It’s the best Christmas play ever!
I don’t know if you are as tired of the “same old, same old” seasonal production which rises on area stages about this time of year as I am, but I say “ring out the old, ring in the new!” and that’s just what Creative Cauldron has done with a revival of its highly successful “Madeleine’s Christmas,” an uplifting and happy story for children and adults alike.
The show is a delight with cheery children, lots of action, a talking mouse and even some happy adults.
Dancing and singing fill the stage with a backdrop (by Margie Jervis) reminiscent of the cover of Ludwig Bemelmans’s book he wrote in 1956.
It’s the story of 12 little girls who attend school in a boarding house in Paris who all get sick at the same time (except for the heroine), just in time for the holidays. and … gulp! No one can go home for Christmas!
Yeeks!
Which is just what they scream when a mouse is spotted in their dormitory room.
The girls’ teacher and mentor, Miss Clavel (Anna Phillips-Brown) who dresses like a nun and acts like a nun, but she is not a nun but a deuteragonist (word for the day, meaning second in importance) with a voice and acting ability soaring beyond what is expected, tries to make the girls feel better about being cooped up at school, unable to go home on Christmas Eve, but it’s little Madeleine who comes to the rescue!
June Tuss sings and dances the title role (intermittently with Diana Alison), expressing herself confidently, as she did last month in Creative’s “Pinocchio,” a spirited and spunky performer whose character, Madeline, is not one to be smitten with anything or body which remotely represents danger like ferocious zoo animals or a magician who turns up to sell rugs?
Huh?
Enter Harsha (Noah Beye), a weird man who comes calling, promising fantastic things like magic carpets to take the girls home for Christmas.
He waves, the stage darkens and a swirl of tiny lights and sounds of triangles suddenly transform the scene into a magic ride on carpets (which Madeleine buys for her classmates) to carry the girls to their homes for Christmas, their most ardent wish.
Oh, no… this means the lovely Miss Clavel will have to spend Christmas alone, but, wait! There’s the talking mouse to keep her company!
The adorable students are dressed in Madeleine uniforms (Jervis designs) of red coats and straw hats with black ribbons, white stockings and Mary Janes.
Delightful music by Shirley Mier and Jennifer Kirkeby with music direction by Merissa Anne Driscoll make merry to ferry us to a far and distant land where fairy tales come true. (If you’re not in the Christmas mood yet, this will send you there.)
The transfer of the mouse from bed to box and back again, carried by Madeleine and Miss Clavel, is a skilfull undertaking, hidden from view, under the direction of Matt Conner who must be congratulated on the youngsters’ enthusiastic speaking roles which they deliver in exaggerated fashion, so important in theatre.
The other young actors are Emerson Thiebert, Marianne Meade, Whit Jenkins, Madeline Varho, Aida Gibson, Emma Howell, Sophie Misciagno, Margaret Kruckenberg, Marie Solander, Allison Harman, Harper Burns and Nika Temkin.
And Carmen Ortiz, Jo Jo Hockley, Harper Yin, Ja’Nyla Steele, Marco Romero and Chris Espinoza.
Lenny Mendez is the fragile Mrs, Murphy, afraid of a little mouse!
Lynn Joslin was the lighting designer and Nicholas J Goodman, stage manager.
Now through December 17 at 410 South Maple Ave., Retail 116; some shows are already sold out. Free parking behind entrance. Thursday — Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m., and Sunday, 4 p.m. Students, $18; adults start at $20; family four-packs, $75 (use code 4PK). Group rates begin at 10+ persons. Call the box office: 703-436-9948. Duration is about 60 minutes without intermission. Recommended for children ages four and up. Refreshments available for purchase.
