Local Looks: Original musical ‘The Principle Wife’ a delight at Provo’s Covey Center
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- A production of “The Principle Wife” is held at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
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- From left, Sarah (Erin Wilson), Elsa (Mattie Grace) and Rebecca (Twyla Wilson) talk to each other during a production of “The Principle Wife” at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
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- Rebecca (Twyla Wilson) and Benjamin (Ethan Kelso) sing during a production of “The Principle Wife” at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
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- A production of “The Principle Wife” is held at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
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- Rebecca (Twyla Wilson) sings during a production of “The Principle Wife”at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
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- Erastus (John Donovan Wilson) and Rebecca (Twyla Wilson) act during a production of “The Principle Wife”at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
Courtesy Covey Center for the Arts
A production of "The Principle Wife" is held at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
Provo’s Covey Center for the Arts on Friday hosted the premiere of a new musical, “The Principle Wife.” The book and lyrics were written by Taylor Vaughn and Mark Greenalgh and the music was written by award-winning composer Jonathan Keith. The musical will play every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday through July 21.
The show provides a wonderful balance by talking about a sensitive subject in a fun and relatable way while still being sincere. This show is 32 years in the making, 22 years with the plans for making it a screenplay with an additional 10 as Vaughn decided that it would best as a stage musical.
With potential for the show to play in other countries, Vaughn and his team are looking forward to a promising future for “The Principle Wife.” Speaking with Vaughn, he expressed how he hoped this musical would help subdue the commonly-known stereotypes that surround polygamy and shed light on the feelings and struggles his polygamous ancestors experienced.
The show is set in Southern Utah in the late 1800s, centering around Rebeca and Benjamin, a newly married couple in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the story centers on the challenges Rebecca faces as she tries to live “the principle” of plural marriage, it’s truly a good old fashioned love story, not necessarily between Benjamin and Rebecca but between people in general — they all work through challenges together and develop a sense of camaraderie.
“Even if you think you won’t like it, even if you don’t agree with polygamy or understand it. Come, come see it! You will be pleasantly surprised with the feelings you walk away with,” said Twyla Wilson, who plays Rebecca.
Courtesy Covey Center for the Arts
From left, Sarah (Erin Wilson), Elsa (Mattie Grace) and Rebecca (Twyla Wilson) talk to each other during a production of "The Principle Wife" at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
Wilson spoke of her own difficulty with the teaching of polygamy and how she has a better understanding, now, of what people may have had to go through in the past.
Her real life husband, John Donovan Wilson, also stars in the show as Erastus Lowe, an old love interest of Rebeccas and the main antagonist. He plays a government-appointed informer who is sent to Southern Utah to report on the growth of polygamy. His character was a nice addition to the play as he showed how feelings can interfere with duty. His vocal performance throughout the musical was also beyond impressive.
Not only does this musical contain great storytelling — of love, struggle and persistence — but it is full of talented actors and actresses. Twyla Wilson portrays so much emotion throughout her time on stage that showgoers can truly feel the pain and heartache that she feels as she sings “Thy Will Be Done.”
Not only does this song express the pain of trusting without knowing why, but it touches on the agony she must feel as a mother and spouse. She truly wows the audience with her vibrant and clear vocals.
Her counterpart Benjamin, played by Ethan Kelso, provides necessary comedic relief as he sings “What Women Want,” telling of his struggle trying to address the women in his life without hurting any of them. He gives a great performance.
Courtesy Covey Center for the Arts
Rebecca (Twyla Wilson) and Benjamin (Ethan Kelso) sing during a production of "The Principle Wife" at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
The additional wives are Sarah Bradshaw (played by Erin Wilson) and Elsa Hendervroggen (played by Mattie Grace). They both did fabulous jobs in their respective roles as they showed the obvious awkwardness that would come with joining such a family while earnestly wanting to feel loved. All three of the wives gave a genuine and talent-filled performance of sisterhood, love and feminism as they all grow into their roles as wives together.
Vaughn and his team did the delicate and oft-misinterpreted topic of polygamy well. They do a great job of not glossing over the harder, more uncomfortable parts of the practice while not making those topics the focal point.
It’s a show not to be missed in its month-long run at the Covey Center, while it covers a delicate topic, this is a musical about people, about love and about how people navigate the ebbs and flows of life.
A production of "The Principle Wife" is held at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
Rebecca (Twyla Wilson) sings during a production of "The Principle Wife"at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.
Erastus (John Donovan Wilson) and Rebecca (Twyla Wilson) act during a production of "The Principle Wife"at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo on Friday, July 7, 2023.