Body of Work

AN AILING, ANCIENT HOUSE:
PLAN-B THEATRE COMPANY PUTS A NEW SPIN
ON A POE CLASSIC
(excerpt)
October 15, 1997, Scott C. Morgan, City Weekly

Known for producing innovative and daring theater on a shoestring budget, Plan-B Theater Company has utilized a variety of theatrical techniques to tackle topics ranging from the world's creationist myths to the controversy over gay clubs in Utah's schools.

So, it's slightly disappointing to watch Plan-B's mildly-entertaining variation on Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, especially when it pales in comparison with Plan-B's past efforts. While there are interesting things still to be found in An Ancient House, the play's overall packaging lacks the usual freshness associated with Plan-B productions.

Known in the past for melding unique works to site-specific locations, Plan-B has been able to make unconventional theater spaces work to their benefit. Plan-B's original choice of the intimate Victorian Aardvark's Cabaret would have been perfect for An Ancient House , but its closure forced Plan-B to move uncomfortably into the Bibliotect bookstore. Even though the Bibliotect's space is small, it still feels too expansive for this intimate tale of horror.

With An Ancient House, it seems that Plan-B aimed at creating a post-modernistic homage to Edgar Allan Poe to go along with the Halloween season. To some degree, Plan-B succeeds on both counts, offering something different than the usually conservative Salt Lake theater scene.