HCT's "A Christmas Carol": A Touching, Entertaining Holiday Tradition
I have to confess I've become tired of the Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol. Over the years I've watched too many ridiculous sitcom/cartoon/movie adaptations of the story, in which various miserly curmudgeons undergo a change of heart through the efforts of various ghostly ministers. So even though Hale Centre Theatre has been putting on its production of A Christmas Carol every holiday season for 25 years, I haven't seen it until this year.
I was happy to discover that HCT's version of A Christmas Carol is faithful to the spirit of the original and wonderfully entertaining. A Christmas Carol endures as a story because it's both touching and clever, and HCT's production retains both of those qualities.
HCT's production weaves text from the 1843 story into the script and narration. The novel was adapted with the help of Richard Wilkins, a Dickens scholar who has portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge for the production's entire 25-year history. Wilkins, a former Brigham Young University professor, began playing Scrooge when he was 32 and now returns to Utah from his home in Qatar each year to play the role. A Christmas Carol is not a musical but incorporates original songs and carol arrangements by Utah composer Barlow Bradford.
As with most productions at HCT, the visual elements of A Christmas Carol are outstanding. The costumes are excellent, and the cast, stage and set are in constant motion. Special effects associated with the three ghosts are particularly entertaining. Standouts in the cast include Wilkins as Scrooge, Eric B. Armstrong as Jacob Marley and the Undertaker, Adam Dietlein as the young Scrooge, and young Andrew Lake as the Ghost of Christmas Past. (Note: This article reviews the Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday cast. Monday/Wednesday/Friday shows use a different cast, including David Weekes as Scrooge.)
Although I appreciated the script's faithfulness to the original, it became ponderous at times. I also thought the musical numbers could have been more effective. But I would highly recommend HCT's A Christmas Carol for just about anyone, including children ages six and older.
Photo courtesy of Intrepid Agency and Hale Centre Theatre
Brighton Lift Passes $15
It's December, which makes me feel like giving, and feel like skiing. Fortunately, it's easy to do both with Brighton Quad Wednesdays. For three Wednesdays in December, starting tomorrow, you can get an Area Day Pass at Brighton Resort for $15 just for bringing a donation for a specific charity.
Dec. 2 - Bring a new blanket, warm hat, socks or gloves for The Road Home homeless shelter.
Dec. 9 - Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots
Dec. 16 - Bring a grocery bag of non-perishable food for the Utah Food Bank
All donations must be worth $10 or more
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Thrilling OT Win, Controversial Comments and a Modest Proposal
BYU pulled off a thrilling overtime victory against the University of Utah Saturday, as Utah's defense, which had been causing headaches for the Cougar offense throughout the game, was unable to stop a 25-yard Max Hall touchdown pass to Andrew George to put the Cougars ahead 26-23.
The Ute offense moved the ball well in the first and fourth quarters but stalled in the middle of the game. The Cougars were held to a much-lower-than-average 265 yards total offense but managed to win in overtime.
After the game, Hall commented, "I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, I hate their fans, I hate everything. I think the whole university, their fans and their organization is classless. They threw beer on my family and stuff last year, and they did a whole bunch of nasty things, and I don't respect them, and they deserved to lose."
I have a lot of respect for Max Hall and the entire BYU football program, so I'm surprised Hall would talk like that in front of reporters after winning his senior rivalry game. (By the way, "classless" doesn't mean what BYU fans and players think it means. Look it up in the dictionary.) Is Thomas S. Monson classless? He's a University of Utah alumnus and appeared in person to accept a University of Utah "Superfan" award about a month ago. What about Joseph B. Wirthlin? He was a dedicated Ute fan and gave motivational talks to the Utah football team up until his death.
Here's a proposal. Why not turn the Utah/BYU war of bitterness into a war of niceness? Utah fans, why not give a neighbor who's a BYU fan a red rose, with no irony and no hidden agenda? BYU fans, why not give a Utah fan friend at work some blue frosted cupcakes, without any covert message? I'm kidding a bit here, but I'm also being serious. I'd like to see a grassroots movement to add some brotherly love to the Utah/BYU rivalry, and I think the Utah and BYU athletic departments and fan organizations could also get involved and take action change people's attitudes.
