Download Theater Review - Lake Wildwood

Theater Review
Walter R. Stump
WLR Goes to the Theater
Dec. 17, 2013
“Read This, Santa!”
A Readers Theatre Production
Performed in the Oak Room on Dec. 16, 2013; 10:30 AM and 7:30 PM
Oh, Those Holiday Performers!
Several years ago I happened to be in London. I
received a call from a friend, Robert Silvester, insisting that I
go see the current west side production NICHOLAS
NICKLEBY. Now Silvester is an Oxford Don who cannot be
taken lightly but I balked at his request. I balked for several
reasons: one, it cost one hundred dollars a ticket; two, it was
eight hours long; and three, it was not a dramatic script per
se but a readers theatre script by the Royal Shakespeare
Company. I phoned Silvester and told him my decision and
was informed that if I did not see this piece, he, Silvester,
would no longer consider me a theatre scholar. So I went.
The production was magnificent. I realized that this was
Walter Stump
Readers Theatre at its best. It was scripted so the actors
functioned as both narrator and character. The long and beautiful descriptive passages
written lovingly by Dickens were there for the audience to experience. It contained all of the
beauty of Dickens' language. I was smitten. So when I was invited to review Bill Trzeciak
and company's Readers Theatre Christmas offering, I readily accepted.
READ THIS, SANTA! is a delightful compilation of Christmas pieces carefully woven to
provide an enlightening holiday entertainment to a twenty-first century audience. Tailored to
perfection by Trzeciak, the cast of RT devotees has made the words come alive by their
enthusiastic and energetic performance.
Trzeciak's company of Readers Theatre zealots opened the show with Robert
Benchley's CHRISTMAS IN THE VESTRY. The opening cast consisted of Judy Armstrong,
Conni Barker, Melody Beebe, Judy Blake, Vicki Cambron, Mary Ann Carrigg, Elmer
Fairbanks, Terry Fay, Max Fenson, Betsy Hatten, Paul Hauck, Cathy Jones, Richard La Fata,
Jim Moulton, Suanne Muehlner, Frank Robinson, Cindy Streltzov, Trudy Tyrrell, Shirlyn Vogel
and Rich Vrzal. They recreated the myriad characters fashioned by Benchley with a
delightful, albeit satirical note, aided and abetted with appropriate slides.
Interspersed throughout the performance were songs by the YULE BE SORRY
SINGERS consisting of Judy Armstrong, Melody Beebe, Paul Hauck, Shirlyn Vogel, Cathy
Jones, and Cindy Streltzov, under the tutelage of Vicki Cambron. This unusual group sang
various and sundry songs and ditties including a variation of The Age of Aquarius from the
musical HAIR and an audience favorite, GRANDMA'S KILLER FRUITCAKE.
One of my favorites was Ogden Nash's THE BOY WHO LAUGHED AT SANTA
CLAUS, beautifully done by members of the company featuring Paul Hauck aided by Elmer
Fairbanks and Max Fenson. It is a piece that is a delightful spoof on those who refuse to
believe in Santa Claus. For several years I read this poem to my children on Christmas Eve.
Similarly, Shel Silverstein's CHRISTMAS DOG, admirably done by Melody Beebe, Richard
La Fata, Jim Moulton, and Shirlyn Vogel was an act loudly applauded by the audience.
Jim Moulton's version of I YUST GO NUTS AT CHRISTMAS by Yorgie Yorgenson
was a Scandinavian delight told with just the right accent. GRANDMOTHER was done with
verve by the company with delightful performances by Terry Fay, Shirlyn Vogel, Vicki
Cambron, and Melody Beebe. Ponzi scheming GRANDPA, was done by various members of
the original cast and featured Frank Robinson and Rich Vrzal.
This form of theatrical interpretation has been around long before the Golden Age of
5 century B.C. Story tellers or rhapsodes were reciting Homer’s ILLIAD and ODYSSEY as
well as works of other poets in public performances under the guise of Artists of Dionysus. In
the 1950’s, entrepreneur Paul Gregory produced DON JUAN IN HELL with Charles
Laughton, Agnes Moorehead, Charles Boyer and Sir Cedric Hardwicke and traveled the
country. This was superb readers theatre and became the benchmark of performing
literature by groups throughout the US. They were called the 'dramatic quartet', and they
showed what could be and would be produced in the country. And so it is with Bill Trzeciak
and company.
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The delightful MRS. HOOLIGAN'S CHRISTMAS CAKE featuring Betsy Hatten and
Suanne Muehlner, and the equally heart-warming A MOTHER'S LETTER TO SANTA with a
strong performance by Conni Barker kept the audience engaged. SLY SANTA was an
excellent choice by the company and featured a small group of actors led by Trudy Tyrrell.
Likewise, James Thurber's VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS IN THE HEMINGWAY MANNER
was performed with skill by Frank Robinson, Max Fenson and Richard La Fata, among
others. Many more pieces were performed with loving care by this talented group doing what
they love to do.
An added treat was provided by members of the company directed by Judy Blake.
The group gave life to the perennial favorite HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS by the
late Dr. Seuss, featuring Elmer Fairbanks, Max Fenson, Cathy Jones, and added Paula
Nelson and Kathryn Sherrod. All of the actors were delightfully costumed. This performance,
in keeping with the overall evening, was superb by all concerned, especially with veteran RT
actors Nelson and Sherrod. Director Blake performed as a functioning actor, stage manager
and prop-master.
READ THIS, SANTA functioned as a well disciplined ensemble. My commendation
goes to Bill Trzeciak and the Readers Theatre Company. Each actor was assigned different
roles and each performed flawlessly, despite short rehearsal sessions.
It is too late to see this production - it was one day only, but there will be other
productions by this talented group. A new show, 'OLD TIME' RADIO SHOW, to be directed by
Judy Blake, is scheduled for March 2014. Watch E-Bits and the TWI newspaper for the
dates and location.
Walter Stump is a Wildwood resident who has 40 years of experience in teaching drama and theater
arts. He has directed over 120 theater productions in commercial, community and university venues.
He served on the faculty at the University of Southern Maine for over 30 years. Walter recently joined
the staff of the Wildwood Literary Review. You can send comments about this review to
Walter at [email protected]
File: 1213-TR-Stump-ReadthisSanta-Rev1-14-pdf
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