by Tony Annicone
Arctic Playhouse’s holiday shows these year are three short Christmas plays. The first one is based on O. Henry’s story, “A Gift of the Magi”, which centers on a husband and wife who are very young, terribly in love and want to buy Christmas gifts for each other but both have little money to do so. They each want to find a gift that will express their warmth and closeness they feel towards each other. What happens is they find out the true meaning of the Magi gifts of giving of yourself to each other. “The First Noel” is about a homeless and hungry girl, Noel who returns to the site of her childhood home which is now a Chinese takeout. Will her journey get her the handout she wants or the nurturing she needs? “Balls” centers on five eccentric Christmas ornaments who find out just how fragile life can be and who don’t seem to get along with each other – but is that really the case? Each of them are different colors and have different temperaments and their wild and crazy antics keep the audience rolling in the aisles. Director Rachel Hanauer directs “Magi” and “Balls” while Jeff Blanchette directs “Noel” and assistant directs “Balls” with both of them doing double duty by appearing in the shows. They choose topnotch performers for ten roles and infuse them with the insight and energy to make the audience choke up, cry and laugh at all the right times.
Jeff Blanchette and Aden Duffy tackle the roles of husband, Jim whose prize possession is his grandfather’s elaborate and ornate pocket watch and wife, Della whose long luxurious hair she treasures in “Magi. They both capture the comic and dramatic moments splendidly. However, the biggest scene stealer in this show is Jenna Petrarca as the Narrator, Maggie whose mother owns the house Jim and Della live in. Even though she is a high school student her acting prowess is magnificent as she sets the scenes and acts incredibly in them with both Jeff and Aden. Rounding out this cast is Patricia Cousineau as Madame Sofronie who runs a hair salon. She is a hoot as she smokes a cigarette and convinces Della to let her cut her long, beautiful hair.
Nicole Rodrigues tackles the role of Noel who speaks directly to the audience. She gives it a powerful empathetic portrayal to make us feel her angst as celebrating Christmas Eve which is the night of her birth at 11:58. Her mother, Sally hated her own name and wanted to give her a meaningful name that everyone would remember. Noel tells of her relationship with her mother and father and how she reacted to both of them. Nicole’s dramatic and touching monologue is excellently performed and will leave you in tears with its poignancy.
Rachel does double duty and plays the Green Ball in “Balls” which is a comic romp a la the Three Stooges. The ornament balls are in boxes with Mario Sasso as the Blue Ball snoring like Shemp Howard, Graham Stokes as the Red Ball uttering suggestive and naughty things, Jessica Gates as the Silver Ball fretting about her delicate condition and Rachel as the snoring Green Ball who wakes up and becomes bossy and yells at the others like Moe Howard. Terry Brittel as the Gold Ball wakes up singing and the other balls survey the madness around them and decide to sing a hilarious version of “Silent Night” that has to be seen to be believed. This slapstick show earns much laughter at the cast’s clever antics. The biggest scene stealer is Mario as an out of control ornament lording it above the others. The ornament costumes by Nancy Spirito are superb and so hilariously authentic that you will split your sides laughing at them. So for a Christmas treat that isn’t “A Christmas Carol”, be sure to run down to Arctic Playhouse to see this Holiday Trifecta. Tell them Tony sent you. Free popcorn and Chocolate Chip cookies are provided for the enjoyment of all audience members.
THE GIFT OF THE MAGI/THE FIRST NOEL/ BALLS (5 to 22 December)
Arctic Playhouse, 117 Washington Street, West Warwick, RI
1(401)573-3443 or www.thearticplayhouse.com
