This season I had the pleasure of attending two holiday theatrical performances in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and while in many ways they could not have been more different, both delivered the goods when it came to providing great entertainment.
After premiering its first winter show in 2021, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival brought back It’s Christmas, Carol! again this December but with new cast members and a fluid, evolving script. We did not see the show last year, but we have seen productions by the creative team of Mark Bedard, Brent Hinkley and John Tufts, who in past seasons at OSF have produced (and performed as Groucho, Harpo and Chico, respectively) Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers, based on the hilarious Marx Brothers films. We knew we were in for a zany production, especially when we’d seen ads featuring dinosaurs in the cast (those blow-up T-rex types).
The show opens with a very proper narrator and a plot that one thinks will roughly follow that of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, albeit with a jumbled cast of characters including Carol Scroogenhouse; her deceased friend, Mrs. Marley; the Crotchit family; the Wezzyfigs; Carol’s lesbian niece, Freddie, and her partner, Rebecca; and zombies (and the aforementioned dinos). In spite of the Narrator’s best efforts, however, any semblance of an orderly progression of events falls by the wayside. References — visual and otherwise — to all manner of seasonal celebrations, from Druid festivals and Hanukkah to Christmas and Kwanzaa, and popular holiday entertainment, from It’s a Wonderful Life to Die Hard, pelt the audience in rapid-fire fashion, as do the dialogue and random original songs. Speaking of pelting, at one point audience members were encouraged to toss “snowballs” (large white pompoms) at the actors on stage.
At the end of the evening, my husband and I turned to each other, eyes fairly spinning in their sockets, and exclaimed, “What was that??!!”. It was wild, a little hard to follow and a lot of fun, and clearly delivered the message that we should all live and let live and love and support each other, dinos, zombies and all.
A week later, we took in the opposite end of the spectrum at Oregon Cabaret Theatre’s delightfully traditional production of White Christmas. The musical was performed in OSF’s intimate Thomas Theatre with the audience surrounding the stage in tiers on three sides. We brought my 94-year-old mother-in-law, knowing she’d enjoy the Irving Berlin songs and the dancing, though we were a little concerned the three-hour show might test her stamina. We needn’t have worried, as her front-row seat placed her at the heart of the action, and she loved every minute of it . . . we did, too.
Oregon Cabaret Theatre’s usual home is in a converted church just a block away from the OSF theaters in Ashland. A professional theater that has been operating for over 35 years, it generally offers five to six plays and musicals each year, and one can enjoy dinner and/or dessert with a show. The stage is fairly compact, so casts are usually small, but the entertainment is always excellent. The staging of White Christmas at the Thomas allowed for a cast of 16 and some really fabulous production numbers, with inventive staging, lots of lovely costume changes and great choreography. The big tap numbers were especially impressive, and all of the leads boasted strong, well-trained voices. Several roles were filled by local talent (including two middle-school-aged girls who shared the role of General Waverly’s granddaughter), but they all performed at a very professional level.
As with It’s Christmas, Carol!, there was some audience participation here as well, although it was limited to us serving as the “audience” to the G.I.’s Christmas show in the opening scene and again at the show in the barn of the General’s Vermont lodge in the final scene.
Everyone sang along for the rendition of “White Christmas,” and I think we sounded pretty great!
These two productions really capped off a holiday season that felt much more like those of yore (though we did need to wear masks in the theaters . . . really not a hardship). I hope you found much to delight you this season as well, and I wish you a very happy New Year.
— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedFebruary 2024
Mar 1, 2024Down to Earth: Find Your Element for the Ultimate Customized Spa Experience at Chuan Spa
After a stressful pre-holiday season and a busy work schedule, there was no better time for a relaxing spa experience than during my recent trip to Pasadena with the FXExpress Publications, Inc. team. We headed to The Langham Huntington, Pasadena for the 20th anniversary of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards, which meant a jam-packed trip, but I managed to carve a little time out of our busy schedule to visit Chuan Spa at the hotel.
Sponsored Content
Revel in a European Summer with AmaWaterways
Pedal through sun-drenched vineyards, hike amidst blooming wildflowers and take a refreshing dip in your ship's sun-deck whirlpool. Indulge in the flavors of the region with delectable dishes featuring luscious Wachau Valley apricots and succulent Serbian plums. As night falls, watch as the cities along the rivers come alive, pulsating with an irresistible electric energy. The sun-soaked days and vibrant nights offer a compelling reason to embark on an AmaWaterways river cruise during the upcoming summer months.
Daily
Feb 26, 2024Fukui: A Culture Hub in Rural Japan Worth the Detour
In many cases, less can be more in terms of what smaller cities and small-scale museums have to offer. This is true for Fukui Prefecture, located on the west coast of the main island and best known for its coastline, terrain and quiet towns. While major cities are awash with large-scale museums, bucolic Fukui Prefecture is worth a visit for its assemblage of institutions offering a deeper dive into Japanese life, history and culture.
Daily
Feb 26, 2024Ennismore Unveils Flagship Hotel and Restaurant Openings in 2024
This year marks an exciting time for Ennismore, the world’s fastest growing lifestyle and leisure hospitality company. With plans to open new properties and restaurants across the world, Ennismore shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
Sponsored Content
L’Ermitage Beverly Hills: A Discreet Hideaway Awaits
Nestled between the palm-lined boulevards of residential Beverly Hills, L'Ermitage evokes a sense of refined elegance and unparalleled service. This Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond haven continues to captivate discerning travelers and Angelenos with its unwavering dedication to personalized hospitality.
February 2024
Feb 26, 2024Unearth the Enduring Heritage and History of the Island Nation
Valletta, capital of Malta, was built to keep us out. The old city is protected by formidable limestone walls and crammed onto a peninsula flanked by two natural harbors.
Hôtel Norman Opens Near the Top of Champs Elysées
Daily
Feb 23, 2024Daily
Feb 23, 2024JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City Polanco Completes Renovations
JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City Polanco recently completed renovations of its entrances, lobby, culinary concepts and meeting space. This marks the final stage of the renovation, which began in 2021 with the revitalization of its 269 guestrooms and 45 suites.
Sponsored Content
Hit the High Notes in Nashville
Nashville’s once-modest skyline continues to evolve as its luxury market grows. Lavish hotel properties are added to the landscape while acclaimed chefs stake claim in the robust culinary scene and premier cultural offerings round out the city’s repertoire.
Daily
Feb 22, 2024Take a Peek Inside Regent “Seven Seas Grandeur”
Once you’ve boarded Regent’s Seven Seas Grandeur, it is immediately apparent this recently launched cruise ship delivers what the name promises. Jewel box opulence dominates in most of the public areas, while quiet luxury teamed with clever function defines the cabins (save for the individually decorated top-tier suites). The ship, designed by internationally acclaimed Studio DADO and constructed by Ancona, Italy, ship builder Fincantieri, holds up to 746 guests and is serviced by a staff of 548 for optimal passenger-to-staff service.
ShareThis