"Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)" by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez - Stratton Players (Fitchburg, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of "EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME)" by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and Michael Carleton, presented by Stratton Players in Fitchburg, MA. now playing through December 7, 2024. Photo Courtesy Stratton Players)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“…imagine ol’ Chuck Dickens sitting down for the very first time. Imagine that thrill...snow falling, candles burning, clock ticking, figgy pudding...figging…”
- ("Chelsey") / Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and Michael Carleton
Stratton Players
Presents the Festive
"EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME)"
Written by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez
Directed by Chelsey Patriss
Cast Includes: Chelsey Patriss, John Williams and Samantha Sickorez, along with Stage Manager Jen Knight
Performances:
December 6, 2024 at 7:30pm
December 7, 2024 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Christ Church, 569 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA.
TICKETS:
For Tickets Contact the Box Office at # 978-345-6066 or via email at strattonplayers@gmail.com
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Note: The following review is of a dress rehearsal held on 12-03-2024)
Stratton Players performs "EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME)" gifting the audience with a frantic festive farce.
Directed by Chelsey Patriss, the goal is right there in the title as a company of performers tries to send-up most annual yuletide shows.
The solid company of Stratton actors (Chelsey Patriss, John Williams and Samantha Sickorez, along with Stage Manager Jen Knight who is pulled into the fun) lampoon the “Dickens” out of yuletide staples, taking on “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” “Christmas Carol,” “Nutcracker,” “Miracle on 34th Street” and more.
The premise (what there is of a premise) is that Patriss and Sickorez work together to try and convince Williams to forgo performing the same routine show for the hundredth time, i.e. "A Christmas Carol."
To accomplish this, the actors opt to instead perform "EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME)" at a rapid pace.
That rapid pacing is important as the comedy works best when presented at a fever pitch with the cast already onto the next joke before the audience has even finished laughing at the preceding bit.
"EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME)" made its debut at the Cape May Stage in New Jersey in 2003.
The show, written by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez “lifts” almost its entire structure from another humorous gem, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” (written by members of the Reduced Theatre Company) - even so much as covering (arguably) the greatest of Christmas shows, “A Christmas Carol,” as its singular second act target, much like “Shakespeare (Abridged)” took aim at the Bard’s “Hamlet.”
Only in this variation on a theme, “Christmas Carol” crashes into “It’s a Wonderful Life” providing some of the show’s biggest laughs (providing the audience is of an age to have ever seen “It’s a Wonderful Life”).
In the actual script, it states:
“The script is peppered throughout with topical references, and a few local/theatre-specific references which, by the time your production rolls around, might be as topical as the Chia Pet, so feel free to update them (for the love of God, please update them).
(Photo: The CAST of "EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME)" by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and Michael Carleton, presented by Stratton Players in Fitchburg, MA. now playing through December 7, 2024. Photo Courtesy Stratton Players)
The versatile company of Stratton Players performers well incorporates the multiple props, costume pieces, accents and impersonations utilized throughout the show, occasionally as quickly as in the blink of an eye.
"EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME)" is (by design) neither a slick production nor a polished show.
Yet the actors are completely committed to the absurdity of the show’s premise and, because of that, the show succeeds in bringing a lot of joy and laughter.
Audience participation takes place as the actors pull some unwitting victims...uh, willing volunteers...to assist in some of the sketches.
The actors also take turns listing obscure (and disturbing) “fun facts” about Christmas traditions from cultures around the world (which helps the other actors set up for the next bits to be performed).
After some of these facts are disclosed, there may be some in the audience who may seek to consult with their therapist immediately following certain cultural revelations.
Under stalwart direction by Patriss, the Stratton Players cast, while interdependent of each other, is also allowed to liberally “experiment” with the material, using assorted and wacky improvisational techniques.
"EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME)" is completely silly and may be a curious investment in low-brow comedy, but it also yields a very high dividend of honest to goodness laughter.
The actors swiftly progress through their loving homage to holiday classics that includes animated shows such as “Rudolph,” “Frosty” and “Charlie Brown.”
Parents may want to note:
While festive, this is a holiday show leaning more toward adult humor replete with multiple engagements of double entendres used throughout the show.
So, given the above, you may need to consult with your children...so they might best explain some of these double entendres to you.
With the sheer volume of characters each must play, the performers have great chemistry and collaborate well together.
Only around for the one weekend, Stratton Players' "EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME)" is a laugh a minute and a nice gift for the holidays.
For Tickets Contact the Box Office at # 978-345-6066 or via email at strattonplayers@gmail.com
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
A madcap romp through the holiday season!
Instead of performing Charles Dickens' beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told -- plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical pop-culture, and every carol ever sung.
ABOUT STRATTON PLAYERS
STRATTON PLAYERS continues to provide a creative outlet for men and women interested in any aspect of play production, whether it be acting, costuming, set design or construction, publicity, stage management, or tickets.
98 Prospect Street
Fitchburg, MA. 01452
# 978-345-6066
strattonplayers@gmail.com
