cultural event

David Kanoa James

2/27/11

Cultural Event 3

Side Show

            I didn’t pay the fifteen dollars to go see the Lamont production of Side Show. To be honest I was shocked when they said that the production was for a fee larger than 5 dollars. Its not that I don’t like to support the aspiring actors its that I personally feel that a school that charges 48 grand a year should allow its students to see anything that comes through Lamont for free. Especially if its put on by fellow students.

            But besides that fact I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Sitting in the back with my usher friends who let me in for free I was able to enjoy this University of Denver’s rendition of an acclaimed play. The singing was wonderful in parts, especially the harmony formed by Daisy and Violet, the two stars of the production. Simply, the vocal talent belonging to most of the performers was wonderful.

            What I noticed to be a week point of the performance was that it was hard to hear some of the performers at points throughout the production. This was the first play that I had seen at Lamont where the performers were given mikes to amplify their voices. I have to say that though it was a great idea to help with the singing parts it was somewhat spotty during conversation. The turning on and off of mikes seemed to be a little shabby.

            Beyond performance aspects the scenery was wonderful. Great tapestries of different characters from the play adorned the walls and lights were strung along the ceiling to give the illusion of being in a circus tent. Costuming was wonderful too, with the character diversity of a bearded lady, gypsies and a lizard man, the production crew obviously had their work cut out for them but rose to the challenge wonderfully.

            I enjoyed the performance greatly and was happy to be a part of it in audience form. Part of me wanted to get back into theatre because of how much fun the many performers were having. I also wondered how I would have portrayed the different characters onstage in contrast to how they were being depicted.