[NEohioPAL]Great New York Review of Actors' Summit's Cricket on the Hearth

Mon Dec 8 08:46:25 PST 2003

-------------------------------1070901985
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

'CRICKET ON THE HEART' IS WORTH THE TRIP
By Robert W. Plyler, THE POST-JOURNAL, Jamestown, NY

HUDSON, OHIOL-- When our children were young, we had an annual ritual.  
Sometime in early December, one parent took the children for a trip of two or three 
hours, took the children Christmas shopping for the parent who had stayed 
behind, and delighted them with a holiday performance of some kind.

While they were gone, the other parent decorated the house, wrapped the 
difficult-to-hide presents, and got some of the holiday duties completed, in 
relative peace.

On problem we had with this plot was that there tended to be relatively few 
very popular holiday plays, operas, ballets, etc., and the children were always 
wanting something new or different.

If you're looking for a nearby but not quite local performance for yourself 
or your young ones, I have a suggestion.

Actors' Summit, a professional theater company in Hudson, Ohio, about 150 
minutes' drive from Jamestown, is presenting a musical interpretation of Charles 
Dickens' other charming holiday tale:  The Cricket on the Hearth.

The plot is relatively simple. Mr. And Mrs. Peerybingle are happily married 
and the parents of a newborn. The husband is a bit self-conscious that he is so 
much older than his wife and rather surprised at his degree of happiness.

Each week, the couple pack up a picnic and go to visit an aging neighbor 
named Caleb, who makes toys for a living, and his sightless young daughter, Bertha.

Caleb works for the Scrooge-like Mr. Tackleton, who treats him cruelly and 
pays him shamefully.  Having decided that Bertha suffers enough by her loss of 
sight, Caleb tells his daughter that they live in a beautiful home, that his 
boss is respectful and generous, and that they live a life of wealth and 
accomplishment, and in her reality, they do so.

One day, the wicked Tackleton takes Mr. Peerybingle aside and tells him he's 
seen Mrs. Peerybingle having frequent private talks with a handsome young 
stranger. Crushed, the husband considers everything from revenge to divorce.

Naturally, this being a charming Dickens' holiday story, all turns out to be 
innocent and happy, and the penny-pinching employer learns the evil of his 
ways.

Turney's book is easy to understand and moves along smartly.  Since Dickens' 
wonderful pictures of steaming dinners and beautiful clothes are part of his 
magic, Turney h imself plays Dickens, narrating the author's wonderful words 
from upstage right.

The music is by Sebastian Anthony Birch, and is most reminiscent of the music 
of Stephen Sondheim's shows.

It's very good by musical theory and keyed to the rises and lowerings of the 
spoken voice, making it easy to understand the words.

The problem is that it isn't something one could hum along until one has 
heard it several times, and it doesn't lift the spirits as more jolly holiday fare 
can do.  There was also something of a problem balancing the recorded 
accompaniment with the live singing.

All of the singers in the cast are very talented. The sets and costumes are 
simple, but moe than adequate and often charming.

It's new and ultimately uplifting, easy to reach on major highways down to 
the last five miles.  Allow me to recommend it to you.

The Cricket on the Hearth continues through Dec. 21 at Actors' Summit, 86 
Owen Brown Street, in Hudson, Ohio. You may phone for reservations or information 
at (330)342-0800.

