Happily, this year's "Voyeur" resists both temptations. "Saturday's Voyeur" works best when it keeps its satiric eye firmly focused on the culture shock that living in Utah represents. And co-conspirators Allen Nevins and Nancy Borgenicht found plenty of ammunition in the past year's headlines to take aim and score hits at Utah's unique political and cultural life, "making all of our differences so painfully obvious."
The opening number, "Beneficial Life," sets the tone as it reprises 30 years of "Voyeur" targets: "30 years some have prayed that we'd all go away. There's so much that has changed, but so much that's the same." While the show rehashes a few missionary numbers from the past, the majority of the material is new and, as always with "Voyeur," professionally performed.
Suave Kurt Bestor (Christopher Glade) and wind-up doll Marie Osmond (Arika Schockmel) enthuse over her "Dancing with the Stars" appearance. Gayle Ruzicka (Jeanette Puhich, who else?) strong-arms legislators as usual.
We make two visits to "Mr. Becker's (aka Mr. Roger's) Neighborhood," where a bewildered Becker (Alexis Baigue) is harassed by legislators Curtis (Cragun Foulger) and Bramble (Jacob Johnson) and later takes us on a field trip to Sugar House, "where the quaint shops used to be," ending up at the Blue Boutique. Becker and Mayor Tom Dolan (Duane Stephens) also go toe-to-toe on "Broadway-style Thee-a-ter."
Chris Buttars (Stephens again) complains, ala Amy Winehouse, "My ma wants me to go to rehab." Channeling Celtic Women, Mormon women for Mitt (Kent Harrison Hayes) lament, "Our Mitt has quit." A Monty Python-ized Liquor Commission rhapsodizes over "Silly Booze Laws" a la Paul McCartney. But everyone's favorite number is going to be the finale, "Nobel Knockouts," where a chorus of jubilant mice celebrates Mario Capecchi's achievement. It's great to see "Voyeur" end on a positive note, proving that the show is happy to point out Utah's pluses as well as poke fun at its shortcomings.
"Voyeur" runs long and probably could have done without the BYU museum number (in spite of Colleen Baum's dead-on John Wayne imitation). And the SLAC season subscription plugs seem self-serving.
Brenda Sue Cowley, Marylynn Ehrengard, and Shanna Jones round out the multitalented cast. Cynthia Fleming's devilishly clever choreography, John Caywood's perfectly paced direction, and Jenny Floor's crisp musical direction - you can understand every word - are completely in sync. And Brenda Van der Wiel's costumes, from the black vests with gold stars of the opening to the gray jackets and pink cummerbunds and tails of the finale, are a knockout.
The variety-show format of recent years seems ideally suited to "Voyeur," allowing more range in subject matter and splashier production numbers. More sharply shaped zingers and less mean-spirited sniping make this one of the best "Voyeurs" ever.
"Saturday's Voyeur"
* WHERE: Salt Lake Acting Company, 168 W. 500 North, Salt Lake City.
* WHEN: Sunday; continues at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 17. Additional matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9.
* RUNNING TIME: 2 hours and 15 minutes (including a 15-minute intermission).
* TICKETS: $44-$54; 801-363-SLAC or visit www.saltlakeactingcompany.org for tickets or information. The show contains adult themes and language.
* BOTTOM LINE: This year's edition of "Saturday's Voyeur" is more celebratory but as provocative as ever as it zeroes in on the mixed blessings of living in Utah.
