[NEohioPAL]CRICKET ON THE HEARTH "Chirps with Joy" at Actors' Summit - Beacon Journal Revie

[Thackaberr at aol.com]

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`Cricket on Hearth' is chirping with joy
Actors' Summit offers a merry performance of Charles Dickens play
By Kerry Clawson
Beacon Journal staff writer
 
With all the tradition surrounding A Christmas Carol, many folks may not be 
familiar with what has been described as Charles Dickens' own favorite 
Christmas story -- The Cricket on the Hearth.
Dickens' lovely little novella plays out on the Actors' Summit stage this 
holiday season, adapted by Cleveland-area playwright and Renaissance man Wayne 
Turney. A frequent performer with Actors' Summit, Turney has adapted Oedipus and 
Tartuffe for previous productions at the professional Hudson theater.
The Cricket on the Hearth, a welcome new offering amid Northeast Ohio's 
holiday fare, is much sweeter and lighter than A Christmas Carol. In the hands of 
Actors' Summit's skilled group of actors, the story never becomes sickeningly 
sweet. Even actor Thomas Cummings carries off ``chirruping'' like a cricket 
without seeming silly.
This story of hearth and home has a simple message: Love is found at home. 
The magical creature of the cricket -- which presides over all domestic 
tranquility -- is a symbol of God.
Wonderful performances are provided by darling actresses Kelly Pekar -- who 
plays the irresistible little young mother Dot -- and Hannah DelMonte as the 
kind-hearted blind girl, Bertha.
Pekar has a surprisingly mature singing voice and excellent acting ability 
for a high school senior. DelMonte, also a high school senior, has a splendid 
voice, too. Both have done professional work throughout Northeast Ohio.
Most of the show's humor stems from Neil Thackaberry as the gruff toy seller 
Tackleton, and Wayne Turney as the merry, eccentric toy maker Caleb.
Thackaberry is almost violently grumpy as his Scrooge-like character. And 
Turney, who has written the book and lyrics for this show, switches expertly 
between playing Dickens and Caleb.
This is a delightful holiday story. To use the words of author Turney, 
Dickens' ``enchanting language'' rings forth on the Actors' Summit stage.
The problem with this show is the difficult, digitally recorded score. It's 
often so complex, the accompaniment leaves several cast members out on a limb, 
searching for their pitches.
The score is a major project composed by Kent State University Stark Campus 
professor Sebastian Birch just for this world premiere musical. But even 
singers like Greg Violand (John), who has sung with the Cleveland Opera, had trouble 
opening night adapting to its complexities. The accompaniment includes flute, 
oboe, strings, piano and more. The loveliest Christmas sounds of all, used 
throughout most of the tunes, are bells.
At times, the recorded accompaniment overpowers the singing onstage and the 
incongruity is painfully obvious. In other songs, the lyrics are repetitive and 
the pieces drag on for too long.
Some of the tunes have three or four melodies going at once, making the piece 
sound like something from an operetta. But these arrangements aren't sung 
accurately enough for the lyrics to be easily understood and enjoyable.
Because the music isn't the strongest part of this show, it would have been 
better to keep the songs simpler and fewer. One can only hope that the 
coordination between the singing and recorded accompaniment will gel better as the run 
of The Cricket on the Hearth continues.
The only singers who didn't have any trouble with pitch opening night were 
Pekar and DelMonte. Musical highlights included a sweet love ballad between Dot 
and John, When I See You Look at Me, and the cast's oddly jolly Oxymoronic 
Paradox about the toy seller who hates children. This song fleshes out 
Tackleton's Scrooge-like character well before we've met him
Also wonderful is No Higher Calling, a sweet duet between Caleb and Bertha 
that extols the joys of creating toys that make little ones smile.
Despite some of this show's musical weaknesses, The Cricket on the Hearth is 
a merry performance that's worth seeing. The story includes several satisfying 
revelations as well as one very well-constructed surprise, guaranteed to 
instill wonder.



Theater critic Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or at 
kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com. 

