The Lightning Thief w/The Young Players
A brief review of my experience last night
There’s nothing like the crisp evening air of January and the long, terrifying drive down to Benton to wake you up after a long day of work. But when I found out that there would be an additional showtime added to The Lightning Thief schedule down at The Royal Theatre in Benton, I knew, like Percy Jackson himself, my destiny was calling.
For anyone unfamiliar with the story of the young demi-god, you truly missed out on one of the greatest series ever written for teen/YA readers. From the mind of Rick Riordan (created for his son who struggles with ADHD and Dyslexia), it follows the tale of a young boy who quickly finds out that he’s the child of a Greek god. Yes, the gods are still very real and they are ever-absent in the dealings we mortals put ourselves through…that is until Zeus’ lightning bolt is stolen and all fingers point to Percy Jackson.
The show itself is part of The Young Players, an organization that works in tandem with The Royal’s regular season but is primarily comprised of teen/young actors who are given the chance to showcase their talent, polish their skills and add a few theatrical credits to their name before heading into their post-high school life.
If you’ve never been to The Royal Theatre in Benton, it really is such a unique experience. Transforming the old film theater into a space where live theater can command the stage yet still allow audiences to experience the comforts of old-time cinema with the seat and classic concessions stand, it’s like stepping back in time. And don’t worry, there’s reserved seating for every show so if you snag your tickets soon enough, you can be right up in the action in those first few rows.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that I have nothing but good things to say about the lighting set-up for this entire show. Having both witnessed and been a part of the magic brought on by Director Justin Pike, his vision for lighting design and truly captivating an audience with the wow and wonder that live theater brings continue to amaze me.
Costuming and choreography were both delightfully modern for when the series was set (early 00s if I’m not mistaken) and kept both the principle actors and ensemble in a constant state of movement. There wasn’t a moment throughout that I felt lagged or had me dozing off, plenty to be seen and experienced from large group numbers to smaller “fight” sequences built into the songs themselves.
The cast was great, really bringing to life the characters I grew up loving in the series. Joshua Scapin Tagua (Percy Jackson), Sascha Bass (Annabeth), and Jason Jackson (Grover) made a dynamic trio of lovable teens off on their first quest together. Tagua’s powerful vocals rocked the house from start to finish, often leaving us wanting more and captivating us with the softer moments he brought to life through Percy. Bass commanded the stage in her own right, never faltering or missing a moment to showcase her vocal strength and choreographic skills. Jackson was a perfect cast for the comedic Grover, always adding the necessary levity and wit to otherwise terrifying moments for the teens.
Others to spotlight throughout the notable cast count too many to include fully in this post, but it should be duly noted that the Ensemble was spectacular. Their energy and clear love for the script, score and each other lent itself to their performances as a cast and as individual, rockstar talents. Whether that was Jeremy Clay (Poseidon) or Patricia Loera (Sally Jackson) being the ever-present (mostly) adult figures and guiding lights for our teen heroes, Jack Clay (Mr. Brunner/Chiron) and Carson Clay (Mr. D/Dionysus) as our dutiful teachers and mentors, or the stunning vocal performances from folks like Jaydis Hauser (The Oracle), Spike Eells (Clarisse), Mallory Lafferty (Charon) or Braden Lisowe (Luke), I was in constant awe of it all.
As the cast took their final bows, locking arms and waving to the audience, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride for our theatrical community. We often think (or at least I do) about who will carry on the legacies we leave behind. Who keeps producing the shows? Who keeps the lights on? Who keeps putting themselves in front of hundreds of strangers to make sure live theatre stays alive?
Suffice it to say, I don’t think we have anything to worry about, folks.
If you haven’t gotten your tickets to see The Lightning Thief yet, you can purchase them here and go support your friends, family and neighbors!
And don’t forget, I’m currently holding a giveaway to join me, next Saturday, in seeing How Black Mothers Say I Love You at The Weekend Theater! Check out the previous post for more information and how to be a part of it!
Till next time, folks!