Jeffrey S.
Yelp
This family-owned playhouse is an institution in the Bear Lake area, and has quietly become a tradition for me. It's just the right mixture of campy summer fun, legitimately serious talent, and distinctly Utah flavor.
Located in Pickleville (well, y'know, south of Garden City... but really you can just say on the southwest corner of Bear Lake), it certainly jumps out at you as you round the bend of the lake there. At night, the twinkling lights are illuminated and you can't miss it. By day, it's a log cabin-y looking exterior and a big ol' building, at that. It's actually a playhouse, a separate dining area where they do dinners before the 8pm shows, and on the west, a small restroom facility and snowcone shop. Trust me, it all makes sense when you see it.
So, what do you get when you cross a talented family, a resort community, and a dental school dropout? An entire franchise built around one character: Juanito Bandito. This character is the brainchild of TJ Davis, one of the kids in the family, who quit dental school in order to come back and live the theater dream. I'm filling in the blanks a little, as I don't really know the full story. But he is a bright and energetic guy, and he's built a local legend. Each year, he writes and produces a new chapter in the saga of Juanito Bandito. This character, a caricature of old west gunslingers, is part El Guapo from The Three Amigos, and part Enrique Iglesias. His thick accent is overdone for the comedy of it (I'll choot you!) but it doesn't come off as offensive, but endearing, as he often addresses the audience directly. You can't help but root for him and his often goofy, eclectic, or dimwitted crew. The choreography mixes the bright and cheery songs of traditional melodrama with fresh takes on current memes and hip hop. Juanito sings, dances, raps, and gives fair warning when it's about to get awesome, or if you are allergic to serious amounts of awesome.
We take a large group of rowdy teens every year or two, and it's their favorite part of a weeklong campout (we make them bathe beforehand). Kids that may not come to camp at all know that Bandito is coming, so they'll join for the week. They sport the hats and T-shirts, and I gotta say that TJ and the rest of the cast go out of their way to make themselves available to sign autographs, pose for pics, and otherwise make a touchpoint with them. It's appreciated.
Lest you think it's all Bandito all the time, they feature another show all summer long, as well. This year it's Shrek: The Musical. In the past it's been The Drowsy Chaperone or Forever Plaid. Full disclosure, I've only seen Bandito here. But the other ones are supposed to be good. For a small town, they get some incredible talent. I mean, without that small town qualifier it's true: they get some incredible talent here, full stop.
The seats are comfortable enough, they seem to pack them in almost every night, there's a small balcony, and honestly probably not a bad seat in the house. They've invested money in technology and started incorporating video into things, they lights and sound aren't noticeable (the very best compliment in live theater) and it's perfect for the surroundings. You wouldn't stage Othello here, unless he was played by a gunslinger with a mustache and estretchy pants.
If you're going to be in Bear Lake, you should plan on a night at the Playhouse. For many, it's become a tradition just as important as a day on the water or a tall raspberry shake.
