[NEohioPAL]Rave Review of Child's Christmas at Actors' Summit

Fri Nov 30 13:27:02 PST 2001

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Actors' Summit has holiday gift for you

This is one Christmas play that evokes 
warm feelings
By David Ritchey
HUDSON -- 
       For those looking for a warm, cozy and sentimental Christmas this 
year, there is a proper Christmas gift wrapped up and waiting for you. 
Actors' Summit has the perfect Christmas gift in its offering of "A Child's 
Christmas in Wales," on stage now through Dec. 23. 
       This is a rich production. Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), considered one of 
the best poets of the 20th century, wrote the original story, which was 
adapted to the stage by Jeremy Brooks and Adrian Mitchell. The play deals 
with a Christmas Day in Swansea, South Wales, 1930. World War I has ended and 
a family gathers to celebrate Christmas. This family isn't rich, but the 
children have gifts. And, the family celebrates its traditions -- familiar 
songs, games and, finally, telling ghost stories.    
       Neil Thackaberry (director and Uncle Tudyr) managed to create an 
ensemble production out of a script with roles of varying sizes. Thackaberry 
and the accomplished cast created a gentle, sweet mood that permeated the 
production. 
       Dylan's poetry rolls trippingly off the tongues of the cast members. 
The language and the poetry seem second nature to these talented performers.  
Peter Voinovich (Dylan) heads a cast of 14 players. Voinovich evokes that 
child from deep within and makes the childish antics appropriate. In the 
opening scenes, Voinovich has the lines that lead the audience into the Dylan 
poetry. He makes those lines accessible to the audience.
       Paula Duessing (Mrs. Thomas) makes the food preparation seem almost 
pleasant. However, when the new gas stove causes Mrs. Thomas to burn the 
turkey to ashes, Duessing is appropriately exercised. Chuck Richie (Mr. 
Thomas) created a character who has a sense of humor as well as a sense of 
decorum at family gatherings. Richie tells stories well and sings well.
       Kari Kandel (Aunt Elieri) created a character who was forced by her 
life's situation to live alone and work to support herself. Kandel has a 
strong background in stage work, which shows in her almost perfect timing in 
this slowly paced show.
       Maryjo Alexander (costumes) found the appropriately perfect hats and 
dresses for the women characters within the setting of the play. The men's 
clothing also plays well on stage, and each costume seems to belong to the 
actor wearing it. This is a solid production. 
       You can take children and grandparents and be sure that everyone will 
be entertained. If you're not sure what to give someone for the holidays, a 
pair of tickets to this show would be well received.

       Actors' Summit's Web address is actorssummit.org. Included are 
excellent directions for getting to the theater, which is located at 86 Owen 
Brown St. "A Child's Christmas in Wales" continues through Dec. 23. For 
ticket information, call (330) 342-0800.

       David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in communications and is an associate 
professor of communications at The University of Akron. He is a member of the 
American Theatre Critics Association. 

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 Actors' Summit has holiday gift for you
 
 This is one Christmas play that evokes 
 warm feelings
 By David Ritchey
 HUDSON -- 
       For those looking for a warm, cozy and sentimental Christmas this year, there is a proper Christmas gift wrapped up and waiting for you. Actors' Summit has the perfect Christmas gift in its offering of "A Child's Christmas in Wales," on stage now through Dec. 23. 
       This is a rich production. Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), considered one of the best poets of the 20th century, wrote the original story, which was adapted to the stage by Jeremy Brooks and Adrian Mitchell. The play deals with a Christmas Day in Swansea, South Wales, 1930. World War I has ended and a family gathers to celebrate Christmas. This family isn't rich, but the children have gifts. And, the family celebrates its traditions -- familiar songs, games and, finally, telling ghost stories.    
       Neil Thackaberry (director and Uncle Tudyr) managed to create an ensemble production out of a script with roles of varying sizes. Thackaberry and the accomplished cast created a gentle, sweet mood that permeated the production. 
       Dylan's poetry rolls trippingly off the tongues of the cast members. The language and the poetry seem second nature to these talented performers.  Peter Voinovich (Dylan) heads a cast of 14 players. Voinovich evokes that child from deep within and makes the childish antics appropriate. In the opening scenes, Voinovich has the lines that lead the audience into the Dylan poetry. He makes those lines accessible to the audience.
       Paula Duessing (Mrs. Thomas) makes the food preparation seem almost pleasant. However, when the new gas stove causes Mrs. Thomas to burn the turkey to ashes, Duessing is appropriately exercised. Chuck Richie (Mr. Thomas) created a character who has a sense of humor as well as a sense of decorum at family gatherings. Richie tells stories well and sings well.
       Kari Kandel (Aunt Elieri) created a character who was forced by her life's situation to live alone and work to support herself. Kandel has a strong background in stage work, which shows in her almost perfect timing in this slowly paced show.
       Maryjo Alexander (costumes) found the appropriately perfect hats and dresses for the women characters within the setting of the play. The men's clothing also plays well on stage, and each costume seems to belong to the actor wearing it. This is a solid production. 
       You can take children and grandparents and be sure that everyone will be entertained. If you're not sure what to give someone for the holidays, a pair of tickets to this show would be well received.
 
       Actors' Summit's Web address is actorssummit.org. Included are excellent directions for getting to the theater, which is located at 86 Owen Brown St. "A Child's Christmas in Wales" continues through Dec. 23. For ticket information, call (330) 342-0800.
 
       David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in communications and is an associate professor of communications at The University of Akron. He is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association. 
 
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