Two shows opened last weekend, each with a distinct flavor. South Puget Sound Community College’s (SPSCC) “Small Mouth Sounds” offers an intimate experience and invites reflection with a sort of “Eat Pray Love” meets “Wild” vibe. Timberline’s musical, “We Will Rock You” is a musical tribute to Queen and a love letter to the last century’s favorite music.
A cocktail of comedy and introspection, this play is about six people who go on a retreat to learn about who they are and to allow the practice of silent meditation to change them.
This motley crew represents many of us, varying in age, sexuality, and where they stand on the scale between being easygoing and being orderly. Each character is forced to interact with nature, each other, themselves, and all the questions that come from their experiences.
Bouncing back and forth between moments of laughter and poignant and heartbreaks, this play is packed with raw emotions and describes some of life’s hardest circumstances. This is a mixture we all could sip on right now.
Directed by Lauren Love, the cast is composed of talented actors who step into their characters' shoes by wearing their emotions on their faces and not being afraid to itch their mosquito bites or take their tops off to jump into the lake.
The set design for this show is particularly clever –- the screen changes the scenery throughout the show and allows the actors to embrace shadow play. The black box is an ideal space for this show in how it allows the audience to observe and also feel part of the retreat. With a maximum occupancy of roughly 50 people, I would advise you to come early to ensure you get a seat.
There is no intermission for this show. Admission is a suggested donation at the door.
A tribute to some of America’s favorite music, “We Will Rock You” is a musical for all generations with references to both Elvis and Lady Gaga. With clever lines like “you are my guitar hero” and “it wasn’t about the money, it was all for a crazy little thing called love,” this show is filled with lines that are awesome references to rock culture.
The soundtrack to this show is spectacular with hits from Queen, and it was performed very well by passionate students. Being in the audience for this show was a total blast, but it was also packed with an important message -- more on that in a moment.
Before the show started, I had the opportunity to chat with Timberline’s new theatre director, Adam Jones. Jones was very kind and glowed with pride for his students and their show, telling me about how the students only had six weeks to put this production together.
In conversation with Jones and other audience members, I learned that some of the cast included students who are new to theatre along with introverts who bravely broke out of their shells. Writing that brings a tear of joy and hope into my eye. Students also painted their own sets and a couple of the teachers joined the pit band led by Terry Shaw in the best “Wayne’s World” style of wig.
The plot of this show reminded me of something I would see in a movie or perhaps a video game and shared a similar vibe to the movie, “Ready Player One.”
This play had similar characteristics to cult classics in that the music was spectacular, but the plot does not always make sense. Don’t worry though, you do not miss or wish for the plot when you are rocking out to the music.
While the plot was sometimes unclear, the messages of the musical were strong. My favorite line from the show stated that “rock ’n’ roll is about loving who you are.”
I’ve never thought of it that way, but it is so true that the heart of rock ’n’ roll is about not letting anyone interfere with who you are.
Another theme emerged both from the script and the writings (spray painted) on the wall: a world without rock and other diverse music enables facism. Rock music embraces individuality, and when that is taken away, we are left with mandatory conformity.
The next generation has spoken, and we must listen. Who knows, maybe we can all rock on together.
Tickets can be purchased here.
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