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Festival of Christmas
2005 by Lamb's Players Theatre For more than a quarter of a century Lamb’s Players Theatre has greeted each holiday season with the ever-changing Festival of Christmas. Christmas 2005 updates a former Festival, set in St. Louis in 1928 at the affluent home of Michael and Claire Walters. But when moody family patriarch Michael declares that Christmas is canceled due to commercialism, a pall is cast over the household that only some soul searching and the magic of an intergenerational family may be able to dispel. Playwright/Director Kerry Meads’ production is a pleasant and entertaining holiday show that nicely blends good music and A Christmas Carol through this tale of a family of radically different individuals who are still stronger as a unit. David Cochran Heath is the moody patriarch Michael who lords over the house, quietly thinking he knows what’s best, but he will be learning more than anyone this Christmastime. Karen Schooley is his lovable but submissive wife who doesn’t quite know what to say when her husband threatens to ruin Christmas – especially with all the grandkids there. Maid Marion (K.B. Mercer as the humorously cantankerous family maid) is not quite so shy about speaking her mind, or about using her duster as a Tommy gun when the grandkids call for it. Those kids, played by Elizabeth Morse, Allie Trimm, Ian Brininstool, and Daniel Batchman, inject liveliness and charismatic Christmas spirit throughout, beginning with their musical opening of the Dickens classic about Ebenezer Scrooge. Livening up the place with some snazzy, jazzy riffs is Cris O’Bryon as Michael’s musical son Peter who flew in from Chicago with thoroughly modern flapper girlfriend Lily La Mer (Sandy Blue). Cris’s piano stylings and singing give the show its period and holiday flavor, especially when accompanied by vibrant Sandy Blue such as in their a cappella Christmas duet to the tune of Ode to Joy. And Sandy Campbell’s singularly gorgeous vocals are always a magnificent gift no matter what time of year. The show takes place within Mike Buckley’s grand home that is both wealthy yet homey, with Jeanne Reith’s costumes helping to bring us back to the 1920s in a realistic rather than over-the-top fashion sense, nicely completing the setting of this charming story.Performs through December 28, 2005.
~ Cast ~
Glory Thornberry: Allie Trimm Grace Thornberry: Elizabeth Morse Marion, the Maid: K.B. Mercer Claire Walters: Karen Schooley Beth Walters: Sandy Campbell Gabriel Thornberry: Jon Lorenz Gordy Thornberry: Ian Brininstool Gary Thornberry: Daniel Batchman Peter Walters: Cris O'Bryon Lily Le Mer: Sandy Blue Michael Walters: David Cochran Heath Playwright: Kerry Meads Director: Kerry Meads Musical Direction: G. Scott Lacy Choreography: Pamela Turner Scenic Design: Mike Buckley Lighting Design: Nate Parde Costume Design: Jeanne Reith Stage Manager: Melinda Clark |