Hale Centre Theatre
To Present Wartime Classic
“The Hasty Heart”
Center-Stage Theatre to Transform into a Jungle Medical Unit for Comedy.
Hale Centre Theatre (HCT), Utah’s premier family theatre, will present 1940s classic play “The Hasty Heart” April 16 through May 28. Blending comedy, romance and drama, the production returns to HCT after being selected as an audience favorite. The theatre’s unique center stage will provide an intimate setting for the play, as actors are confined in the beds of a military medical unit and remain on stage throughout the show.
“It gives you a different feeling to be so close to the actors as they are exposed on stage throughout the play,” said veteran HCT director John Adams. “This show is not a spectacle with moving parts, it’s about people. And seeing it in this format will provide a profound experience for the audience.”
HCT’s center stage will transform into a Burmese jungle medical unit reminiscent of the TV show “M*A*S*H.” Bamboo paths weave between huts and medical buildings that are raised off of the ground as they would have been in World War II to avoid snakes and insects. With veteran HCT actors and some new additions joining the cast, the production leans heavily on strong acting and showcases exceptional local talent.
Written in 1944 and first staged in 1945, “The Hasty Heart” is based on Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright John Patrick’s experiences in an ambulance unit on the Burma front in World War II. The story follows six patients in an English war hospital including Lachlen McLachlen (“Lachie”), a Scottish soldier with one barely functioning kidney and only a few weeks to live. Unaware of the severity of his ailment, Lachie proves to be difficult, abrasive and unfriendly. The other patients and staff attempt to gain his affection, which results in a surprisingly layered tale, less about death and more about how to live and celebrate life.
“The Hasty Heart” ran on Broadway for 204 performances and had an off-Broadway revival in 2004. The 1949 movie version starred Ronald Regan and earned two Golden Globes and an Academy Award nomination. The 1983 TV movie also earned a Golden Globe nomination. Playwright Patrick won a Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for his play “The Teahouse of the August Moon.”
HCT’s “The Hasty Heart” is directed by John Adams. The show stars Rusty Bringhurst and Cameron Asay as Yank; Amy Stocking and Alexis Boss as Margaret; and Jeffrey Whitlock and Magarin Hobson as Lachie. Costumes were designed by Peggy Wilis; scenic design by Kacey Udy; lighting design by Adam Flitton; props by Michelle Jensen; and sound design by Dan Morgan.
Performances are Monday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinées each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and occasional weekdays at 4 p.m. Ticket prices for Monday through Thursday evenings and matinees are $23 per adult and $15 per child (5-11 years); for Friday and Saturday evening shows tickets are $26 per adult and $16 per child (5-11 years). Tickets may be purchased online at www.halecentretheatre.org, via telephone at (801) 984-9000 or at the Hale Centre Theatre box office at 3333 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, Utah.
Hale Centre Theatre
3333 South Decker Lake Drive
West Valley City, Utah
801-984-9000
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