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 Verdana">Actors' </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"m=
so-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN class=3Ddeck1><SPAN style=3D"FONT-=
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1:City><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN class=3Ddec=
k1><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> offers a merry perf=
ormance of Charles Dickens play</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></STRONG><SPAN st=
yle=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; C=
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mark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN class=3Dbyline1><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SI=
ZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT color=3D#666666>By Kerry Clawson</FONT>=
</SPAN></B></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"=
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er_end"><SPAN class=3Dcreditline1><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAM=
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<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element: frame; mso-e=
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<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Wi=
th all the tradition surrounding <I>A Christmas Carol,</I> many folks may no=
t be familiar with what has been described as Charles Dickens' own favorite=20=
Christmas story -- <I>The Cricket on the Hearth.</I><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN=
></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Di=
ckens' lovely little novella plays out on the Actors' </SPAN></SPAN><st1:Cit=
y><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Summit</SPAN></SPAN>=
</st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> stage thi=
s holiday season, adapted by Cleveland-area playwright and Renaissance man W=
ayne Turney. A frequent performer with Actors' </SPAN></SPAN><st1:City><st1:=
place><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN style=3D"FON=
T-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Summit</SPAN></SPAN></st1:p=
lace></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">, Turney has adap=
ted <I>Oedipus</I> and <I>Tartuffe</I> for previous productions at the profe=
ssional </SPAN></SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: sear=
ch_box_center_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY:=
 Verdana">Hudson</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"mso-book=
mark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FO=
NT-FAMILY: Verdana"> theater.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"=
>The Cricket on the Hearth, </SPAN></I></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: s=
earch_box_center_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMI=
LY: Verdana">a welcome new offering amid </SPAN></SPAN><st1:place><SPAN styl=
e=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COL=
OR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Northeast Ohio</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place><SP=
AN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9=
pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">'s holiday fare, is much sweeter and=
 lighter than <I>A Christmas Carol</I>. In the hands of Actors' </SPAN></SPA=
N><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Summit</SP=
AN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cen=
ter_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">=
's skilled group of actors, the story never becomes sickeningly sweet. Even=20=
actor Thomas Cummings carries off ``chirruping'' like a cricket without seem=
ing silly.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Th=
is story of hearth and home has a simple message: Love is found at home. The=
 magical creature of the cricket -- which presides over all domestic tranqui=
lity -- is a symbol of God.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Wo=
nderful performances are provided by darling actresses Kelly Pekar -- who pl=
ays the irresistible little young mother Dot -- and Hannah DelMonte as the k=
ind-hearted blind girl, Bertha.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Pe=
kar has a surprisingly mature singing voice and excellent acting ability for=
 a high school senior. DelMonte, also a high school senior, has a splendid v=
oice, too. Both have done professional work throughout </SPAN></SPAN><st1:pl=
ace><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-=
SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Northeast Ohio</SPAN></SPAN><=
/st1:place><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">.<o:p></o:p></SPAN><=
/SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Mo=
st of the show's humor stems from Neil Thackaberry as the gruff toy seller T=
ackleton, and Wayne Turney as the merry, eccentric toy maker Caleb.<o:p></o:=
p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Th=
ackaberry is almost violently grumpy as his Scrooge-like character. And Turn=
ey, who has written the book and lyrics for this show, switches expertly bet=
ween playing Dickens and Caleb.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Th=
is is a delightful holiday story. To use the words of author Turney, Dickens=
' ``enchanting language'' rings forth on the Actors' </SPAN></SPAN><st1:City=
><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Summit</SPAN></SPAN>=
</st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> stage.<o:=
p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Th=
e problem with this show is the difficult, digitally recorded score. It's of=
ten so complex, the accompaniment leaves several cast members out on a limb,=
 searching for their pitches.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Th=
e score is a major project composed by Kent State University Stark Campus pr=
ofessor Sebastian Birch just for this world premiere musical. But even singe=
rs like Greg Violand (John), who has sung with the Cleveland Opera, had trou=
ble opening night adapting to its complexities. The accompaniment includes f=
lute, oboe, strings, piano and more. The loveliest Christmas sounds of all,=20=
used throughout most of the tunes, are bells.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">At=
 times, the recorded accompaniment overpowers the singing onstage and the in=
congruity is painfully obvious. In other songs, the lyrics are repetitive an=
d the pieces drag on for too long.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">So=
me of the tunes have three or four melodies going at once, making the piece=20=
sound like something from an operetta. But these arrangements aren't sung ac=
curately enough for the lyrics to be easily understood and enjoyable.<o:p></=
o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Be=
cause the music isn't the strongest part of this show, it would have been be=
tter to keep the songs simpler and fewer. One can only hope that the coordin=
ation between the singing and recorded accompaniment will gel better as the=20=
run of <I>The Cricket on the Hearth</I> continues.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN><=
/P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Th=
e only singers who didn't have any trouble with pitch opening night were Pek=
ar and DelMonte. Musical highlights included a sweet love ballad between Dot=
 and John, <I>When I See You Look at Me,</I> and the cast's oddly jolly <I>O=
xymoronic Paradox</I> about the toy seller who hates children. This song fle=
shes out Tackleton's Scrooge-like character well before we've met him<o:p></=
o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Al=
so wonderful is <I>No Higher Calling,</I> a sweet duet between Caleb and Ber=
tha that extols the joys of creating toys that make little ones smile.<o:p><=
/o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">De=
spite some of this show's musical weaknesses, <I>The Cricket on the Hearth</=
I> is a merry performance that's worth seeing. The story includes several sa=
tisfying revelations as well as one very well-constructed surprise, guarante=
ed to instill wonder.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt; TEXT=
-ALIGN: center" align=3Dcenter><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_cente=
r_end"><I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"=
>
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</SPAN></I></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><EM><S=
PAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: search_box_center_end"><SPAN class=3Dtagline1><SP=
AN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Theater crit=
ic Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or at </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><=
SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><A h=
ref=3D"mailto:kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com"><FONT color=3D#0027b4>kclawson@=
thebeaconjournal.com</FONT></A>.</SPAN> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></EM></P></BODY></=
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