There are many good reasons to stop by the Cleveland Play House this month and see “A Christmas Story,” but two stand above the rest: the fact that the Playhouse will not be doing the play next season, and the Play House’s soon move downtown to their new home.
I’m not sure of the reason why it isn’t in their plans for next year, because the Play House’s production of “A Christmas Story” has been really good since they started performing it five years ago. Just like the movie we all know and love, you never get tired of seeing it. Laughs are anticipated, lines are said out loud (“Fra-gil-lee!), and everyone leaves with a good feelings and smiles on their faces.
With the influx of some new, younger actors, this year’s production seems a bit fresher than the last few years. The last group of young actors who covered the last few years were very good, but at the end seemed to outgrow their parts a bit. This year newcomer Joey Stefanko is a very good Ralphie, and Matthew Taylor steals every scene he is in as his younger brother Randy. All of the adult parts are returning actors from previous years and that is fine. For the most part the roles have become theirs, and Charles Kartali as the Old Man lives up to the high standard Darren McGaven set in the movie version of the story.
I’m not sure what is going to happen to the Play House’s Annual festival of Trees when they move downtown, because the lobbies of its Euclid Avenue theaters has been a perfect setting for the annual fundraiser. With over 65 decorated trees this year, this year’s event is as good as it has ever been. Highlight of this year’s event is a 25 foot Rotunda Tree in memory of long time Play House supporter Jack Wiegman, who passed away this past April. The Festival of the Trees display is free and open to the public every day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Check the Playhouse website for hours.
A Christmas Story will be in production at the Bolton Theater at the Cleveland Play House for the last time until December 20. Even if you’ve seen it there in the past, check it out again, along with the Festival of Trees, for old time’s sake.
1 comment:
Hi Greg! Thanks for coming to the show, and I'm glad you enjoyed it! To answer your question about why this is the fifth and final year, I can offer this by way of an explanation: a holiday show has traditionally been a part of our Mainstage Subscription Series until "A Christmas Story," which started as a one-year-only subscription holiday show in 2005. Due to the overwhelming response, in subsequent years we moved the show off the Subscription Series; consequently, our subscribers have not been to The Play House in the last 4 years for a holiday show, or to see the Festival of Trees. Since the 2010-2011 Season will be our last in this building, we want to bring a new holiday show to the stage as part of the Mainstage Subscription Series.
Once we move to our new home in a renovated Allen Theatre, and we have a feel for the new stages and our programming, would we consider producing "A Christmas Story" again in some way or another? Anything is possible. But the show as it's been these last 5 years is coming to a close. It's been an amazing run - we are so grateful to Northeast Ohio for embracing it as they have!
Best regards,
Lisa Craig
Public Relations Manager
The Cleveland Play House
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