Stage Takes

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Part III

If you ever wondered what it would be like if your nerdiest, most theatrically-inclined friend told you The Lord of the Rings story around a campfire — only he really got into it, forgot to stop, and had props ready to go — then Riley Smith has answered our prayers. I saw Part 1, two years ago, and thought it was… rough. This was before I knew Riley and the show has come a long way! Smith puts together a fun, experimental project where he is on stage fully committed through a retelling of the classic story/film and playing different characters. The show is chaotic, heartfelt, and hilarious. He has the audience join in with sound effects, humming noises, and keeps us entertained throughout. The production design is pretty bare, as Riley invites us to use our imagination with him, there are a few well-placed props. The show lasts 50 minutes but we are entertained throughout. I appreciate Riley giving us a full-fledged performance (as he does with his other show) and pokes fun at how draining it can be for him. I’m excited for Part 4 of The Fellowship of the Ring, mainly for the continued commitment.