By Katrina Reynolds
UTOPIA, OHIO A New Musical presented by Hugo West Theatricals through August 13th. I attended the opening night performance.
Oh, hello there! Not who you were expecting? Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Katrina (Kat) Reynolds and I am a local theatre artist. I was asked to step in as a guest reviewer for Behind The Curtain Cincinnati and I could not be more excited about that! (And if you like this, maybe I’ll be asked again, wink wink.) Now back to the business at hand…
Hugo West Theatricals does it again with its uncanny ability to bring us local history in theatrical form. Their current offering? Utopia, Ohio, a new musical written and produced by the incomparable Joshua Steele.
For those who may not know (yours truly included), the musical follows the real history of three little-known utopian experiments as told by the voices of individuals whose lives led them there: a widowed shoemaker, a Black man who escapes enslavement with his family, and a Jewish immigrant fleeing persecution. This place they called Utopia is a mere 30 miles from Cincinnati which in itself is an intriguing fact.
Under the helm of director Zach Steele (who also performs in the piece), Utopia, Ohio is a sort of folksy opera where most of the story is told through song. The styles of music throughout touch on several different genres and the vast majority of the performers play multiple instruments.
The staging of the show is rather creative: characters come in and out of the main playing area whilst adding an accessory to their costume to remind you that they are a different person. Projections by graphic designer Greg Glevick show us photos of the actual people who these actors are portraying. That in addition to strong acting choices assist with these character transitions. Costume Designer Jim Stump has made some smart choices which both clearly convey the time period and do not hinder the actors’ performances.
Ensemble of UTOPIA, OHIO by Hugo West Theatricals. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.
Serving as both Assistant Director and Dramaturg, Deondra Kamau Means had his work cut out for him. It is not easy to tell this tale in two acts, especially since the majority of the audience may be ignorant of the story origins. However, as per usual, Mr. Means succeeds.
While for the most part the ensemble is truly an unbreakable one, there are indeed stand-out performances. First artist of note (in not particular order) is Linsey Rogers as multiple leading characters. In addition to her undeniable acting talent, Ms. Rogers’ violin playing is exquisite. Another extraordinarily strong contender is Zack Steele as Moishe and several ensemble members. Mr. Steele has an intoxicating energy that is sure to draw any audience member in.
It is difficult to see things opening night as there might be a hiccup or two along the way. For example, there is no doubt Jeremiah Savon Jackson (as Samuel and Ensemble) is a talented vocalist; however, troubles navigating the microphone led to moments where he was not intelligible. When the story is told through song, it is very important to hear every word.
Josh Steele has written a fantastic piece which should come as no surprise to those of us who have been graced with his talent in past. My only critique would be that certain songs could be shortened as it can be easy to “tune out” if they go on for too long. It might be best to add more dialogue in order for songs not to be inordinately lengthy. However, it is obvious what Mr. Steele is trying to accomplish and I would say he should consider this production a success.
In summary, a thoroughly enjoyable (and educational!) show with strong acting, musicality, and vocals. Utopia, Ohio can be enjoyed at The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum (a former Carnegie library).
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The question I get asked most by people with limited time and resources is, which shows are a “must see.” And I give them my bias answer, based on how I reacted to the shows. Please understand that differences between shows in the rankings can be infinitesimal. And I guarantee everyone’s list is different and just as valid.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 