Review: Holiday shows fill Cape Cod stages with singing, dancing and celebrating

FALMOUTH ― There are myriad ways to let yourself be swept into the holiday season and Falmouth Drama Guild’s production of “It’s a Wonderful Life – The Musical” can likely claim a top spot.

Is it okay to change the old familiar holiday, feel-good story “It’s a Wonderful Life”? This production offers an enthusiastic answer to that question…YES! There’s big entertainment here accompanied by skilled acting, singing and dancing along with impressive visuals by a talented production staff. Director Joan McKenzie-Baird hits it out of the park with this jubilant Christmas extravaganza.

The show: “It’s a Wonderful Life ― The Musical” Book and lyrics by Keith Ferguson, music by Bruce Greer, presented by the Falmouth Theatre Guild.

What it’s about: This old chestnut of a Christmas story dates back to the 1940s when a writer, Philip Van Doren Stern, wrote “The Greatest Gift.” The much-loved tale tells of a young man, George Bailey, who wanted nothing more than to leave his hometown and follow his dreams. Life being full of twists and turns coupled with his strong sense of responsibility, Bailey finds himself making a good life in his hometown. But on one Christmas Eve, dire circumstances not of his doing push him to the brink and he considers ending his life. Enter Clarence, a second-class angel, who comes to his aid and together they examine the course of Bailey’s life. In a heartwarming finale, they rescue each other.

'A Wonderful Life ― The Musical' adds powerful dimension to favorite Christmas story

But here’s the twist-the musical is a blast! Sure, it contains all the parts of the story we expect to see but it’s so surprisingly and delightfully entertaining that there’s laughter, some beautiful songs and tears all mixed together.

Highlight of the show: The credit goes to the production staff, from the scenic artists to the lighting crew. The set changes are numerous, well-executed, all realistic, and offer one surprise after another. The costumes, particularly for the women, are coordinated and detailed right down to the 40s' hairstyles. Everyone and everything looks smashing! The choreography offers some skilled dance numbers, more challenging than what might typically be expected in a big production like this…including a ballerina and other skilled dance performers.

There were a few piercing microphone moments but considering the crew manages 37 cast members and who-knows -how-many set pieces, the result is impressive. The 10-piece orchestra did a good job with their music, especially in the second half (on opening night), and featured solos on various instruments.

Fun fact: This story that puts so much focus on family features real-life families. Paul and Meghan Richardson play George and Mary Bailey and their two daughters, Sadie and Millie, take turns (on different nights) playing the youngest Bailey daughter, Zuzu. Clarence, angel second-class, is played by the jubilant Randy Doyle and his daughter, Raye, is part of the ensemble. Partners Nikky and Megan Mollova are both in the ensemble and mother/son combo Pam Wannie (vocal director/conductor) and Zachary Wannie as Angel Joseph are doing their first production together.

See It or Not: Don’t make the mistake of thinking that this is just another rendition of “It’s a Wonderful Life”…because it’s not. “It’s a Wonderful Life ― The Musical” is a smile-inducing, toe-tapping, visually entertaining entre into the Christmas season.

Worth noting: Community theater musicals sometimes suffer from less-than stellar singing voices but not this show. The moment Paul Richardson starts singing “You are Now in Bedford Falls,” there’s no question that the show is going to be good. Meghan Richardson has some beautiful songs such as “My George Bailey” and a voice to match. Randy Doyle lights up in “Second Class Angel,” the second funniest scene, with dancing girl-angels to boot. The moment that elicits the most laughs is when Mr. and Mrs. Martini, Michael Duarte and Bonnie Fairbanks, perform a stereotypical and shmaltzy thank-you song to George Bailey. Both shock the audience with their operatic skills.

One more thing: A theme and song that is oft repeated in this show is “A Place to Call Home.” It is especially poignant, reaching well beyond the fun, the entertainment and the Historic Highfield Theater, out across the Cape and country at large. So many people don’t have a place to call home and this timeless theme reminds us of that uncomfortable and difficult situation.

If you go: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17. The Falmouth Drama Guild at the Historic Highfield Theater, 58 Highfield Drive, Falmouth. Tickets $30. 508-548-0400 or www.falmouththeatreguild.org.

