reservations, call 785-8123 in Orem prior to show dates, or 435-425-3589 on performance weekends.
THE BUMBLEBERRY PLAYHOUSE'S second melodrama for the season will be "A Shopgirl's Honor, or Her Fatal Beauty," playing Aug. 30-Oct. 13 in Springdale. Performances are Mondays and Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. For reservations or further information, call 435-772-3224 or 800-828-1534.
Information on stage productions or auditions must be submitted at least three weeks in advance. Compiled by Ivan M. Lincoln, Deseret News theater editor, 1-801-236-6017. Send material to Deseret News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110 (Attn: Ivan Lincoln), or send it via e-mail: ivan@desnews.com or Fax to 1-801-237-2550.