see a theatre production every 3 months

With a tighter pocketbook and a (almost) step child to care for, it is a bit more difficult to see a theatre production every month. Once a quarter should be sufficient.

Totally missed September (I have an excuse! I was in the middle of moving!) and I’ve almost entirely missed October. My old community college is putting on a production of Wizard of Oz through November 4, so I’m going to do what I can to catch that show.

Once November and December hit, I’m sure there will be lots of holiday shows and musicals to attend…

I saw this at the Music Circus in Sacramento last weekend and I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed. Most people are familiar with the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – the doctor who hopes to make a potion to remove the evil in all people (the big theme in the production is that many people are two-faced hypocrites).

When Jekyll is denied permission to continue his research by the hospital’s board of governors, he decides to perform the research on himself; thereby transforming himself into Mr. Hyde each night when he takes the potion that is meant to remove evil.

Under the guise of Mr. Hyde (a side of himself that Dr. J does not recall each morning; he only recalls being more full of life than ever before) he visits a bordello and begins a violent love affair with one of the prostitutes there. He also goes about killing each of the board of governors one by one for their hypocritical nature. One example is the bishop who is a regular at the bordello – Mr. Hyde catches him outside and wishes him well in hell as he kills him before the bishop can confess his sins.

In the meantime, Jekyll is not only engaged to one of the governors’ daughters, but is mocked as being the laughing stock of the hospital. Jekyll’s fiance, however, is a woman who understands that his work is his life and that even she comes after his research.

So as the play goes on, and more murders occur, Jekyll realizes that he is the one who is the murderous Mr. Hyde. He sends warning to the surviving governors and to the prostitute mistress begging them to leave the city before another disaster occurs. However, nothing gets past Hyde (as he is Jekyll and can remember Jekyll’s actions) and he murders the mistress and the other governor before they can leave town.

I don’t really want to ruin the end, but you can probably already tell, this musical ends in tragedy. I thought the acting was superb and the musical numbers really pulled you into the story. I liked the Music Circus format, which utilizes the circular stage and the aisles from all sides of the theatre. It puts you so much closer to the action (ok, so my 4th row ticket helped too) and makes you more a part of the experience. I saw the matinee show and the actors were even given a standing ovation – I think that says a lot about the production.

I’d recommend this musical to anyone – it’s even a good one to see for beginning musical theatre goers. The good vs. evil theme is something I think everyone can relate to.

Yeah…I was supposed to go to see Les Mis this month – had tickets and everything, but I dumped the guy I was seeing who had the tickets (he had family attending too)...so I guess too bad for me. I missed out.

But I just scored 4th row seats to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Musical for a Saturday matinée in August. Somehow I have the feeling that my current boyfriend won’t want to go…so too bad for him, I’ll just have to find another date! ;)

Arggg…I missed seeing a musical during the month of May, but I got my June musical out of the way. I watched Forum at the community theatre in the round stage, which was pretty entertaining to watch. Very funny, the actors were hilarious and I’d recommend anyone who likes theatre to check it out if it is ever playing!

May – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (community theatre)
June – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (community theatre)
July – Les Miserables (music circus circular stage performance)
August – Avenue Q (at Orpheum Theatre in San Fran)

But I need to document it…

Jan 2007: nothing
February 2007: Fiddler on the Roof
March 2007: Seussical the Musical
April 2007: Aladdin Musical Spectacular (at Disney California Adventure)
May: TBD…it’s either going to be Little Shop of Horrors or Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.