"TUCK EVERLASTING," though June 15, Hale Center Theater Orem, 225 West 400 North (801-226-8600 or www.haletheater.org); running time: 2 hours 15 minutes (one intermission)
OREM — With the help of stunning vocals and a superb supporting cast, Hale Center Theater Orem’s “Tuck Everlasting” tells the story of a young girl given the choice to live forever — a story that becomes universal as it celebrates mortality even in its most dreaded pains and limitations.
The star of “Tuck Everlasting” is Winnie Foster, an 11-year-old self-proclaimed good girl who wants to raise “a little something more than heaven.” During Friday's opening night production, Ava Hoekstra (M/W/F) shone in the role of Winnie, impressing with her powerful vocals and believable acting performance.
When Winnie’s mother, who is still mourning the death of her husband, forbids her daughter from wearing anything but black and going to the fair, Winnie runs away to Treegap Wood, where she stumbles upon Jesse Tuck drinking from a spring. Winnie and Jesse, played by Carter Walker (M/W/F), had some of the best chemistry the show had to offer as they engaged in playful banter and shared their youthful desire for adventure.
When Jesse’s family realizes that Winnie has seen Jesse drink from the spring, they kidnap her — the spring is the Tuck family’s well-guarded secret to immortality. Jesse’s mother, Mae; father, Angus; and brother, Miles are destined to live forever after drinking from the spring years prior.
Dianna Graham (M/W/F) gave a standout performance as Mae Tuck, and had the production's most compelling vocals. Her interaction with each family member was spot on, accurately portraying the deep emotions and complex decisions of a mother trying to keep together her torn family. It was a beautiful and genuine performance.
The charming musical seemed perfectly suited to the Hale Center Theater Orem’s intimate theater-in-the-round experience. Despite the small size of the quaint theater, versatile sets and well-orchestrated lights and effects made each scene an immersive and new experience. The set changes happened quickly and seamlessly and left compelling results, and my brother, who was my date for the evening, called the costume changes “wizardry.”
In one visually breathtaking scene, Angus and Winnie floated in the dreamy lake under a blanket of fireflies while singing about “The Wheel” that is life. It’s a sweet moment shared between a daughter and father figure, though the vocals were stronger in other scenes and I could’ve done without the unpleasant smell from the fog that filled the theater in every water scene. (I know I speak especially for those on the first few rows who fanned themselves with their playbills during such scenes.)
Scenes that take place at the local fair are also visually compelling and a feast for the senses. The “Man in the Yellow Suit” played by Matt Kohler — also described as the “evil banana” by Winnie’s spunky, hilarious grandmother played by Karen Baird — was the perfect villain, whom every audience member surely loved to hate.
However, what set apart the fair scenes — and perhaps the entire musical — was the stellar supporting cast. The ensemble’s striking harmonies and brilliant choreography were simply beautiful to listen to and watch, enhancing every scene with what felt like magic.
The supporting cast was also the heart of the play’s final scene, which depicted the different life phases of an aging Winnie. The scene didn’t feature a word of song or dialogue, but may have been the most compelling of the musical. Somehow, the cast members captured the emotions and experiences of a life well-lived entirely through dance, leaving several wet eyes in the theater. Through their polished talents, the cast conveyed a message we all need to hear sometimes — truly living a life is a lot more important than living forever.
Content advisory: "Tuck Everlasting" contains some sexual innuendos. A character is shot and killed on stage. Loud gunshots, which are fired twice during the play, may be startling for some viewers.