Listen to Hall's comments here
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Utah-BYU Poll Results, Plus Game Day Do's and Don'ts
We're just a little over 24 hours from the big game, and if the About. com "Predict the Score" poll is any indication, BYU fans are feeling pretty confident. A whopping 32 percent of respondents predicted that BYU will win tomorrow's rivalry game by 14 points or more. In the "Most Memorable Utah-BYU Game" poll, 43 percent chose BYU's back-to-back last-minute wins in 2006 and 2007.
I love the BYU-Utah rivalry, but I think it's unfortunate when things get nasty between fans. In that light, I've created this list of game day do's and don'ts:
Utah-BYU Game Day Do's and Don'ts
- DO wear your team's color. Red spray-painted hair? Excellent. Full-body blue makeup? Go for it. Show your support by wearing as much of your team's color as you desire.
- DON'T wear both red and blue, or wear purple. Maybe you got your undergraduate degree at Utah and your graduate degree at BYU, or vice versa. Maybe you married someone from "the other side." Regardless, game day is not a day to sit on the fence. Pick a side. A related DON'T is, DON'T cheer for both teams during the game.
- If you're watching the game at home, DON'T invite fans of the other side to your game-watching party. I know that can be a hard rule to obey, and I've broken it myself many times, but it's more fun to watch the game if you can react how you want without worrying about hurting someone's feelings. And if your team loses, do you really want to be taunted in your own home?
- If you're at the stadium, DO be polite to visiting fans, remembering that you may be in their shoes next year. However, season ticket holders, DON'T sell your seat to a fan from the other side, no matter how much money he or she offers you. Especially if you sit in my section. Please. Seriously.
- Utah fans, DON'T scream obscenities, throw things, get in a fight, or do anything else that will give BYU fans an opportunity to call you "classless" (a word BYU fans seem to use a lot that nobody else uses).
- BYU fans, DON'T call Utah fans "classless." It's weird, and it doesn't mean what you think it means. Look it up in a dictionary.
- Utah fans, DON'T use the game as an excuse to vent any frustration you may have with Utah's "predominant religion."
- BYU fans, DON'T imply that God is especially fond of BYU football or that your team can win a football game by "living right."
- BYU fans, DON'T continue to wear those "Quest for Perfection" shirts. That slogan didn't really work out for you last year.
- Utah fans, DON'T mention last year's Sugar Bowl more than ten times in any one conversation with a BYU fan.
- DO cheer loudly for your team, and DO remember it's only a game!
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Ready for Black Friday?
I know the super-organized among us have had their Christmas or other holiday shopping done since Halloween, but for most Salt Lakers Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, represents the beginning of the holiday shopping season. I actually enjoy Black Friday and get a kick out of getting up early to join thousands of other bleary-eyed shoppers in search of the Great Christmas Bargain.
Most malls and discount stores will be opening before dawn Friday, and in some cases shopping starts Thursday night. Major malls in the Salt Lake area will make a party out of Black Friday, with giveaways and entertainment.
Here's a list of Black Friday events in the Salt Lake area. Happy Shopping!
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What's the Most Memorable Utah-BYU Rivalry Game?
A lot of fans have responded to my Utah-BYU score prediction poll, and most are predicting a big win for BYU. I'll publish the poll results on Friday, so make sure to add your vote.
The Utah-BYU football rivalry has a century-long history with a lot of exciting games, especially in the past 20 years or so. What do you think is the most memorable Utah-BYU football game? Is it "LaVell's Last Miracle"? BYU's back-to-back last-minute wins in 2006 and 2007? Utah's 1988 blowout with Scott Mitchell, the first Utah win over BYU in ten years and only the second in 20 years? Utah's 2004 and 2008 wins to clinch undefeated seasons? Vote for your favorite game below.
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Rivalry Week Begins
The University of Utah Utes crushed the San Diego State Aztecs yesterday 38-7, lessening the sting of last week's overwhelming loss to TCU. For 23 seniors on the team it was their last game at Rice-Eccles Stadium. "The TCU game left a bad taste in our mouths. We wanted to come out and finish strong for the seniors," said senior linebacker Mike Wright after the game.
However, the Utes' seniors still have to face their biggest rival, BYU, next Saturday at 3 p.m. in Provo. "The seniors now get their last regular season game at BYU, and there is not much extra motivation necessary," said Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham.
