Beth’s Spring Fling 2024 Review: An Experience Like No Other
I’ve been offering a comprehensive review for Beth’s Spring Fling for a few years now with much appreciation, but also some backlash. Like Simon Cowell, I may not be the best to show y’all how it’s done. But I know a good show when I see one.
As a disclaimer for this year’s review, it will be uniquely biased as I acted in it for 5 seconds in the finale. Last year, one of the comments I received from my review was from my good friend Gabriel Reynolds, “I’m excited to see what you come up with next year.” I myself, have never had a desire to be on stage. Yet, when my long-time friend Brent Spencer asked me to be a part of his number, I couldn’t refuse, and when he communicated his vision with the rest of us, I could see it was undeniably special.
With my new lens being a part of things, I got to see more of the effort and quality invested with the Spring fling crew and cast. James Owen and his crew found a stage fitting for such an event at the Cottonwood High School.
Despite unforeseen challenges, including the entire lighting system shutting down just weeks before the event, nothing was going to stop the dedicated Bethonians. The Spring Fling crew, along with John Kohles and Louis Gustafson spent weeks installing their own lighting system in the venue. The show must go on!
Dress Rehearsal: A Prelude to Chaos or a Catalyst for Excellence?
Thursday night was the first time I got to see what happens at a dress rehearsal. I will admit. I was extremely worried. If I had to guess the size of the entire cast, it seemed to be well over 300 people which in itself can inherently create chaos around you. Large casts were moving in and out, James Owen, trying to talk over the rustle and bustle of everyone and run the performances. There were numbers that didn’t have the right music in the queue. The potential in each number was evident, but long wait times, and disorganization masked the magic.
Opening Night: Accept Criticism and Make Magic!
Fast forward the following first-night event, I had major appreciation for the dedication of such an event. The SF crew was at cottonwood the entire day, rearranging numbers, testing testing testing audio, the cast was running and rerunning lines, they were meticulously running through everything wrong that was identified the night before. James had his stopwatch out timing, crafting, perfecting, streamlining, sustaining, standardizing, excell… you get the point.
As I only had 5 seconds to perform in the finale, I got to sit amongst the audience and behold the unexpected. Friday night was opening night. As you can expect, I was on edge but immediately I started to see… something different. The beginning of the road towards perfection.
There were numbers performed in a pre-show to give early audience members some fun entertainment while finding their seats. The opening number, was original. Something that had the same feeling of a greatest showman musical. It was truly a heartfelt beautiful tribute to James’ mother, Beth, showcasing how her legacy has flourished. My heart fluttered with appreciation.
While last year I criticized the safe prerecorded numbers and mentioned it left something to be desired, I truly appreciate the steps the Stephens, Owens, Reynolds and the cast took to take on this challenge. Although there were still some, and might I say; still very good! prerecorded numbers. There were many that did take the live approach. Yes, there were risks with this. But this is where the magic happens! The live audio was clear and revealed some awesome live vocal talent.
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This review is not meant to be directed at any specific number. YOU’RE ALL UNIQUELY WONDERFUL! But there are some special numbers you need to watch out for and truly pay attention to witness what is going on and how families are using this as a stage to work together in unity that will last beyond the shuttering lights when the night is over. (I’m seriously not using ChatGPT. <— My fingers did that).
Without spoiling too much, I witnessed a father and his children BAND together and give us a performance to BEAT on about for years. What struck me as special was imagining a member of a family with great talent, raising the bar of each of their family members up to deliver on a performance together instead of moving ahead to have their own limelight. The measure of the family was truly seen as greater than the sum of it’s parts.
In this Fling, you get to see dancing, live singing, acting, an entire symphony of wonderfulness. AND… it was almost flawless. I am so glad I got to see what a live rehearsal and an opening night could look like and the difference that could be made with a community like ours to work towards one vision and goal to perfect!
The Grand Finale: A Magical and Emotional Triumph
Now again, I was in this number so go ahead and take this last part with a grain of salt if you must. Except you Gabe. You have to like it and tell me what a wonderful job I did because you were right there with me. Arm in arm. I must say you weren’t so bad yourself!
As James has mentioned this year and years past, Beth’s Spring fling tries to put on something uniquely special with each year’s event and especially with the finale. One year, the entire cast came together and flash mobbed the audience with an incredible dancing, light, music show. Another year it rained on stage. Man-made rain! It’s the “one more thing” as some apple fans would recognize that is aimed to build suspense and surprise. This year was no different!
Before I move on with my biased review of this bit, it’s important to note this finale was dedicated to Brent’s late mother-in-law, Kathleen (Kathy) Barlow, who passed away only a week ago. She was truly a wonderful blessing to all those around her. Including my 4 oldest children whom she helped her daughter Kim Spencer raise in daycare. She was “grandma” to my children and I’m honored her impact and character got to help shape some of ours and her posterity to live on for eternity.
This finale was every bit as special and unique as any others in years past. It was truly different and included, challenge, pain, love, loyalty. It had an arc to it that could help the audience feel like they were a part of the story. It was every bit as magical as the vision Brent laid out to achieve without compromise.
There were so many parts to this finale, and so much that could potentially go wrong. Live vocals, acting, singing, climbing, lighting, the wind and the waves… To my, and many others, relief, it was executed perfectly. Once the finale was complete I could feel the roar and energy in the audience and many people after expressed they had tears witnessing such a spectacle.
THIS.. is how mountains are moved (quite literally). THIS.. is how you create light to shine out (a hill was even really there). THIS.. is how you accept criticism and praise from prior years and raise the bar. THIS.. is how a community comes together and makes the impossible.. MAGICAL.
Oh. and there’s just “One more thing…”
The same enchantment that captivated us last night is happening again tonight! If tonight’s performance improves as much as last night did from the dress rehearsal, you’re in for something extraordinary. Don’t miss it!
