THE ESSENTIAL A&E PICKS FOR NOV 2 - 8 | Entertainment Picks | Salt Lake City Weekly

THE ESSENTIAL A&E PICKS FOR NOV 2 - 8 

Maria Bamford, Pygmalion Theatre Company: The Half-Life of Marie Curie, Ballet West: Firebird, and more.

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ROBYN VON SWANK
  • Robyn von Swank

Maria Bamford
Sometimes, a reference to a performer's "comedic voice" has to do with their unique perspective and sensibility; occasionally, it refers to the literal sound of their voice. In the case of veteran comedian Maria Bamford, however, it's fair to say it means both: the topics and style of her comedy are uniquely her own, and she delivers them with the skills of a gifted vocal performer.

That combination was probably offered in its most distilled form in the sadly-short-lived Netflix series Lady Dynamite, a semi-autobiographical series in which the same-named character played by Bamford deals with trying to rebuild her show-biz career after taking an extended sabbatical for mental-health treatment. It's a subject she's never been shy about bringing to her standup comedy act as well, as she did in a Comedy Central special when describing her psychiatric ward intake interview in a way that also conveys her distinctive sense for self-deprecation. When she describes telling the psychiatrist about her occupation, and he subsequently searches for her on YouTube, he explains that he has done it to make sure that she was who she said she was, and wasn't experiencing a "grandiose delusion." "It's not like I said I was Richard Pryor," Bamford continues. "And if I had claimed to be one of the best comedians of this past century—and a Black man, and deceased, at that--... well, how wonderful would that have been."

Maria Bamford visits Wiseguys Gateway location (190 S. 400 West) on Thursday, Nov. 2 for two shows, at 6:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $35; visit wiseguyscomedy.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

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Pygmalion Theatre Company: The Half-Life of Marie Curie
Since its inception, Pygmalion Theatre Company has centered stories about women, and often about historical women. That's part of why Lauren Gunderson's The Half-Life of Marie Curie—following the friendship between the Nobel Prize-winning scientist and engineer Hertha Ayrton circa 1912, as Curie deals with the scandalous fallout of her extramarital affair—grabbed director Fran Pruyn. "It astounds me sometimes how little people know about history," Pruyn says. "These monumental accomplishments sometimes just get buried in pop culture. And it's so great to celebrate the accomplishments of tremendous scientists, who happen to be women, at a time when it wasn't easy."

This production also offered a chance for Pruyn to work with two local actors—Stephanie Howell as Marie Curie, and April Fossen as Hertha Ayrton—she considered perfect for the roles. "Stephanie's not only an incredible actor, [but] she's physically perfect. She's so small, and there are a lot of references to Marie not being healthy, because she's carrying radium around in her body all the time. ... One of the under-utilized things about April is that she's very funny. She [often] plays huge roles that are very serious, but she can land the timing of a joke. ... I'd like to think that I direct collaboratively, but it's more thrilling to direct so collaboratively with two experienced, thoughtful actors."

The Half-Life of Marie Curie runs Nov. 3 – 18 at the Rose Wagner Center Black Box Theatre, with performances Thursday – Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 - $22.50; visit arttix.org to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (SR)

BEAU PEARSON
  • Beau Pearson

Ballet West: Firebird
While ballet programming often focuses on classic works—like the William Christensen choreography of Stravinsky's Firebird and George Balanchine's patriotic celebration of Sousa music in Stars and Stripes that are part of this month's Ballet West program—it's still a discipline that celebrates new work as well. Ballet West makes its case with the world-premiere Fever Dream by former company demi-soloist Joshua Whitehead (pictured, center).

Whitehead describes the piece as a sequel of sorts to his 2023 production Whispers of the Sandman, with the same protagonist confronting subconscious fears and desires. And Whitehead serves not just as choreographer for Fever Dream, but also as its composer. That process was an active one throughout the staging of the piece, according to Whitehead: "I had an idea or a theme of music for the very opening of the piece, but then that changed after watching the dancer's movement. For the duet specifically, I allowed the steps and hand motions to dictate the tempo and rhythm of the music."

White head also noted that the transition from dancer to choreographer involves working different creative muscles. "A choreographer must also develop skills beyond just the physical execution of steps," he says "They must acquire a deeper understanding of dance composition, musicality, staging and overall artistic direction."

Ballet West's program of Fever Dream, Firebird and Stars and Stripes runs Nov. 3 – 11 at the Capitol Theatre (50 W. 200 South), with performances Nov. 3, 4, 9 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., plus a 2 p.m. Nov. 11 matinee. Tickets begin at $29; visit arttix.org for tickets and additional event information. (SR)

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