Revels Goes Medieval in Swanson’s Swan Song with ‘Feast of Fools’

December 20, 2023December 26, 2023 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Vincent Ernest Siders (The King, far left) and the cast of *Midwinter Revels: The Feast of Fools*
Photos by Paul Buckley

Midwinter Revels: The Feast of Fools: A Medieval Celebration of the Solstice – Written and Directed by Patrick Swanson and Debra Wise.; Musical Direction by Elijah Botkin; Choreography by Susan Dibble; Set Design by Jeremy Barnett; Sound Design by Bill Winn; Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg; Costume Design by Heidi A. Hermiller; Presented by Revels, Inc. at The Sanders Theater at Harvard University, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge, through December 28th.

Retiring Revels Artistic Director Paddy Swanson is ending his career on a decidedly high note, delivering on his promise to the Globe’s Terry Byrne to “return to our roots, with brass instruments with their big sound, big carols, and processions.” The result is the highly entertaining Midwinter Revels: The Feast of Fools – and it’s quite possibly the best Revels in years. This year’s edition (the 53^rd, 34^th with Swanson at the helm) is also marinaded in comedy, bolstered by a trio of talented fools, Folly (René Collins), Fiasco (Eliza Rose Fichter), and Flop (Roger Reed), who serve their king (a regal and affably commanding Vincent Ernest Siders) with irreverent devotion.

‘Midwinter Revels’ Brings Together Multiple Cultures for an Eclectic Holiday Experience

December 18, 2022December 19, 2022 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Carolyn Saxon, Maeve Leahy, and Evan Swanson in Revels’ *Midwinter Revels: A Solstice Celebration’* Photos by Paul Buckley

‘Midwinter Revels: A Solstice Celebration’ – Directed by Patrick Swanson; Musical Direction by Elijah Botkin; Set Design by Jeremy Barnett; Costume Design by Heidi Hermiller; Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg; Choreography by Kelli Edwards; Projection Design by Ari Herzig; Sound Design by Bill Winn; Puppet Design by Sara Peattie. Presented by Revels at the Sanders Theater at Harvard University through December 28.

by Mike Hoban

As the holiday-themed shows descend upon the stages of Boston theaters, it’s not likely that you’re going to find many that feature “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”, “Hava Nagila” and the traditional Mexican folk song “La Malagueña” all in the same production. But you will find all of these selections and plenty more to warm your heart in this non-traditional holiday institution, Midwinter Revels: A Solstice Celebration. The name change from Christmas Revels for the show – it’s the 52^nd annual – is meant to more accurately reflect the seasonal celebration that draws on Irish, Mexican and Jewish cultures, according to director Patrick “Paddy” Swanson.

Christmas Revels Returns to Sanders Theater

December 22, 2021December 23, 2021 michaelhobanLeave a comment

William Fournier and Carolyn Saxon with cast in ‘Christmas Revels’- Photos by Shep Ferguson

by Mike Hoban

‘The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice’ – Directed by Patrick Swanson; Musical Direction by George Emlen, Edmar Colon, Associate Music Director; Set Design by Jeremy Barnett; Sound Design by Bill Winn; Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg; Choreography by Kelli Edwards; Costume Design by Kelli Edwards, Gillian Stewart, Tony Tucker; Heidi A. Hermiller; Projection Designer; Presented by Revels at The Sanders Theater at Harvard University, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge, through December 23rd (run cut short by COVID concerns)

Following a year when the Christmas Revels celebrated its 50^th anniversary with a virtual performance made up mostly of taped snippets from the previous 49 years of shows, the Celebration of the Winter Solstice returns live once again to the magnificent Sanders Theater with its truly traditional holiday-themed fare. And while previous editions have taken us back in time to various locales of the northern hemisphere to celebrate traditions around the Winter Solstice (the shortest day), this year’s performance is set in a present-day English pub, where the patrons gather to sing traditional English village carols, led by pub owners Rita (Revels veteran Carolyn Saxon) and her partner (William Forchion). The pub is visited by time travelers from the Elizabethan era (or a Renaissance fair), who threaten to revoke the Christmas Revels charter for their failure to comply with some vague rules of conduct. It’s an interesting set up to a show that offers a number of creative twists to the standard programming.

