A TWISTED CHRISTMAS CAROL by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

Phil Olson is an award-winning playwright who has published 16 plays that have been produced many times in countries around the world.  They are all comedies to be sure!  Many of his plays have made their world premieres by the Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood.  His latest Christmas play, A Twisted Christmas Carol, is making its world premier there now.  This comedy is a take-off of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

           

The characters in this play are quite different from those in Charles Dickens’ story.  This story takes place on Christmas Eve in a small town in Texas where we find Buford Johnson (Van Boudreaux) and his wife Darla (Lisa McGee Mann), owners of a barbecue restaurant.  How long they have been married, we do not know, but it is long enough that Buford certainly takes his wife for granted.

            

Their friends, who happen to spend a lot of time with them in the restaurant, are cute and whimsical Daisy Newsom (Veronica Roy) and Bubba Pickford (Christian Land) who has an inkling for Daisy (Veronica Roy) who side-steps his flirtations.

            

 Buford, who doesn’t show much patience, ends up in an argument with Darla and in a rage, runs out of the restaurant.  He leaves in his pickup truck in the midst of a storm, is hit by a twister, and ends up in a coma.  It is then that he is visited by his former business partner, Hank Walker (Paul Cady) who once had his eye out for Darla.  He visits Buford in his dreams as the ghost of Christmas past, present, and future and it all appears very real to him.               

           

The play is quite humorous.  The characters themselves are humorous to begin with, and of course we all know what to expect of the outcome when Buford awakens from his coma.  It ends in a very Happy Christmas for all.

           

A Twisted Christmas Carol is directed by Doug Engalla, set design by Chris Winfield.  This was a funny take on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.   I did not find this play close to being as charming and comedic as all of Olson’s plays that I have seen in the past.  However, I must say that all of the actors helped to keep it moving and funny throughout.

           

 The play is performed Upstairs at the Group Rep on the second floor of the Lonny Chapman Theatre,

10900 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood.  It plays Saturdays at 4 PM and Sundays at 7 PM.  For tickets and information go online at www.thegrouprep.com, or call (818)763-5990.

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER by Carol Kaufman Segal

           

Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman wrote many successful plays in their lifetime.  One of their funniest comedies, The Man Who Came to Dinner, was written in 1939 and was eventually made into a film.  You won’t want to miss a revival of this play being performed by The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood.

            

The play takes place in a small town in Ohio, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley (Doug Haverty and Laura Wolfe)..  Sheridan Whiteside (Jim Beaver), a well-known New York radio personality had been invited to dine at their home while visiting the city.  He accidentally falls on some ice at their front door and finds himself confined to their home in a wheel chair for a month. 

           

Not as bad for Whiteside as it is for the Stanleys since he takes complete control of the house and the telephones, giving orders to the family, what they can do and not do while he is recuperating in their home!  He has an entourage of people with him constantly, who he insults, and orders around.  His closest visitor is his secretary Maggie (Hartley Powers), who has been with him for years and knows him only too well.  Others, though,  who have to put up with him, and his bullying, are a full-time nurse, Miss Preen (Kay Cole), and Dr. Bradley (Fox Carney).  His strange entourage of visitors includes performers, radio people, technicians, deputies and even a convict!  All of these characters, along with Sheridan Whiteside, bring comedy to the forefront of this play.  And in the end Sheridan Whiteside gets his retribution.

            

Other cast members include Neil Angevine, Bita Arefinia, Nick Asaro, Michele Bernath, Anastasia Burnett, Cheryl Crosland, Lareen Faye, Michael Gabiano, Chihiro Kato, Momoka Kato,  Christian Land, John Ledley, Sherry Michaels, Barry Pearl, Susan Priver, Steve Shaw, Marina Shtelen, Marc Stancato, Sal Valletta, Chris Winfield, Leslie Young.

            

The Man Who Came to Dinner is directed by Bruce Kimmel.  The entire cast is exceptionally outstanding.  Jim Beaver stands out as absolutely remarkable in a role that he makes his own.   Kay Cole, as Whiteside’s nurse Miss Preen, is utterly hysterical.  The beautiful stage design is by Chris Winfield.  This play will keep you laughing from beginning to end.

            

Performances run Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through January 12, 2020, at the Lonny Chapman Theatre (Main Stage), 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. (Talkback following Sunday’s matinee December 29)  For further information, or for tickets, go online at www.thegrouprep.com, or call (818) 763-5990.

            

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

You may have seen the film Love Actually written and produced by Richard Curtis for Universal Pictures that opened in theaters Nov. 3, 2003.  The movie is a romantic comedy that takes place in London during the Christmas season, and that has made it a staple to be shown somewhere every Christmas since.

           

Last year, during the Holiday Season, The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills presented the world premiere of Love Actually Live in a most unusual production in collaboration with For the Record, and by special arrangement with Universal Theatrical Group. 

           

Because it was such a tremendous hit last season, Artistic Director Paul Crewes said, “We knew we made a very special production the moment the curtain rose on Love Actually Live last season.  So I’m really pleased that we can collaborate again with our For the Record family this holiday season and share this very unique experience with Los Angles audiences once again.”  Therefore, Love Actually Alive is back again this season at The Wallis.

            

The scenic design by Mathew Steinbrenner is most unusual with multiple screens high up on the stage that show the scenes from the movie followed by live actors and singers who perform matching characters in the scenes.  Very unique and clever, to say the least, and so well done by the entire cast, all who are superb singers, actors, and musicians.  An outstanding orchestra, conducted by Jesse Vargas, adds to the success of this outstanding musical presentation adapted and directed by Anderson Davis.

          

  Starring in the production are Tomasina Abate, John Battagliese, Declan Bennett, James Byous, Gabriela Carrillo, Nayah Damasen, Rogelio Douglas, Jr., Jon Robert Hall, Carson Higgins, Doug Kreeger, Ruby Lewis, Emily Lopez, Chris Mann, Carrie Manolakos, Molly Rogers, Aubrie Sellers, Levi Smith and Rex Smith (all Broadway performers).   

           

I had never seen the film, Love Actually.  However, I did see Love Actually Live, at the Wallis last Holliday Season and looked forward to seeing it again this year.  In fact, I may have enjoyed it even more the second time around.  It is such an unusual extravaganza that has so much oomph.  I love every minute of it.

           

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills. Love Actally Live plays Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM, through December 29.  (No performances on December 24-25.)  For ticket information, call (310) 746-4000, or email tickets@thewallis.org for assistance.      

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED