THEATER REVIEW: Anna goes from the Tropics to USU
Utah State Theater took the audience to a 1929 Cuban-American cigar factory Thursday as they performed “Anna in the Tropics.”
The play is staged in a Florida town filled with many cigar factories. With modernization quickly coming in, the factories will soon loose their need for workers to hand-roll cigars.
A lector is hired to read aloud to the workers of one such factory. “Anna Karenina” is the book of choice, and the women love it. The men, on the other hand, want to see the lector leave.
He and this book brought many changes to their lives. The workers see connections between their own lives and the lives of the characters in the book and react accordingly. Many changes take place – some for the better, and some for the worse.
The play, written by Nilo Cruz, was good, but that’s as much as I would give it. It was very slow paced and very dramatic in some parts. If plays could be termed as “chick flicks,” this would definitely be one of them.
The actors and actresses did very well in their assigned characters. Their accents were very fun, and most of them had it down very well. From where I was sitting, I could tell they were having fun performing.
The mood of the play was very well presented. The costumes, accents, and music caught the culture and time-period very proficiently. All of the scenery was amazing.
“Anna in the Tropics” will play December 1, 2, and 6-9 in the Morgan Theater. Tickets are free and can be picked up at the USU Ticket Office. Curtain time is 7:30. Children under six are not admitted.
Audra Chappel is The Utah Statesman theater critic. Comments can be sent to her at audrac@cc.usu.edu.