Shannon Goheen

Two dozen child actors bring joy, meaning to 'Best Christmas Pageant' in West Harwich

WEST HARWICH ― Cape Cod Theatre Project/Harwich Junior Theatre’s production of  “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” sneaks up on you.

The first 50 minutes or so of the hour-long play are funny and boisterous as the unruly Herdman children take advantage of intimidation and a new director to get themselves cast in the church’s annual Christmas play. So a poverty-stricken clan that has never heard the story of Christ’s birth — and thinks “it is some kind of a detective story” — grabs away key roles from the church-going children who have grown pretty comfortable in them.

“Everyone knows I’m always Mary,” complains Alice Wendleken played by Coco Kemp, as she looks on resentfully to Imogene Herdman (Stella Seufert) playing the mother of Jesus.

Imogene, one of the older Herdman kids, takes care of the baby doll representing Jesus, as she might have her younger siblings in a family familiar with CPS (Child Protective Services) and canned ham from the food pantry.

“Look at her burping baby Jesus,” huffs Alice, complaining that the son of God would not need to have air pounded out of him.

But Beth Bradley (Ashlynn Nee), the daughter of pageant director Grace Bradley (Emily Murray,) and narrator of the story, sees some logic in burping any baby, even Jesus.

This very human touch is one of the things, along with Imogene crying as she lays Jesus in the manger, that brought tears to my eyes. And while it is probably a trick of lighting, the swaddled doll looks for a moment like a real baby.

The show: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” written by Barbara Robinson, produced by Kate Pazakis, directed by Susan Kosoff.

The plot: The Herdman siblings, from the wrong side of the tracks, show up for the church’s Christmas pageant after hearing treats were provided at rehearsals. When the church’s usual pageant director breaks her leg, the job gets pushed to someone new, who casts several unruly Herdmans, only to find that they bring a new magic to the annual Christmas story.

Highlights of the show: Kudos to director Kosoff and acting coach Janie Newton for helping the two dozen children in the cast to deliver their lines and hit their marks perfectly without polishing the childhood out of them. This is the most authentic production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” that I have seen.

And speaking of authenticity, we were sitting on the aisle where two child actors were struggling over a stuffed rabbit and they sure made it look real, with flying elbows and a death grip on the stuffed toy.

One more thing: Gemma MacBride plays Gladys Herdman as "the Angel of the Lord" with a super-hero energy and a candor that is very appealing.

See it or not? I enjoyed it and was surprised to find myself teary-eyed after watching Imogene caring for the baby Jesus in the manger. In silence, you could see her start to get it, to understand the grace of Christmas. But to be transparent, this is a cast of 36 with two-thirds of those being kids so while it works on a couple of levels, some might see it more as a family show with cuteness overload.

Of note: It was fun to see Nina Schuessler, the theater’s artistic leader for 25 years, back playing one of the church elders, Mrs. McCarthy, who calls the fire department after finding Imogene Herdman smoking a cigar in the girls’ room.

If you go: 7 p.m. Fridays, through Dec. 29; 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Dec. 30; additional performances 3 p.m. Dec. 27 and Dec. 28; Cape Cod Theatre Project/Harwich Junior Theatre,105 Division St., West Harwich. Tickets, at $28 or $20 for those under 21, at ovationtix.com or the box office, 508-432-2002 open two hours before shows.

Gwenn Friss

'FACB Holiday Edition' covered familiar ground but Christine Ernst still engaging at WHAT

WELLFLEET ― The Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT) is hosting writer, performer, and storyteller Christine Ernst’s newest show, “Fat A-- Cancer B--ch Holiday Edition” for three performances. The show is built around her many years of previous shows at Yule for Fuel and Cavalcade for the Homeless.

What it's about: Ernst has been telling her tales for a long time now; her monologues are infused with sardonic humor, sharp intellect and, always, a passion and relentless hope for humanity. This iteration has the holidays at the core of each of the roughly dozen pieces, running the gamut of emotions from pathos through hilarity, exploring the divine, the mundane and the profane.

Highlights of the show: It’s a trip down memory lane for Ernst fans as she reprises some of her favorite pieces from past holiday outings. Especially charming were the props, from the Mint Oreo cookies (“the official cookie of the Fat A-- franchise”) through the vintage homemade ham can creche.

