A CHRISTMAS STORY
Subject: Quicktake - "A Christmas Story" adapted by Philip Grecian from Jean Shepherd's movie
Date: Fri, December 2, 11:19 AM
Quicktake on A CHRISTMAS STORY
There's another option for family holiday entertainment besides "The Nutcracker(s)" or various visits with Scrooge including NSMT's resurrected production and the a version about to open at the New Rep at the Arsenal in association with the Watertown Children's Theatre. Stoneham Theatre has perhaps started another holiday tradition by reviving the stage version of Jean Shepherd's 1983 movie, "A Christmas Story," the humorists's nostalgic look at growing up during the end of the depression in northern Indiana. Philip Grecian's adaptation uses a grownup Ralph Parker, played by Shelley Bolman, to narrate the saga of Christmas, the Old Man, and the 200 shot Red Ryder air rifle. Bolman, who's worked with Wheelock Family Theatre and teaches there, is the perfect host for this fast-paced account as a cast of ten, two other adults plus seven youngsters, under Caitlin Lownes direction, whisks us through the month of December in frigid Indiana.
Mother, first to utter the famous line "You'll shoot your eye out" is deftly handled by Bates and Emerson grad Meagan Hawkes, who's taken time out from documentary film-making to deal with Ralphie, Randy--hiding under the table--and of course the Old Man. Dale Place, Stoneham's favorite Scrooge, takes on the mantle of Father, hanging on as a low-level manager, driving his "new" used Oldsmobile, and of course proud of his "major award." While Bolman and Hawkes take alternate roles as the mythical Red Ryder or Miss Fields, Ralphie's teacher, the Old Man is more than enough from Place to handle, pursued by the neighbor's dogs, dreaming of turkey instead of meatloaf and red cabbage, with the firm goal of keeping his family housed, clothed and fed, battling the coal furnace daily.
The seven youngsters in "A Christmas Story"--plus two alternates--come partly from Stoneham's own Youth Theatre. But Ari Shaps, a Gloucester six-grader, is a product of NSMT's youth program, as is Henry McClean who as kindergartener Randy, spends most of the show hidden somewhere on the set or encased in his snow suit. Ralphie's friends, Flick and Schwartz, John-Michael Breen and Nick McGrath, come from NSMT and Stoneham respectively. Scut Farkas, the playground bully, is played by Stoneham's Danny Marchant. The two girls, Helen, the class brain--who's also reputed to have beaten up Farkas--and Esther Jane who's sweet on Ralphie, are done by diminutive Emily Pinto and tall Sarah Reed, both from Stoneham's program. All are good at being kids and quite on par with the three seasoned professionals who move the show along. Bolman, Hawkes, and Place show that taking the risk of acting with youngsters can pay off. Animals are another matter, but the destructive hounds next door are only heard, not seen.
The show takes place on Jenna McFarland's colorful changeable set, which looks like an illustration from the Saturday Evening Post. It also folds and shifts so that the kitchen stage left becomes Ralphie's classroom, and the livingroom becomes Goldblatt's Dept. Store, among other things. Fans of the film won't be disappointed, families discovering the Parker's for the first time will find a lot to recognize. So be careful with BB guns, and don't lick the flagpole, but do take a short ride out the Stoneham for this shiny new production, a definite addition to the holiday season.
"A Christmas Story" by Philip Grecian, Nov. 25 - Dec. 23
Stoneham Theatre
395 Main St. Stoneham, (781) 279 - 2200
Stoneham Theatre
posted by will at 12:04 PM
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