Review: THE HOBBIT at Theatre In The Round

Theatre in the Round’s The Hobbit is one of those shows that reminds you how fun live theater can be when a cast fully commits to telling a story together. Instead of relying on huge sets or special effects, this production uses imagination, movement, and a really strong ensemble to bring Tolkien’s world to life, and honestly, that makes it even more enjoyable.

The show starts with a group of storytellers gathering to tell Bilbo’s adventure, and that setup works really well. It gives the whole production a warm, almost campfire-story feeling. The actors create everything right in front of you—one moment they’re dwarves, the next they’re trolls or goblins—and it’s impressive how much they’re able to do with so little.

Isabelle Hopewell is a very relatable Bilbo. She plays him with just the right mix of awkwardness, humor, and nervous energy early on, which makes it satisfying to watch him slowly grow more confident throughout the journey. By the end, you’re completely rooting for him.

The ensemble cast works incredibly hard and keeps the energy up the entire show. Nathaniel Brelsford, Kelly Desiree, Derek Dirlam, Wini Froelich, Adam Everson, Bryce Kalal, Troy Lowry Jr., Courtney Matula, and Sasha Rapacz all bounce between characters constantly, and they make every scene feel active and creative. Some of the funniest moments come from how the actors physically create different creatures and locations using only movement and sound.

A lot of credit also goes to movement director Kelly Nelson because the physical storytelling is really what makes this production stand out. Even scene changes are interesting to watch. The actors are almost always moving, climbing, shifting, or transforming into something new, which keeps the pace moving nicely.

The technical side of the show supports everything without getting in the way. The set is simple but flexible, the lighting creates some really nice atmosphere, and the music and sound effects help pull you into the adventure.

What I liked most about this production is that it never feels like it’s trying too hard. It trusts the audience to use their imagination, and because of that, the story feels more personal and engaging. At its core, The Hobbit is about an ordinary person discovering bravery they didn’t know they had, and this production captures that really well.

Overall, Theatre in the Round’s The Hobbit is creative, entertaining, funny, and full of heart. Whether you’re a longtime Tolkien fan or just someone who enjoys inventive theater, it’s a really enjoyable night out.

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