-------------------------------1070901985
Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<HTML xmlns:st1 =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns:o=20=
=3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><HEAD>
<META charset=3DUTF-8 http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charse=
t=3Dutf-8">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2733.1800" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff=
f">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>'CRICKET ON THE HEART' IS WORTH THE TRIP</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman"><FONT size=3D3>By Robert W. Plyler, <B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20=
normal">THE POST-JOURNAL</B>, <st1:place><st1:City>Jamestown</st1:City>, <st=
1:State>NY</st1:State></st1:place></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman"><FONT size=3D3><st1:City><st1:place>HUDSON</st1:place></st1:City>, OHI=
OL-- When our children were young, we had an annual ritual.<SPAN style=3D"ms=
o-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Sometime in early December, one parent took t=
he children for a trip of two or three hours, took the children Christmas sh=
opping for the parent who had stayed behind, and delighted them with a holid=
ay performance of some kind.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>While they were gone, the other parent decorated the house, w=
rapped the difficult-to-hide presents, and got some of the holiday duties co=
mpleted, in relative peace.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>On problem we had with this plot was that there tended to be=20=
relatively few very popular holiday plays, operas, ballets, etc., and the ch=
ildren were always wanting something new or different.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>If you're looking for a nearby but not quite local performanc=
e for yourself or your young ones, I have a suggestion.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman"><FONT size=3D3>Actors' <st1:City><st1:place>Summit</st1:place></st1:Ci=
ty>, a professional theater company in <st1:place><st1:City>Hudson</st1:City=
>, <st1:State>Ohio</st1:State></st1:place>, about 150 minutes' drive from <s=
t1:City><st1:place>Jamestown</st1:place></st1:City>, is presenting a musical=
 interpretation of Charles Dickens' other charming holiday tale:<SPAN style=
=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal=
">The Cricket on the Hearth.</I></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>The plot is relatively simple. Mr. And Mrs. Peerybingle are h=
appily married and the parents of a newborn. The husband is a bit self-consc=
ious that he is so much older than his wife and rather surprised at his degr=
ee of happiness.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Each week, the couple pack up a picnic and go to visit an agi=
ng neighbor named Caleb, who makes toys for a living, and his sightless youn=
g daughter, Bertha.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Caleb works for the Scrooge-like Mr. Tackleton, who treats hi=
m cruelly and pays him shamefully.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  <=
/SPAN>Having decided that Bertha suffers enough by her loss of sight, Caleb=20=
tells his daughter that they live in a beautiful home, that his boss is resp=
ectful and generous, and that they live a life of wealth and accomplishment,=
 and in her reality, they do so.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>One day, the wicked Tackleton takes Mr. Peerybingle aside and=
 tells him he's seen Mrs. Peerybingle having frequent private talks with a h=
andsome young stranger. Crushed, the husband considers everything from reven=
ge to divorce.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Naturally, this being a charming Dickens' holiday story, all=20=
turns out to be innocent and happy, and the penny-pinching employer learns t=
he evil of his ways.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Turney's book is easy to understand and moves along smartly.<=
SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Since Dickens' wonderful pict=
ures of steaming dinners and beautiful clothes are part of his magic, Turney=
 h imself plays Dickens, narrating the author's wonderful words from upstage=
 right.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>The music is by Sebastian Anthony Birch, and is most reminisc=
ent of the music of Stephen Sondheim's shows.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>It's very good by musical theory and keyed to the rises and l=
owerings of the spoken voice, making it easy to understand the words.</FONT>=
</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>The problem is that it isn't something one could hum along un=
til one has heard it several times, and it doesn't lift the spirits as more=20=
jolly holiday fare can do.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Th=
ere was also something of a problem balancing the recorded accompaniment wit=
h the live singing.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>All of the singers in the cast are very talented. The sets an=
d costumes are simple, but moe than adequate and often charming.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>It's new and ultimately uplifting, easy to reach on major hig=
hways down to the last five miles.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  <=
/SPAN>Allow me to recommend it to you.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman"><FONT size=3D3><I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Cricket on=
 the Hearth</I> continues through Dec. 21 at Actors' <st1:City><st1:place>Su=
mmit</st1:place></st1:City>, <st1:Street><st1:address>86 Owen Brown Street</=
st1:address></st1:Street>, in <st1:place><st1:City>Hudson</st1:City>, <st1:S=
tate>Ohio</st1:State></st1:place>. You may phone for reservations or informa=
tion at (330)342-0800.</FONT></FONT></P></BODY></HTML>

-------------------------------1070901985--