THE THEATER MIRROR, New England’s LIVE Theater Guide
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MARQUEE | USHER | SEATS |
INTERMISSION | CURTAIN |
note: entire contents copyright 2005 by Carl A. Rossi
Beth … Elizabeth A. Deveney
Scrooge; George; Choir; Rudy’s Dad; Frosty; Narrator … Trip Weiler
Tiny Tim; Mom; Mary; Fan; Choir; Rudy; Abby … Micheline Ledoux
Hank … John D. Meehan, Jr.
Director … Dylan Levers
Very Shy Barely Audible Person … Linda Multer
Shelley … Ashley Santor
Curtis Scott … Chris Timoney
Elizabeth A. Deveney’s A BUCKET FULL O’ CHRISTMAS CHEER closes out my scribbles for 2005; this two-act skit showcased a woman named Beth (played by the coltish Ms. Deveney, herself) struggling with writer’s block as she raced to complete a Christmas play in time for Opening Night, interspersed with such fantasies as a Victorian spin on the death of Ebenezer Scrooge’s sister and a Frosty the Snowman who refused to melt --- the evening concluded (stopped, really) with a talent show and sing-a-long that smacked of the playwright racing against her own deadline, padding along the way. The humor is diluted sitcom but with a sweet-enough flavor and on the night I attended the chuckles from the SRO house were warm and supportive; Linda Multer stole some moments as the type of wallflower often found in overlooked cubicles.
The chameleon Devanaughn space refused to adapt, this time around: A BUCKET FULL O’ CHRISTMAS CHEER calls for a nimble cast flying in and out like MTV clips but the cramped backstage quarters reduced everything to clunks and tiptoes, instead. Fortunately, Ms. Deveney has a whole year now to embellish her whimsy and seek out a more compatible playing space for Christmas 2006.
Happy Holidays to you and yours.