And so many quotable, memorable moments.

Worth noting: This show was the ideal tonic for the holiday mehs, blues or exhaustion. Ernst is eminently relatable as she recalls the Christmas her (ex) husband gifted her a vacuum cleaner you wear as backpack, the kindnesses and cruelty of a local church, her love for her kids, her family, for us (she urges us all to “make kindness great again”). You will be inspired.

One more thing: Yule for Fuel, a benefit for Lower Cape Outreach Council’s Fuel Assistance Program, will be at WHAT Dec. 9 and 16 with special guests each night.

Interesting fact: Ernst speaks with passion about her favorite Christmas Carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” about a land divided during the Civil War. Look up the lyrics as they ring true today.

Carol Panasci

Cape Symphony plays music from 'Hallelujah' to Hanukkah, plus a Grinch medley

HYANNIS ― Parents and children, couples on date night as well as members of Urologists of Cape Cod and Brookdale Cape Cod gathered in the Barnstable Performing Arts Center to spread some holiday cheer during the Cape Symphony’s opening night show of “Holiday on the Cape.”

Confidently strutting onto the stage in a Yoda Santa hat, Concertmaster Jae Cosmos Lee drew some giggles from the audience just by taking his seat. Seeing the green ears follow his graceful glides of the bow throughout the show's first half was entrancing, but Lee’s playing alone is enough to have you fixated on him all night.

“Holiday On The Cape” show notes can be found at www.capesymphony.org/blog-news/blog/cape-symphony-holiday-2023-show-notes/.

Led by Cape Symphony's Assistant Conductor Joe Marchio, the symphony spread some yuletide joy, playing a program of traditional and unexpected holiday songs. The classics like “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson, “O Holy Night” by Dan Goeller and “The Christmas Song” by Mel Torme, arranged by Bob Lowden, brought a sense of familiarity but this reviewer found the new additions to be the star on top of the tree.

Now, I might be a bit biased because “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” — the live-action version with Jim Carrey — is my favorite holiday movie. But, the Symphony’s performance of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” arranged by Jerry Brubaker, provided a terrific break in the traditional lineup. The medley begins with “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” the perfect song to revive the audience’s attention and fades into “Welcome Christmas,” a song akin to the more traditional sounds of the holiday season.

Cape Symphony spreads cheer with 'Holiday on the Cape'

But as much as I loved “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” the best song of the night for me was “A Chanukah Festival,” by the Cape Symphony’s own principal clarinetist Mark Miller. During the holiday season, Christmas often overshadows the other holidays occurring around the same time. Miller’s “A Chanukah Festival,” not only introduced me to some of the traditional songs of Chanukah, but also created a sense of excitement and energy that the Christmas songs didn’t. In my opinion, most Christmas songs sound the same, but the medley of Chanukah songs took me in a different direction as each new one was introduced. The audience seemed to enjoy the change of pace as well as once the medley came to a close, cheers, whistling and booming applause erupted along with patrons leaping from their seats to give Miller a standing ovation.

The Cape Symphony was accompanied by some special guests for its holiday show as well. The Chatham Chorale and Patrice Tiedemann provided beautiful vocals for some holiday classics and the new Cape Symphony Dance Company made its debut as dancers leapt up on stage for “Little Bolero Boy.”

Tiedemann, who you may have seen performing with the Boston Pops for its holiday show, was magnificent in her solos. Of them all, “O Holy Night” was her best. Her voice was so penetrating and pure that if I held a wine glass up I think her high notes might have shattered it. The audience was so enamored with her performance they brought her to tears with cheers and a standing ovation.

Overall, “Holiday on the Cape” is a refreshing way to enjoy the Christmas songs you may soon be tired of hearing on the radio and in stores this time in two weeks. It reminds us of the true beauty of Christmas music and is a nice way to feel connected to those sitting with you in your community. Ypu may want to stand for the “Hallelujah Chorus” (as King George II did at its' 1743 London premiere) and keep an eye out for a special visitor when the closer “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” begins.

Frankie Rowley

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Review: Cape Symphony holiday show kicks off busy Cape theater week