LOGAN – The Utah debut of Between the Lines proved to a charming fairy tale set in modern times with music ranging from solo power ballads to jazzy ensemble rock n’ roll tunes.
That might sound like an unlikely combination, but the production by the Theatre Arts Department at Utah State University on Nov. 15 worked like a charm because its student cast members represent a deep pool of talent and they aren’t the least bit afraid to strut their stuff.
Under the deft director of visiting professor Stefan Espinosa, Between the Lines is based on a young-adult novel by Timothy Allen McDonald and Jody Picoult, which was adapted to the stage by Elyssa Samuel and Kate Anderson.
It’s one of the funniest, sweetest musicals to emerge from the off-Broadway circuit in recent memory and this USU production is just about perfect in every way.
The musical follows Delilah, an outsider in a new school, trying to cope with her parents’ recent divorce and the stigma of having injured the queen bee of the school’s mean girl squad.
Under those circumstances, who could blame her for seeking comfort in her favorite book? But when the line between fantasy and reality begin to blur for Delilah in extraordinary and astonishing ways, she must find her own way to rewrite the end of her story.
Ella Hassard captivates as the unlucky Delilah, in one of the few roles that isn’t double-cast in this show. Ms. Hassard strikes just the right note of plaintiff self-pity in the early solos, then captures the awe of self-discovery as she becomes aware of the alternative reality in a one-of-its-kind book.
Delilah is beset with all the horrors of modern teens, from online bullying to cookie-cutter psychology from the school’s shrink, but Ms. Hassard’s performance shines through – particularly her singing – as warm and memorable.
As Delilah’s harried and distracted mother, local audience favorite Mia Gatherum delivers an equally heartfelt performance and sings some lovely duets with her stage daughter.
Another cast stand-out was Kaito Davis, appearing as Oliver, Delilah’s too-good-to-be-true prince charming – because he isn’t.
The rest of this fine cast perform double duty, alternating between typical high school characters and fictional roles in Delilah’s favorite fairy tale. Here we find some additional familiar faces delivering absolutely over-the-top theatrics.
Chief among those performers were Marin Robinson and Ariana Whatcott, who double as Delilah’s high school tormentors and then appear as woke mermaids in the fairy tale – think of them as fishy feminists.
Joined by Megan Christensen, their performance of the song “Do It For You” is the Second Act’s showstopper.
The always watchable Ryan Adams is also on hand, first as a Neanderthal bully and then as Frump, a tap-dancing dog.
Megan Bedell is also hilarious as a round-heeled chemistry teacher and as Seraphima, an empty headed fairy tale princess who settles for Frump when her prince charming is suddenly head-over-heels for the flesh-and-blood Delilah.
Finally, kudos to Niko Barlow who animates another unforgettable troll puppet created by the combined design talents of Dennis Hassan and Phillip Lowe.
The score of Between the Lines was performed by a band led by music professor Dallas Aksoy on keyboards, Josiah Cordes on cello, Trent Dahlin on keyboards, Dan Field on percussion, Cathryn Haubner-Sheridan on voilin/viola, Leo Sanjinez on guitar and Mary Wilmore on flute/piccolo.
Following its debut on Nov. 15, other evening performances of the musical are slated for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16; Tuesday, Nov. 19; Wednesday, Nov. 20; Thursday, Nov. 21; and Friday, Nov. 22.
Matinee performances will be presented at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 23.
All performances of Between the Lines are scheduled in the Morgan Theatre of the Chase Fine Arts Center on the USU campus.