The BYU-Utah rivalry has all the elements of a classic college football rivalry, but with a twist. The two teams have played each other every year for 100 years, give or take (it depends on whether you count the games between the University of Utah and Brigham Young Academy). They're in-state rivals only 40 minutes driving distance apart. Both schools are huge with passionate fan bases. For the past decade at least, both schools have had extremely strong football programs, and frequently the conference championship has been decided by the rivalry game.
And then there's religion. Even though BYU has some non-Mormon fans and the Utes have even more Mormon fans, the rivalry taps into deeply-rooted divisions in Utah's culture and has come to be known at Utah's "Holy War."
I love the Utah-BYU football game, because the fans' and players' passions run so high. I hate it, too, for precisely the same reason. At all the Utah-BYU football games I've attended over the years, I've seen fans scream, curse, sob, throw things at the field and each other, throw punches, break bones and get arrested.
Can't we all just get along?
Read College Footbal Guide Tim Hyland's list of the ten biggest college football rivalries
Register for Sundance Locals Single Screening Tickets
Utah residents can register now through Friday, Dec. 4 for a time slot to purchase tickets for individual screenings at the Sundance Film Festival to be held Jan. 21-31. Getting tickets to Sundance screenings is a little more complicated than walking up to the ticket window at your neighborhood Megaplex, but if you jump through the hoops you'll get a chance to see some innovative films and soak up some of that star-studded Sundance ambiance.
After you register online, you'll be assigned a time slot to buy tickets in person in Salt Lake City or Park City Saturday or Sunday, Jan. 9 or 10. Time slots are assigned at random, so it doesn't matter how early or late you register. You'll receive an e-mail notifying you of your time slot on Wednesday, Dec. 9. Registering doesn't guarantee you a time slot; if there are more registrants than time slots some people won't get a slot.
After you receive your time slot, start researching films that appeal to you. Sundance organizers promise to have a detailed online guide in December, and they'll also mail you a printed guide. A lot of the films at Sundance have their own websites or have already been shown and reviewed at other festivals, so by doing a little online research you can find out if the film is really something you'd be interested in. Have a few options in mind, because a lot of screenings might be sold out by the time you get your turn.
If the film you really wanted to see is sold out, you cal always try for waitlist tickets at the theater before the screening. Click here for details on the waitlist process and lots of other tips on getting Sundance tickets.
Click here to register for a time slot to buy Sundance locals single screening tickets Jan. 9 or 10 (Utah residents only)
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In-n-Out Opens in Draper and Orem
"It's a new era in Utah," In-n-Out Burger fans told me as they waited for cheeseburgers and fries outside the California-based restaurant chain's new Draper location, which opened today. The walk-up line stretched around the building, and the drive-up line stretched around the block as hordes of hungry Utahns converged on the state's newest and most highly anticipated fast food restaurant. In-n-Out opened both its Draper and Orem locations today, and several more Utah locations will open in the next few weeks.
Walk-up customers waited in line about 30 minutes to order and another 15 minutes for their food to be prepared when I visited the restaurant at lunchtime, and the counter and kitchen staff seemed to be working at full capacity. "We're very ecstatic at all the customers that are here," said Kristi Calmy, In-n-Out's Utah divisional manager.
Three girls who were "taking a break" from a nearby middle school told me their food was "so good," and that they had waited in line about half an hour. The Holton and Saunders families, who had come to Draper from Highland to visit the new restaurant, said they had fallen in love with In-n-Out while living in San Diego and were very excited to see it come to Utah. "In-n-Out is just bigger than life," they said.
Dine Out This Thanksgiving
A few days ago I asked a teenage male acquaintance if he was looking forward to Thanksgiving, and he replied, "I don't know. We always have a lot of people over, so it's just a lot of extra cleaning for us. Plus it makes my mom cranky." Traditions like Thanksgiving dinner at home can help bind a family together, but sometimes it's nice to try something new. Or maybe you'd like to start a tradition that doesn't involve a week's worth of cooking and cleaning. If dining out sounds appealing to you this Thanksgiving, I've put together a list of top restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner, some in the Salt Lake Valley and some at nearby resorts.
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