Thursday, November 29, 2012
Victorian Players’ annual holiday show
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
Youngstown
“In the Spirit of Christmas,” the Victorian Players’ annual holiday one-acts show, will return for its fifth year with three new plays and one old favorite.
Each short play takes a different look at the Christmas season, with the goal of getting the audience into the spirit and remembering what Christmas is all about.
“The four we picked this year ask, ‘What is really important about Christmas,’ and make us think on what the real meaning of it is,” said Director Sam Luptak Jr. “It’s not deep theater. It won’t change your life, except to make you feel good. But it’s fun, and people do really enjoy them.”
Luptak is the founder of Centaur Stage Productions, which is producing the show, and is directing two of the one-acts.
Thornton Wilder’s “The Long Christmas Dinner,” which was included in the first season, will return. It’s one of Luptak’s favorites, and he is directing.
“It’s a beautiful piece by Thornton Wilder that covers the changes that one family goes through over 90 years,” he said. “I like the script better than ‘Our Town,’ which is what Wilder is known for.”
New this year are “The Elf Rebellion,” “The Christmas Machine” and “The Truth About Christmas.”
In “The Elf Rebellion,” written by Don Zolidis, Santa’s overworked elves go on strike. “It’s hilarious, but the underlying theme is that Christmas is about sharing and loving and caring,” said Luptak.
Gerri Jenkins is making her directorial debut in the play. “She has done just about every other job onstage, but she’s never directed,” said Luptak, who noted her play has a cast full of children, including many under 12. “She’s got her hands full,” he said.
“The Christmas Machine,” also by Zolidis, is also a comedy. It’s about an evil huckster who finds a town without Christmas and sells it the holiday with all the commercialism and bills attached. “It’s a pastiche of Dr. Seuss-type things,” said Luptak, who is directing. “It’s about how we let commercialization get in the way of what Christmas is about.”
“The Truth About Christmas,” by Daniel Pearle, is directed by 16-year-old Hunter Thomas, also making his debut.
“Some might find it controversial,” said Luptak. “It’s about a 14-year-old girl who is bullied in school because she has become interested in the Muslim faith. She challenges the status quo, but she’s challenging the commercialism and pressure that comes with Christmas. It’s a very interesting piece.”
Appearing in “In the Spirit of Christmas” are Gia Almasy, Erica Berent, Nick Berent, Carson Conrad, Liz Conrad, Racheal Conrad, Vinnie Dragos, Bill Finley, Christopher Haddock, Haggie Hageman, Brandi Hughes, Andrew Jenkins, Gerri Jenkins, Mayson Jenkins, Olivia Jones, Tyler Jones, Brittiani Ketcham, Brian Lee, Molly Maclochlan, Barbara Malizia, Joe Marshall, Jennifer Milligan, Michelle Moorhead, Clarie Offerdahl, Verity Osborn, Brian Root, Stan Schultz, Tricia Terlesky, Hunter Thomas and Briana Wasylychyn.
Eric Dragos is stage manager.