Around The Town Chicago
By Alan Bresloff
Highly recommended – 4 stars
Every so often, we need a little Christmas in our lives. There are so many wonderful stories that grace our stages every year right about now, and for many, they ask “is that all there is?” Maybe some of us are getting tired of seeing the same shows every year. On the other hand, I for one, love some of the “Holiday Classics” ( but, after all, I have played Santa every year), but for the younger theater patrons, wouldn’t something new be exciting! Well, their wish has come true!
The title of this new family-friendly holiday show is “Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish-The Musical,” with a book by Denise McGowan Tracy and music and lyrics by Tracy along with Kathleen Butler-Duplessis. Her story started when she and her husband were witness to some little ones telling Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Ms. Tracy started to think about the holidays and the effect it has on everyone, young and old. She began to write her story and little by little the pieces fell together to bring something new to the theater. This is the World Premiere and on the “Main” stage downstairs of The Greenhouse Theater Center located on Lincoln Avenue.
The production is truly geared for kids to enjoy with their families, and is just 65 minutes in length. NOTE: I think it is wonderful that kids get to experience theater younger than ever, but feel that parents should also be aware that there are others in the theater who find it a bother when a youngster gets fussy and whiny. If this be the case, either wait until they are ready for the true experiences or leave the theater during their problem period. Also, I feel that a mother doing a “feeding” during a performance is unfair to the others seated around them (and don’t forget, the actors can see you, even in the bright lights). Enough about this. On to the play!
The performance begins with three elves greeting the audience as they enter and are seated. They ask the smaller ones to come closer and sit in the squares. Here is where the first problem took place. Mothers are not little ones and they should not go to these squares! The people in the first row will be cramped and your head will block the action for the little ones who remain with their families. There were kids blocking the stairs as well. Nice idea, but hard to make it work. Also, many little ones had candy and beverages. Not safe for anyone. Only the concession stand gained on that one. There were a couple of cute bits done with audience participation and due to a delay ( maybe an actor getting into make-up) we had a duplicate of the Reindeer hop game. Cute the first time, not so the second. The two main elves were Glimmer (Cara Chumbley) and Shimmer (Claire LaTourette) and their leader/narrator is Twinkle ( Lindsey Jane Bullen is a delight).
As the play opens we meet the characters. Our “title character” Eleanor (a delightful Samantha Bonzi) is a rag-doll (sort of a Raggedy Annie). Sprinkle (Scott Gryder is a great elf) and Sparkle (the adorable Kim Green) are the key workers in Santa’s world. They are Santa’s “right hand elves” and are going to show her how she can do some important things to help this holiday season. They do some wrapping of gifts with her. “Cookie” Claus (the Missus) is played beautifully by Erin Parker. She loves baking cookies for all, but doesn’t do any on Christmas because she knows all of the kids will have left a plate of them for her hubby. Santa (a marvelous performance by David Turrentine” who truly has the right look). As a Santa of 50 plus years, take it from me, he looks good , and is a warm character that is up to the expectations that every audience member was hoping to see.
Clara, the elf who keeps tabs on the naughty and nice records is played to perfection by the very “naughty” but nice looking Emily Rohm. She also plays another role, that of the mother of the young person, Noelle (Sydney Swanson, making her professional debut), who does write a letter that she needs a “friend” and would adore a rag doll, just like her Nana had growing up. It clicks. The letter from her along with Eleanor’s wish to have a friend is just the magic that this story needed to conclude on a happy note for all!
All of the music is handled by David Fiorello at the piano and was written by Kathleen Butler-Duplessis with the exception of two numbers with lyrics by Denise McGowan Tracy. The set by Kehoe designs is very colorful and Christmas-like with some great touches that truly are effective when playing to a young audience. The costume designs (Tatjana Radisic) are masterful along with the sound (Keegan Bradac) and lighting (John Kelly). The direction by Zachary L. Gray, who also did the choreography is sleek and works well. The stage is small and with the kids sitting up close and personal, it is probably a little rough to do, but Gray did a sweet job.
For many years, I brought my grand kids to help me with these shows. Now, they are getting older and have many other things that their lives are involved in, so I am reaching out to others to help me be able to convey the feelings of a youngster. After all, if you are bringing a child or grandchild, you are interested in the views of a child, not a senior citizen. So I relied on my friend Barry’s grandson, Hamilton Schneider who just turned three. His words “I loved it.” “My favorite part was Christmas.” Thanks Hamilton. I watched his face during the show and how he applauded during the show and when the curtain calls began. He smiled all during the show, and while he did not want to take advantage of a photo with Santa, Hamilton gave this show 4 stars!
