By Thomas Malasky

REXBURG — Brigham Young University-Idaho’s Theatre Department is bringing Babette’s Feast to the stage at the Snow Black Box Theatre, with performances running February 5–8 and 12–14 at 7:30 p.m., with a final matinee performance on February 15 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available for purchase from the BYU-Idaho Ticket Office with community tickets priced at $8 and student tickets at $5.

“Babette’s Feast” was originally published as a short story in Anecdotes of Destiny (1958) by Karen Blixen, who wrote under the pseudonym of Isak Dinesen. The short story was later adapted into the Oscar-winning 1987 Danish film of the same name, directed by Gabrial Axel. This theatrical adaptation reimagines the original tale of Babette, a mysterious French refugee who transforms a devout, ascetic community in 19th century Denmark through the power of an unforgettable meal.

Theatre student Emma Thomas, who plays the character Martine, shared her thoughts on the play.

“One of the big themes of Babette’s Feast is forgiveness—forgiving yourself and forgiving others and finding grace through that,” said Thomas.

Speaking about the collaborative effort behind the production, she said, “It’s been really cool to be a part of this process and to see how professional everything is. It’s supposed to prepare us for that next level of theatre, and I think it definitely is doing that.”

As the cast and crew continue to work tirelessly to prepare, at the heart of their work is a commitment to embracing the play’s core themes.

When asked to describe the show in three words, Thomas said, “Grace is infinite. You’ll have to come to the show and see why, but it all comes together at the end with grace is infinite.”