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A Christmas Carol, Take 1

November 27, 2007 By 10 Comments

Ed’s note: Will Synetic’s Christmas Carol thrill children and adults? DCTS reviewer Gary McMillan speaks for the adults, (See Take 2) and our young reviewer gives his perspective here.

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  • A Christmas Carol
  • By Charles Dickens
  • Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili and Dan Istrate
  • Produced by Synetic Theater at Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre
  • Reviewed by Hunter Kieserman

I was not prepared for the visual excitement of Synetic Theater’s production of A Christmas Carol. I have seen many film and stage versions, so I was very excited to see the Synetic Theatre production because it was Synetic Theatre’s first family show, it was my first review for DC Theatre Scene and my Dad was joining me.

Like most kids, I was familiar with the plot of A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ classic tale of grumpy old Ebenezer Scrooge who is selfish and does not fully understand the meaning of Christmas until visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. They open his eyes to the true meaning of Christmas and fill him with Christmas spirit. What I saw at Synetic Theater was absolutely phenomenal! It was a visual treat! [Read more...]

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A Christmas Carol, Take 2

November 27, 2007 By 2 Comments

  • A Christmas Carol
  • By Charles Dickens, adapted by Nathan Weinberger
  • Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili and Dan Istrate
  • Choreographed by Irina Tsikurishvili
  • Produced by Synetic Theater
  • Reviewed by Gary McMillan

Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh with the hounds of hell nipping at your heels. Synetic Theater has taken on the Dicken’s holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, and put its distinctive, ethereal stamp on the tale of the haunting and redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge. With its four ghostly visitations on Christmas Eve, the play is a natural for Synetic’s blend of minimalist dialog and visually stunning, creative illusion. It also marks Synetic’s venture into more family-friendly fright, with a smattering of lighthearted humor here and there. [Read more...]

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Christmas Carol 1941

November 27, 2007 By 1 Comment

  • Christmas Carol 1941
  • By James Magruder
  • Directed by Molly Smith
  • Produced by Arena Stage                                  Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
  • Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

Who knew that the age-old Christmas Carol story could be adapted to wartime Washington, D.C and filled with such local and national history?  Talented playwright James Magruder has internalized the familiar messages of memory, retribution, and second chances, and offers a whole new twist to the familiar tale, highlighting Washington’s history, war-time struggles, and the ever present cranking levers of the federal machinery that define this fascinating place.  [Read more...]

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