Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Pinnacle Acting Company

From June 18-24, Pinnacle Acting Company of Salt Lake City presented Edward Albee's classic play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf at Westminster College. Using the main characters of George and Martha (Washington?), Albee explores the concepts of the American marriage, social expectations, and reality versus illusion. The play delves into the complex and sometimes disturbing relationship of these two characters as they suck others into their tempestuous and volatile lives.

A very talented ensemble leads this production. Mike Brown as Nick, the young and handsome newly appointed adjunct professor, is convincing as he slowly gets trapped in George and Martha's nonsense. His wife, Honey (played by Amanda Hayter) begins to experience the worst of what the couple is capable of, and how it could potentially destroy her life and marriage. Hayter is beautiful and looks the part perfectly, almost too well to be taken seriously, but quickly proves to be an excellent actress. She has sincerity and determination for Honey to not only be a bimbo-silly character, but with depth and humanity. Brown and Hayter had excellent chemistry providing a realistic livelihood to the play.

The show's main characters, George and Martha, played by Jared Larkin and Teresa Sanderson respectively, were the true highlights of the production. Larkin delivered Albee's witty dialogue with directness and confidence, taking on an interesting take of the classic character. Truly stealing the show however was Teresa Sanderson as Martha. Sanderson is a true professional dwarfing all the other actors in skill and talent. An Ogden native, and fresh from playing a former LDS mother turned transgender man in Matthew Ivan Bennett's Eric(a), Sanderson took on this legendary role. With complexity and charm, she made us feel envy, pity, and anger toward this vicious and sometimes crazed woman. While Martha is often seen as theater's greatest female villain, Sanderson delivered the part so impeccably, bringing out her vulnerability and well as her anger. She truly gave Salt Lake's most impressive performance in a play thus far, one that is rarely seen on stage in Salt Lake, let alone New York City.

All the elements came together for this production, the actors worked seamlessly together. Director Larry West is to be commended for this production, set in the round, making the audience feel as if they are right in the room as the plot unfurls. Professional by all means, Pinnacle Acting Company really hit a home-run with this production of a classic play. Be sure to catch Teresa Sanderson as Violet Weston is Tracey Lett's play August: Osage County performed by the Utah Repertory Theater Company this coming August!