Three Sons - Denver

Three Sons Restaurant and the ‘Vic’ provide a great ‘Dinner and a Show’ On the recommendation of “small” theater examiner, Deb Flomberg, I decide to take in Dinner and Show starting at “Three Sons” Italian restaurant and ending with “Tales of the Night” at the Denver Victorian Playhouse. It was an excellent evening of entertainment starting with a great dinner and ending with a fabulous performance in the tradition of 1930s radio. If you have not been to Three Sons Italian Restaurant, (2915 W. 44th Avenue, 303-455-4366), in a while, you are really missing something. This place is completely renovated and not at all as I remember. The outside looks very similar, but the inside is very new, very classy and, yet, very traditional. It is almost a shame they are moving next March to 64th and McIntyre, but, if the present location is any indication, no money will be spared making the new location even better. I hope they are able to convince their fine staff to come along. Our server, Sara, was very professional. She was neatly dressed, attentive and accommodating even though we ordered only inexpensive house wine and simple, basic entrees. She patiently fielded all our questions about which items were truly vegetarian, the restaurant’s connection with the theatre, and what was happening with the move. She treated us just the same as if we were wearing tuxedoes and ordering all the best from the menu. I like service like that. The food and wine were very good too. My date ordered the Spinach Fettuccini with the pear tomato, fresh basil, garlic and olive oil sauce. I sampled the Homemade Egg Noodles with the Diavolo Sauce. Both dishes were exquisite in both flavor and presentation, and priced right. Diners can spend some money eating at this restaurant, but the less-expensive, traditional offerings are just as good and easier on the wallet. If you dine here, expect to pay $13 to $23 per person for an entrée, including entrée salads, with good, Chianti as inexpensive as $28 a bottle. Appetizers range in price from $7 to $13. We found the Garlic Bread appetizer to be a fine start to diner. The entire dining experience was enjoyable and very conducive to a nice evening out. The theatre was the perfect compliment. Theatre is not my area of expertise, but I have been to more than a few shows and know a good one when I see it. This is a good show. Being a bit of a history buff, I loved the connection to 1930s America when radio was still relatively new and Americans believed most everything the little box told them. The show is “Tales of the Night” and features three stories that actually aired over CBS radio back in the 1930s. I remember hearing a rebroadcast of “Sorry, wrong number” a few years back on the Jazz station when they featured weekly broadcasts of old radio shows. The second show, “The Hitch Hiker”, later became an episode of “The Twilight Zone” for black and white TV and everyone is familiar with the third show, Orson Welles October 30, 1938 performance of H.G. Wells, “War of the Worlds” that confused so many people and landed him in so much trouble. It is so timely to recreate that episode since this October 30th marks the 70 year anniversary of the original broadcast. The “Vic” is the perfect venue for such a historic performance. The Denver Victorian Playhouse, or the “Vic”, as they call it, came about when George Swartz moved to Colorado for treatment for his tubercular lungs. Being a lover of Shakespeare, he began performing works of the bard as part of his treatment, and, when his performances grew in popularity, he actually built a small theatre in his new home on Hooker Street in Denver to perform for neighbors and friends. The old building and theatre passed through a number of owners and changes, but eventually revived into what we now know as the Denver Victorian Theatre retaining much of its 19th century charm. This quaint theatre now seats around 70 and is a member of the Colorado Theatre Guild featuring $45 “Dinner and Show” deals with Three Sons Italian Restaurant. Through these deals, local establishments make it possible for just about anyone to take advantage of the abundant talent in the area and enjoy the pleasure of a live show combined with fine dining. When I went, there was a family of six taking advantage of the dinner and a show plan, and loving both the food and the show. The big theatres and shows are great, but the little theatre members of the 16 theatre Guild are all wonderful local venues and worth a look. Teamed up with dinner at a local establishment, they make for an evening of entertainment and adventure that is second to none. I certainly enjoyed my dinner and show and I invite you to check one out for yourself soon. You just cannot go wrong with a small, live show, Three Sons Italian and The Denver Victorian Playhouse. All receive my highest marks.