A CAROL CHRISTMAS by Carol Kaufman Segal

            It’s that wonderful time of the year when many theaters are offering Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.  You may feel that you have seen it often enough over the years.  Therefore, I highly recommend that you see a brand new version of the Dickens’ classic playing at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood. 

             This new musical production entitled A Carol Christmas is set in America today.  It was written by Doug Haverty, with wonderful music and lyrics by Bruce Kimmel, orchestration and musical direction by Richard Allen, and choreography by Kay Cole, all under the direction of Bruce Kimmel.  It is a top-notch, first class musical production with a superb cast of actors, singers and dancers that is making its debut in the Los Angeles area.

            And speaking of the cast, this big list of talented members includes Monica Allan, Ben Anderson, Emily Barnett, Ryan J. Duncan, Kevin Hoffman, Peyton Kirkner, Lola Paja, Lloyd Pedersen, Catarina Pereira, Hartley Powers, Savannah Schoenecker, John Schroeder, Debi Tinsley, Harley Walker, and Janet Wood.  A special group of marvelous young carolers include Celine June Bautista, Ella Birdwell, Andre Grigorian, Chihoro Kato, and Momoka Kato.           

            You won’t find Scrooge, because in this play, it is Carol (Hartley Powers), the host of a home-shopping show on TV.  Her job is very demanding.  She and her large staff spend many hours working towards the success of her show, and since she doesn’t care about Christmas she expects her entire staff to work with her throughout the holidays.  Her former partner, Joelle (Janet Wood) who recently passed away, left Carol with an unexpected DVD telling her what Christmas Eve will be like for her.

            We won’t see any ghosts, but Carol is visited by a rather wacky therapist Odette, Christmas Past (Debi Tinsley), Karina, a Russian herbalist, Christmas Present (Janet Wood ), and Mabel, a weird Tarot card reader, Christmas Future (Debi Tinsley again).  Tinsley and Wood are both delightful and very funny in their roles.  Trina (surrogate for Tiny Tim), whose malady is a weak heart, is played with sensitivity by young Peyton Kirkner.

            Everyone in the cast is outstanding, the music and lyrics are sensational and the book is clever and well-written.  The set design (Tesshi Nakagawa), costume design (Morgan Gannes), sound design (Austin Quan) all go together to make this a wonderful theater experience.

            A Carol Christmas is playing Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, through December 30.  There will be no performance Friday, November 23.  There will be an added performance Saturday, November 24, at 2 PM.  For tickets, call (818) 760-1240, or go online at www.thegrouprep.com.  

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

BUS STOP by Carol Kaufman Segal

            Bus Stop was written by playwright William Inge.  It was produced on Broadway in 1955 and made into a film in 1956.  It is a well-written character play, and although it takes place in 1952, it could take place at any time.     

            The story is set in a restaurant located on a highway in a small town in Kansas (set design by Jeff D. Rack) during a winter month.  Because of icy conditions on the highway, a bus is forced to stop at the diner where its passengers can relax, have a meal, and possibly stay overnight, during the time it takes for the roads to clear.  

            Grace (Michele Schultz), who owns the restaurant, is set in her ways, friendly enough, but tries not to get too involved with her customers.  However, Carl the bus driver (David Datz), undoubtedly makes many stops at Grace’s diner, and she seems to always look forward to those occasions and his company.    

            On the other hand, the young waitress Elma (Mani Yarosh), is more outgoing and pleased to meet all of the passengers.  Cherie (Kaitlin Huwe) is a sexy 19 year old saloon singer who rushes into the diner with her suitcase which she hides behind the counter, making it clear that she will not go back on the bus to continue its destination.   She lets the local sheriff, Will Masters (Shawn Savage), know that she is being harassed by Bo Decker (Nico Boles), an impetuous young man, who is trying to force her into marrying him.

            Virgil Blessing (Gary Ballard) befriends Bo and tries to explain to him why he has alienated Cherie.   But it takes Sheriff Masters to take Bo down to finally make him see the light.  Meanwhile, Dr. Gerald Lyman (Jack Sundmacher), a retired college professor who is a depressed alcoholic, becomes overly friendly with innocent Elma.  She becomes infatuated with him, but no harm occurs before the roads are cleared and everyone returns to the bus.  By that time, Bo has become a changed man and wins the heart of Cherie who follows him to the bus to renew their journey together.  As the last of the passengers walk out the door, Grace goes through her task of closing the diner.

            Bus Stop is a production of Theatre 40 under the astute direction of Ann Hearn Tobolowsky with an exceptionally talented cast that brings all of its interesting characters to life.  Performances run Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through Dec. 16, also Mondays at 8 PM, Dec. 3 and 10.  There will be no showings Nov. 22 and 23.  The performances are presented in the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills. Tickets are available by calling (310) 364-0535, or online at www.theatre40.org. 

