RECOMMENDED
If you’ve groused about Christmas decorations already taking over the seasonal aisle of Walgreens, grumbled about the Christmas tree already glistening from behind the draperies at the Jones’ house, or glared at a co-worker after overhearing that if they could just find that rare Etruscan urn Aunt Harriet covets all of their holiday shopping would be complete, you may have a pretty serious case of holiday-itis. Before this disease turns you into a bellowing Scrooge and you pass it along to innocent children, you should know that Evanston’s Piccolo Theatre has created the perfect cure.
Celebrating their fifteenth season as the greater-Chicago area’s commedia dell’arte specialists, this ensemble-driven troupe resides in a charmingly reapportioned train station. They regularly mount a holiday panto, steeped in the British tradition, as a wholesome excursion for little ones trapped in close quarters. With child-approved jokes, broad physical comedy, improvisation and, most essentially, audience interaction, a nap may be in order afterwards. Since much of the comedy is multilayered, there are special tidbits for the adults as well. Naps all-round!
Borrowing from the familiar ballet story of a little girl gifted with a nutcracker that turns into a prince, Piccolo’s show offers dancing, singing, clowning, good-guys winning, baddies losing and a dragon getting turned into a tiny stuffed toy. The additional plot of the captured Princess Marie is essayed by Annemarie Friedo with sweet results. In sharp contrast, Liz Dillard’s woebegone Clara is a bullied misfit who comes out fearlessly growling. Joshua D. Allard’s pantomime dame, an absolute imperative for this style, is a soft-spoken Southern gal with a heart of gold and a penchant for engaging the audience.
The young audience present when I saw “Clara and the Nutcracker” were wide-eyed, engrossed in the story and excited about being involved. They were exquisitely behaved. Sounds like more fun than corralling homebound schoolchildren, right? (Aaron Hunt)
Piccolo Theatre, 600 Main Street, Evanston, (847)424-0089, piccolotheatre.com, $27. Through December 20.
Related Stories
- Their Future is Our Future: A&A Ballet Presents an Art Deco Nutcracker and Trains the Next Generation of Ballet Dancers The Studebaker provides a unique stage for A&A's vision: one large enough to put up a spectacle of scenic design and a massive cast, while intimate enough a house to afford every audience member a view of facial expressions and movement nuances without use of opera glasses.
- A Long Time Coming: A Review of Caroline, Or Change at Firebrand Theatre & TimeLine Theatre Company Firebrand Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company co-produce this stirring revival with book and lyrics by Tony Kushner and music by Jeanine Tesori.
- Good History: A Review of A Home on the Lake at Piven Theatre Workshop and Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Piven Theatre Workshop and Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre co-produce this place-based world premiere about Evanston's racially-charged history.
- Once Again And Better Than Ever: A Review of Once at Paramount Theatre The Tony Award-winning musical gets its regional premiere at Paramount Theatre in Aurora.
- Them/Us/All: A Review of Self-Accusation at Theatre Y Beyond the window, the show is happening.
