Reviewed
by Alec Clayton
 |
| from left: Antonia Darlene, Christian Doyle, "Kenny" and Amy Shephard |
Harlequin
Production’s A Christmas Survival Guide offers a
refreshing change in theatrical holiday fare. Billed as a light and upbeat
musical comedy, this play by James Hindman and Ray Roderick with musical
arrangements by John Glaudini is much more than that. (Note: I’m not sure how
much of Glaudini’s arrangements are used in this performance. Pianist Brian
Kinsella is also listed in the program as arranger, and I suspect he did a lot
of it. Whomever gets the credit, there are musical arrangements of Christmas
classics that are updated in marvelous ways.)
This show is a witty and insightful look at the good and
the bad of the holiday season, and it is not all upbeat. There are some musical
numbers in this show that are pretty dark, at least in part, and I found that
refreshing in a perhaps odd way.
The show is part musical revue and part sketch comedy,
mixing original songs with beloved Christmas carols to illustrate the book “A
Christmas Survival Guide” by “Ted.” The “Survival Guide” is a kind of
psychobabble self-help book designed to help people endure the incessant
commercialism and irritating crowds of the season. Selections from the book are
read in voiceover while three actor/singers illustrate them in song. The actors
are Christian Doyle, Antonia Darlene and Amy Shephard. In addition to the three
lead actors, Kinsella frequently interacts with the actors and occasionally
steps away from his piano to become a part of the play, which he does with
style and grace.
The performances by all three actors are highly polished.
Darlene has been wowing South Sound audiences for years
with her rich and soulful singing. Harlequin audiences remember her from Soul
on Fire and Sixties Kicks. She has performed at Capital Playhouse and the 5th
Avenue in Seattle, Village Theatre and the Seattle Opera. Her performance in
this show is up to her best standards.
Doyle is also a local favorite as both comedic and dramatic
actor and as a singer. He was outstanding in last summer’s Summer Session: Set
in the ’70s. I expected an outstanding performance from him, and he didn’t
disappoint. Doyle is at ease on stage and has the ability to convey volumes
with the slightest gesture, and he is equally at ease with many difference
signing styles from hard rock to folk to swinging jazz, all of which he
demonstrates in Survival Guide. Shephard makes her Harlequin debut in
this show. Locally she has performed with Olympia Family Theatre, Theater
Artists Olympia and Animal Fire Theater. She is a ball of energy with a
powerful voice and an expressive face. This threesome is well matched with no
one overshadowing the others.
One
of the more entertaining numbers in the first act was Doyle’s unique
interpretation of “Silver Bells” wherein Christmas bells were conflated first
with cell phones ringing — Doyle was forced to repeatedly interrupt his singing
to answer the phone — and then with every other sound common to dense urban
settings: cars honking, sirens, and so forth, until he can’t take it any
longer. The sound effects and background music augmented Doyle’s singing and
acting almost too well. The noise level was such that I had to remove one of my
hearing aids, and everything sounded much better without it, indicating that
the sound level was too loud. Ah, but what a great song that was and how
inventive!
Also
inventive was when Darlene came on stage as a disgruntled Mrs. Santa Claus
wearing a Scotch plaid bathrobe and singing about how she can’t stand it when
her husband goes gallivanting all over the globe every Christmas Eve. Sung in
the style of a very angry German cabaret performer circa 1936.
And highly
entertaining was when the trio sang a crazy version of the sleigh ride song
with the horses pulling the sleigh faster and faster. This was insanely funny
and well-acted.
Darlene
shone again on a brilliant version of “Drummer Boy” that was breathtaking and
including a fabulous jazzy piano solo by Kinsella.
The
band backing up this trio of singers is so outstanding that each band member
deserves to the recognized. They are: Andrew Garness, drums; Rick Jarvela,
bass; Brad Schrandt keyboards and horns, Daven Tillinghast, guitar, and
Kinsella, piano.
You may
never see another Christmas musical show with such an amazing blend of classical
and original music and with singing by such a talented trio.
WHEN:
Thursdays through Saturdays, 8p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. through Dec. 16
WHERE:
State Theater, 202 E. 4th Ave., Olympia
TICKETS:
prices vary, call for details
INFORMATION:
360-786-0151
·
Pay What You Can
Wed. Nov. 28 at 8pm
Wed. Nov. 28 at 8pm
·
Ladies’ Night Out
Fri. Nov. 30 at 7pm
Fri. Nov. 30 at 7pm
2 comments:
I saw the musical on Sunday and loved the singing but miss having a story line, the larger cast, dancing, and the usual forties music. Looking at the audience, I see that most of them had white hair and probably remember the forties. I don't, but appreciate that era very much. It was my parents time. Also, I dislike the religion that was sung at me. It felt like a revival meeting. I don't think I would go again to the holiday show if it was the same. Sorry but you lost me.
Susan
Absolutely Loved the play! I would describe the voices as so rich and thick that I could cut the music with a knife and eat it as dessert! It was an excellent job. The band was of the finest quality. And the pianist... Ahh, the pianist. I thought that he interacted in such a beautiful way, blending with the rest of the cast...and the dude's jazz was out of sight. I'd love to know where he plays regularly. I think the whole show was much too short! And it is a Christmas show during the Christmas season so I knew what to expect. I saw it once and I'm going back again...with a friend! You guys did durned good work. Keep it up and kudos to the entire cast and musical group.
Mike
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