RECOMMENDED

IN A BOOTH AT CHASEN’S by Carol Kaufman Segal

            Chasen’s was a restaurant that opened in 1936 at 9039 Beverly Blvd. on the border of Beverly Hills. It soon became a favorite spot for people in the entertainment business, and for many years it was the site for the Academy Awards party.  Many regular patrons had booths named in their honor, so when you see the musical, In A Booth at Chasen’s at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, you will understand why the Ronald Reagan booth is on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.  (Chasen’s closed in 1995 due to a decline in business,)

            It was November, 1949, when Ronald Reagan (Brent Schindele), still feeling the pangs from a recent divorce from Jane Wyman, had a blind date with a 29-year old starlet named Nancy Davis (Kelley Dorney).  They met in a booth at Chasen’s, and Nancy was rather nervous being with a tried and true actor who was also the President of the Screen Actor’s Guild.  As the evening progressed, they were feeling quite comfortable together, and following their first meeting, they began spending more and more time with each other.

            During the next two years, they became extremely close.  They opened their hearts to one another and sometimes squabbled, just like any married couple.  So why did it take Ronald so long to propose to Nancy?  The play draws on the long amount of time it finally takes him to do so, and when he finally does, it is in their favorite booth at Chasen’s!

            The story is well-written by Sam Bennett, and the music and lyrics by Al Kasha and Phil Swann add a special feel to the story as beautifully sung by Kelly Dorney and Brent Schindele.  The two actors are so perfect in their roles that they give one the feeling of actually seeing and hearing Ronald and Nancy relaying their story. 

            In A Booth at Chasen’s is directed by Kay Cole, Musical Director is Jonathan Tessero, and the lovely scenic design is by Andy Walmsley.  The production is playing at the El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, through November 25^th.  For further information regarding the schedule and to order tickets, call (818) 508-4200, or go online at www.InABoothAtChasens.com.

RECOMMENDED

THE LITTLE FOXES by Carol Kaufman Segal

            The Antaeus Theatre opened its season with Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes at the Kiki & David Gindler performing Art Center in Glendale.  Written by Hellman in 1939, it was considered a classic of 20^th century drama.  While the play takes place in Alabama in 1900, it is amazing how nothing in it would have to be modified if it were set to take place today.

            Everything about this production is of the highest quality.  While waiting for it to begin, the audience sees a magnificent stage setting of a luxurious living room in the Giddens’ home in a small town in Alabama (set design by John Iacovelli).   On stage right is a foyer that leads to the front door (door not seen) and at stage left there is a dining room that can be seen into through a glass door.  Backstage left are stairs leading up to the second floor bedrooms.      

            Regina Hubbard Giddens (Deborah Puette), her brothers Benjamin Hubbard (Mike McShane), and Oscar Hubbard (Rob Nagle) appear to be a close-knit family.  They often find themselves together in Regina’s home along with Regina’s young daughter Alexandra Giddens (Kristin Couture), Oscar’s wife Birdie Hubbard (Jocelyn Towne), and their ninny son Leo Hubbard (Calvin Picou).  Regina’s husband, Horace Giddens (John DeMita) has been in a convalescent home for nearly five months, his health failing due to a heart condition.  Never fear, he will show up eventually.      

            Regina, Benjamin, and Oscar do not spend their time together because they love one another so much.  Oh no, they spend their time together figuring out ways to add to their riches.  And they will do anything to anyone in order to achieve their goal, including one another.  They will use each other, or any family member, with no regard of the consequences in order to build up their riches. The three siblings arrange a meeting in Regina’s home with William Marshall (Timothy Adam Venable) who offers them a chance to make a lot of money by investing with him.  After he leaves, the next thing they decide they have to do is figure out how to get the money in order to invest with  Marshall to become rich.

            Poor Birdie wonders why she ever married Oscar who chastises her for everything she says or every move she makes. To him, she is more of a hindrance than part of his family.  However, his son is different because he can be of help in their scathing plans.  When Horace comes home in a wheel chair after his long convalescence, Alexander is very happy, though not aware of why her Mother had him come home.  Thrilled to have him, she pampers him, as do Cal (William L, Warren) and Addie (Judy Louise Johnson), the household help.

            The plot thickens when plans go awry and Horace, unfortunately, discovers why he was needed back home.  When Regina pulls the rug out from under Benjamin and Oscar, and when she loses her daughter who suddenly evolves from a teen-ager into a mature woman in control of her  own existence, she is left standing alone, albeit, a woman who paid dearly for the riches she would do anything to obtain.. 

            While the play is presented in three acts with two intermissions, every actor is so outstanding, it holds one’s attention every minute from beginning to end and the time seems to fly.  This spectacular production is directed by Cameron Watson.  The beautiful period clothes for the men and the women were designed by Terri A. Lewis.  The lighting design, by Jared A. Saying, adds to the ambiance of the setting.   

            The Little Foxes,  a production of the Antaeus Theatre Company, plays Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, and Mondays at 8 PM, through Dec. 10, at the Kik i & David Gindler Performing Arts Center, 110 East Broadway, Glendale.  For tickets, call (818) 506-1983 or go online at www.Antaeus.org.

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