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Victorian's 'Spirit': holiday times three
By Eric McCrea
YOUNGSTOWN
With all the choices for holiday entertainment, it can be difficult to decide what to see. The Victorian Players offers three unique gifts in one big box with “In the Spirit of Christmas.”
A cast of more than 30 fills the multitude of roles in three short plays, beginning with “It’s a Wonderful Life in Neverland.” This creative take on the James Stewart classic starts with Peter Pan, played by Roan Thomas, wishing he had never been to Neverland. With the help of Stinkerbelle (Gerri Jenkins) the young Pan explores a very grown-up place run by Captain Two-Hands (Bill Finley) and even “poofs” to London to see teenage versions of the Darlings.
Third-grader Thomas thoroughly impresses in his stage debut. He’s able to hold his own with seasoned veterans like Jenkins and Finley. He’s very talented and full of potential as an actor.
Jenkins is hilarious as the salty fairy godmother. She keeps the show on track, which is no easy feat with such a young group. Half of this particular cast is still too young to drive, which caused some awkward pauses, but the kids are so stinking cute that you barely notice.
There are a myriad of cameos in this act, but a few stand out. Brandi Hughes’ Tinkerbelle is explosive and intense. Selina Phillips as Wendy, Johnny Dragos as John, and Vincent Dragos as Michael are a formidable trio, and they handle the dialog with fantastic interpretation.
The cream filling in this dramatic sandwich cookie is “’Tis the Season.” In this piece, we find well-known characters from a variety of December holidays being told that the bureaucrats “upstairs” need to downsize, leading to a debate among the holiday icons.
Santa (Gary Deckant) postulates that his market value cannot be ignored. Hanukah (Finley) argues that his tradition is ancient and miraculous. Solstice (Chloe Housteau) maintains that her celebration is even more ancient. Festivus (Nick Mulichak) claims that he is “the holiday for the rest of us.” Kwanzaa (Joyce Jones) insists that she represents the calm that we all need after a busy season.
This group is the most cohesive, making this scene incredibly solid. These actors are so in tune with each other that no one really stood out or fell behind, although my favorite line of the show was spoken by Jones as she left the theater, channeling her inner Oprah and telling the audience “you get a Kwanzaa, and you get a Kwanzaa, and you get a Kwanzaa.”
The show ends on the serious and emotional note with “The Bells of Charlemont,” which is based on a true story of young soldiers in France, just before World War II’s Battle of the Bulge.
The French hamlet has been devastated by the war, and its citizens ask the soldiers to step in as Father Christmas and pass out gifts to the town’s children.
The story moves quite slowly at times, but it is redeemed by a powerfully emotional wrap-up by Finley, playing the octogenarian version of a soldier. The brief appearance of older versions of all the young soldiers at the end is incredibly moving, and a poignant conclusion.
“In the Spirit of Christmas” runs Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Victorian Theater, 702 Mahoning Ave. Call 330-746-5455.