Christmas Revels (Virtually) Celebrates 50th Anniversary with New Faces, Classic Clips

December 21, 2020December 24, 2020 Henry Harvey1 Comment

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs the peace round Dona Nobis Pacem with members of the Revels Virtual Audience during ‘The Christmas Revels: A 50th Anniversary (Virtual) Celebration’

‘The Christmas Revels: A 50^th Anniversary (Virtual) Celebration’ – Written & Directed by Patrick Swanson; Musical Direction by George Emlen; Set Design by Andy Barnett; Sound Design by Kem Stewart; Costume Design by Heidi A. Hermiller; Video Production by Michael Kolowich; Virtual Chorus Effects by Sid Levin. Presented virtually by Revels through December 31st.

by Mike Hoban

In any other year, the setting would have been perfect. The snow fell (and stopped) just in time for the Revels, adorning the grounds of the Sanders Theater with a pristine blanket of white. Any other of the previous 49 years, audiences would stream in, maybe stomp the snow from their boots in the magnificent Memorial Transept that serves as a vestibule for the theater, and possibly order a hot chocolate or glass of wine to prepare for their journey to another culture for a celebration of the Winter Solstice. But this is the Year of COVID, and human interaction with those outside our immediate circles is now largely hidden behind masks or reserved for the internet, where the intimacy and energy of live theater lives only in our memories. And the Revels – in addition to being an antidote to traditional holiday fare – has always been a deeply felt communal experience, with the audience playing as large a role as any individual performer.

So how does the Revels fare as it transitions to a virtual experience?

Christmas Revels Brings Its Special Cheer to Depression Era America

December 18, 2019December 18, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

*David Coffin leading the audience, band, and chorus in this year’s Chrismas Revels.*
*Photos by Roger Ide.*

by Mike Hoban

‘The Christmas Revels: An American Celebration of the Winter Solstice’ – Directed by Patrick Swanson; Musical Direction by Megan Henderson; Set Design by Jeremy Barnett; Sound Design by Bill Winn; Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg; Costume Design by Heidi A. Hermiller; Presented by Revels at The Sanders Theater at Harvard University, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge, through December 29th.

The snow fell early in Cambridge this year, reminding folks that the holiday season is indeed upon us and it’s once again time for the Christmas Revels, the non-traditional holiday family tradition that brings back folks from far and wide, year after year. Founded in 1971, this is the 49^th version of Revels, which each year presents a different culture and its traditions centered on the Winter Solstice/Christmas. For this year’s setting, the Revels returns stateside for the first time in recent memory (although the show did touch down in Louisiana in 2016’s Acadian-Cajun version), transporting us back to Depression Era America in 1933.

Christmas Revels Celebrates the “Other” Great White North

December 20, 2018December 20, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

‘The Christmas Revels:A Nordic Celebration of the Winter Solstice’ – Directed by Patrick Swanson; Musical Direction by Megan Henderson; Set Design by Jeremy Barnett; Sound Design by Bill Winn; Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg; Costume Design by Heidi A. Hermiller; Presented by Revels, Inc. at The Sanders Theater at Harvard University, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge, through December 29th.

The Yuletide season is upon us once again, and for many theatergoers that means the annual viewing of holiday staples like It’s A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol. To others, it means a trip to Sanders Theater in Cambridge to see what land The Christmas Revels will transport them to. Each year Revels presents the stories, music, and dance of different cultures, centered loosely on the Winter Solstice/Christmas season. This year it’s A Nordic Celebration of the Winter Solstice, which takes us to the Northlands – Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden – for a taste of folk traditions of the other “Great White North,” along with the Revels’ perennial favorites. And this production shines as brightly as the Northern Lights on a dark winter night.