Denver Performing Arts Complex

The play Shadowlands, currently playing at the Denver Center, tells the story of author, professor and theologian CS Lewis’ late in life marriage to American poet Joy Davidman and how her subsequent battle with, and death from, bone cancer pinches his previous pious assurances about God’s purpose for suffering in our lives. The play is both beautiful and wrenching and if I were a rich man (woman) I’d buy everyone a ticket to the show. Sharing the experience as an audience is a little like group therapy/​Bible study and you walk out feeling a little more able to deal with whatever manifestation of suffering currently resides in your own life. This is all thanks to CS Lewis himself, as much of the script is derived from his writings and biographies, but also to play-​write William Nicholson, who has extracted and quilted this exquisite slice from all there is to say about CS Lewis.
Besides the story/​message, the Space is my absolute favorite theater in all of Denver. The versatility of set, lights and movement offered in this arena stage makes every show there a technical treat, to be sure.
The real feast of the evening is served up in Graeme Malcolm’s seamless and achingly believable portrayal of Lewis. Woven with such restraint and subtle nuance, I didn’t want to miss a single gesture, glance, slope of shoulder, tone, pitch or pause. He creates a character that we trust to guide us through the miasma of sorrow that comprises Act 2. Malcolm is well supported by his cohort of Oxford Dons, and most notably by John Hutton in the role of brother Warnie Lewis. Hutton always surprises and never disappoints! Love that guy.
The only disappointment, unfortunately, comes from Kathleen McCall in the role of Joy Davidman — her distracting New York twang coming and going regularly and sounding more like a certain character from Guys and Dolls than an educated poet from Westchester County. I tried really hard, but I just couldn’t buy it. She never pulled me in and I, along with the character of Christopher Riley, was relieved when she was gone.

You’ve got to see «American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose»! It is fast and funny and insightful, way beyond irreverent. The 9 member cast plays 80 characters over the span of 200+ years of American history. Sam Gregory is awesome, as usual, but I love him in this kind of play where he really gets to flaunt his comedic skills. This show is outrageous and fresh. Good for the Denver Center! (I’d have given it 5 stars but I reserve that for shows that actually take my breath away.)
It says no one under 15. I took my 17 y. o. and he loved it. Kinda balances out that public school civics class. ;)