Sunday, 23 December 2007 01:07 pm
Attention, misers
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deckardcanineLast night I ushered Arena Stage's Christmas Carol 1941. So yeah, it's based on the preachy yet beloved story of which I've seen more screen versions than any other -- tho I'd never read it or seen it on stage before. Neither, it turns out, did the playwright, James Magruder. This one takes place in Washington, DC, which was a pretty hard place to live in WWII. Here, Elijah Strube is a profiteer with an eye on overcrowded apartments and the pineapple market (Cabaret, anyone?). Oh, and he croaks "Bullcrap" instead of "Bah, humbug."
It's a musical, but unlike in most musicals, characters sing only when it makes sense to sing, like at a party or protest. The main possible exception is a number by the Christmas spirits, but maybe it comes more naturally to spirits. The program lists a mere three songs in each of the two acts. There were actually a couple more songs, apparently not counted because someone was talking during them.
As far as innovation goes, the best thing about the play is its handling of the spirits. I won't spoil it for you, but know that each one takes a material form appropriate to DC, with the possible exception of the speechless Spirit of Christmas Future. They are by turns intimidating and comical.
What may not work is the part involving young men heading off to war. Nothing says that the replacement for Tiny Tim has to be cute, but when his main predicament has nothing to do with poverty or even Strube's vices, the analogy falls apart. Poignant tho it may be, this isn't the best context to debate whether they ought to be enlisting or how they should go about it.
After the performance, the actors were singing carols in the lobby to raise money for a charity. The basket was already overflowing with dollar bills when I got to it.
This was the last play I'll see at the current Arena Stage. They've already gutted the Kreeger Theater, and the unique Fichandler's time for extreme renovation is soon. My next ushering will be in a new center outside of town some months from now. I hope it's better and not too challenging a commute. In any event, I thought this play a worthy sendoff.
It's a musical, but unlike in most musicals, characters sing only when it makes sense to sing, like at a party or protest. The main possible exception is a number by the Christmas spirits, but maybe it comes more naturally to spirits. The program lists a mere three songs in each of the two acts. There were actually a couple more songs, apparently not counted because someone was talking during them.
As far as innovation goes, the best thing about the play is its handling of the spirits. I won't spoil it for you, but know that each one takes a material form appropriate to DC, with the possible exception of the speechless Spirit of Christmas Future. They are by turns intimidating and comical.
What may not work is the part involving young men heading off to war. Nothing says that the replacement for Tiny Tim has to be cute, but when his main predicament has nothing to do with poverty or even Strube's vices, the analogy falls apart. Poignant tho it may be, this isn't the best context to debate whether they ought to be enlisting or how they should go about it.
After the performance, the actors were singing carols in the lobby to raise money for a charity. The basket was already overflowing with dollar bills when I got to it.
This was the last play I'll see at the current Arena Stage. They've already gutted the Kreeger Theater, and the unique Fichandler's time for extreme renovation is soon. My next ushering will be in a new center outside of town some months from now. I hope it's better and not too challenging a commute. In any event, I thought this play a worthy sendoff.