Scrooge: A Christmas Carol at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse 2024

Last night I went to the Terrace Plaza Playhouse for the third of five productions of A Christmas Carol that I have scheduled this season. This version, which is an adaptation by Beverly Olsen of the musical Scrooge with music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, tells the well-known story of the reclamation of Ebenezer Scrooge's soul by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future but it is much more lighthearted and whimsical than other local productions. Scrooge (Kim Florence) is more a figure of fun who is ridiculed by everyone around him rather than feared and, even though Florence plays him as a doddering old buffoon, he does have a few poignant moments, especially his reactions when Isabelle (Lauren Bailey) leaves young Ebenezer (Jace Fawcett), when he learns the fate of Tiny Tim (Holden Cahoon), and when he realizes that everyone is celebrating his death. I really love the songs "Christmas Children" by Bob Cratchit (Brian Sears) and his children Tiny Tim and Kathy (Brooke Thompson), "December the Twenty-Fifth" by Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig (Duane Beesley and Carla Zarate, respectively), "Happiness" by Young Ebenezer and Isabelle, and "The Beautiful Day" by Tiny Tim. I also enjoyed the spirited choreography in "Father Christmas" as the children make fun of Scrooge and "Thank You Very Much" as Tommy Jones (Brent Taft) and the rest of the debtors who owe Scrooge money dance around his coffin. I am always so impressed with how well the space on the small and intimate stage is used and this show is no exception, particularly in the opening number "Sing a Christmas Carol," because of the sheer number of townspeople involved, and as the Ghost of Christmas Present (Don Wilhelm) conducts Scrooge all around the theatre and through the audience to get to the Cratchit house and Fred's house. The sets are really impressive and bring Victorian London vividly to life with a backdrop of a cobblestone street, platforms on either side of the stage featuring Scrooge's counting house and the entrance to Scrooge's house (I love how Marley's head appears on the door knocker), and various set pieces that are moved on and off the stage (my favorites are Fezziwig's factory and the white silhouettes used to represent Scrooge's childhood). The costumes are beautiful, especially the ball gowns worn at Fred's party and the Ghost of Christmas Present's robe. However, there are several elements that deviate from the original musical and really detract from my enjoyment of this production. I do not like how Jacci Florence portrays the Ghost of Christmas Past because, to me, she seems like a deranged Sugar Plum Fairy and her shtick goes on way too long. I am also bewildered by the Ladies of the Late Afternoon (???) who dance a burlesque while stealing from Scrooge's house. This is my least favorite of all the local productions of this Christmas classic (I prefer a darker and more dramatic tone) but I love the community spirit of this theatre and I think this is perfect for families. It runs nightly (excluding Sundays) through December 23 and tickets may be purchased here.

Sean Is Twenty!

Yesterday my family celebrated Sean's twentieth birthday (his actual birthday is tomorrow).  We went to dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Trolley Square (one of Sean's favorite restaurants) and then came back to my sister's house for cake and presents.  He didn't really know what he wanted for his birthday so Marilyn and I just gave him Amazon gift cards (which came in these cute holders).

We love getting ice cream cakes from Baskin-Robbins and, since he has picked a polar bear three different times, I thought it would be really funny for him to pick it again but he ended up getting this cute Santa Claus (it had white cake and bubblegum ice cream).  I can't believe that he is twenty because it seems like yesterday that he was cutest little boy!  I sure do love him (he is the best movie buddy) and I hope he had a really good day!

Gentri Christmas at the Eccles 2024

I love hearing Christmas music performed live so I was really excited to go to my first Christmas concert of the season with Gentri at the Eccles Theatre.  The Gentlemen Trio, or Gentri as they are more commonly known, was established when Casey Elliott, Bradley Quinn Lever, and Brad Robins were cast in a production of Les Miserables at HCT and then continued singing together when the run was over because their voices blend so well.  This was the third time I've seen their Christmas show and I think this one was my favorite because it was just them without any other guests.  They began the concert with an arrangement of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" with snippets from "The Carol of the Bells" and then performed a rousing rendition of "He Is Born The Heavenly Child" which I had never heard before but really loved.  They continued with "I Saw Three Ships" and then a beautiful version of "Still, Still, Still" which is one of my favorite Christmas songs because I sang it in choir when I was in college.  Next came their arrangement of "Noel" (which also contained snippets of "The Carol of the Bells") followed by a very moving version of "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day."  I always hope that I will hear "O Holy Night" (it has been my favorite Christmas song ever since I was a little girl) and their version did not disappoint because, while most singers build to a powerful crescendo at the end, they sing it very softly and it is so beautiful.  They ended their first set with "The Little Drummer Boy" which is one of their most popular songs.  After the intermission they performed a mashup of "Coventry Carol" and "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" with dramatic themes by the cello (this was my favorite song at last year's concert) and then "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" which is another favorite from my college choir days.  Next they had their music director Stephen Nelson arrange a piece on the spot from an iconic movie score and a Christmas song suggested by the audience (they do this every year).  Our audience picked the theme form Raiders of the Lost Ark and "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day" and it was actually amazing!  My favorite moment came next when they performed "Defying Gravity" from Wicked (I have now seen the movie three times) to the absolute delight of the crowd!  Their version was so good!  To conclude the concert they performed "Mary Did You Know," "Away in a Manger," "Love Is Alive" (with audience participation), and "O Come, All Ye Faithful" while narrating the Christmas story in between them.  I loved this concert and it was the perfect way to start the holiday season!

We Need a Little Christmas

I love it when my house is decorated for Christmas (it is really the only holiday that I decorate for) and I enjoy putting up my tree because all of the ornaments that I have collected over the years have a sentimental meaning.  I actually put my tree up earlier in the week (I usually wait until the day after Thanksgiving) because I was in desperate need of some Christmas cheer.  This year I am especially looking forward to celebrating Christmas, including three more productions of A Christmas Carol, five Christmas concerts (I love hearing Christmas music performed live and I always hope to hear "O Holy Night"), a performance of The Nutcracker, the movie White Christmas on the big screen, and all of the traditional activities that my nephew is planning for us (I am most looking forward to our night of Christmas baking and our gingerbread house party).  I will also be volunteering for the Festival of Trees once again.  Now, more than ever, I hope this holiday season can bring all of us some comfort and joy.

Thanksgiving 2024

I spent Thanksgiving with my family (we definitely missed Tashena and Tucker who live in Washington) and it was a really nice day.  We had a wonderful dinner with ham (instead of the traditional turkey), potatoes, stuffing, yams, pomegranate salad (a family favorite), rolls, and vegetables with dip.  My sisters are amazing cooks and I am so glad that I am always invited because I am definitely not (my contribution is to bring store-bought pies).  After dinner we all had a rest (my nephew and I watched a movie) and then we played this crazy card game called Shanghai rummy.  We haven't played for a long time and it was a lot of fun (I won).  We had lots of treats while we played and then ended the night with pie.  I enjoyed spending the day with my family and I am really looking forward to all of the fun things we have planned for the rest of the holidays.  I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving with the ones you love.