I made my first visit to the UTEP Dinner Theatre on Jan. 31, when I got the opportunity to attend the opening night of “Carrie–the Musical,” I must admit that at first I was quite skeptical about attending the show due to the very well known topics that the plot touches upon.

My immediate thought was: how will they to pull off the complex scenes that are so distinctive to this particular story? I found myself eager to see for myself how they would pull off the theatrical adaptation of Stephen King’s “Carrie.”

To sum up the experience, even after watching the movie and knowing the plot by memory, the show truly was unexpected. Many aspects of the show completely amazed me and surprisingly satiated all my expectations.

The story might have stayed true to the classic, but the experience of having seen it develop live right in front of my eyes, the entire energy of the cast, beaming from the stage, completely changed my perspective on the story of Carrie White.

Carrie, who is played by Lauren Peña, freshman English major, blew the audience away the moment she performed her first solo. The seemingly effortless control over her voice was truly palpable, and its power captured my attention immediately. You could see how each audience member perked up whenever she entered the stage, their eyes following her movements as she sang.

Selena Stair played Margaret White, Carrie’s mother, and she personified the extremist Bible fanatic impeccably, to the point of triggering unsettling shivers as she sang the verses of the daunting version of “And Eve Was Weak”.

Carrie’s telekinetic powers were held back in this play either, the audience surely was awed by the special effects that took place on stage–from levitation to actual telekinetic control over scenery and props. Carrie’s multiple displays of her powers managed to impress me. My mouth agape, everything blended fittingly on stage.

All the excitement that was built before going to see the play was worth it, especially once the prom scene commenced. I could describe this one scene in more detail, however, that would be giving away too much and would ruin the experience for everyone else. Let’s just say that no member of the audience expected this scene to be as dark and wicked as it was.

To anyone who had the same doubts about going to see this musical, I say let go of the hesitancy and turn it into anticipation. Attend this dark and bloody musical and revive the sensation from watching the movie, live.

Tickets for the show vary from $17.50 for students for matinee performances, to $34.50 per student for performances with dinner.

For more information on “Carrie–the Musical,” visit ticketmaster.com or call the UTEP Ticket Center at 747-5234.

Jesus Lopez may be reached at [email protected].