Theater Review: ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales in Concert’

NEW YORK—Early on, when the elegant actor and singer Simon Jones recites: “Years and years ago, when I was a boy, when there were wolves in Wales, and birds the colour of red flannel petticoats whisked past the harp-shaped hills … it snowed and it snowed and … it snowed …” the scene is set for a joyous hour and 10 minutes.

I cannot imagine a more delightful holiday theatrical event than Dylan Thomas’s “A Child’s Christmas in Wales in Concert,” as arranged by director Charlotte Moore, now playing at the Irish Repertory Theatre.

Ms. Moore (also artistic director of the Rep) has interspersed the beloved Welsh poet’s lyrical and humorous text with familiar and not-so-familiar Christmas carols sung by five outstanding performers, resulting in an entity of warmth and charm—with sentiment, but not sentimentality.

The stage is simply set with a grand piano, chairs for the performers, and festive decorations of several Christmas trees and wreaths lit with varied colorful lights.

As many of you know, the piece is Thomas’s own view of a Christmas celebration in his home in his beloved Wales. This boy’s viewpoint encompasses chasing a neighbor’s cats (“patient, cold and callous, we waited…to snowball the cats”), picking fights with other boys, “smoking” chocolate cigarettes on a street corner.

He goes over lists of gifts he hopes to receive: Ashley Robinson sings, “I don’t want a lot for Christmas; I’ll be as happy as can be; with a bike and a boat and a watch and a sled and a jeep and a tank. And the key to my bank! And a dog.”

To which Simon Jones replies, “But it wouldn’t be Christmas And there wouldn’t be snow If there was no tangerine In the stocking toe.”

There is the annual visit by all the uncles and aunts. Auntie Hannah, a secret drinker, took rum in her tea, because “it was only once a year.” She later stands in the “middle of the snowbound back yard, singing like a big-bosomed thrush.” Later she discovers the elderberry wine.

After the dinner of turkey and blazing pudding, the uncles sat in the front parlor in front of the fire, without their collars, and “put their large moist hands over their watch chains, groaned a little and slept.”

The dog became sick from too much candy. Charming Kerry Conte quotes Thomas: “Hardboileds, toffee, fudge and allsorts. Crunchies, humbugs, glacier mints, marzipan fingers,” and more!

Other nourishment includes “Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake,” sung by the entire ensemble of three men and two women, which also includes the lovely Victoria Mallory’s exquisite soprano and Martin Vidnovic’s rich baritone.

In addition to the usual goodies of plums and cherries, there was a “crust that was nailed on with glue,”… “carroway seeds in abundance such that work up a fine stomach ache that could kill a man twice after eating a slice of Miss Fogarty’s Christmas cake.”

Later in the afternoon, the uncles and boys would try to build the model man-o’-war, following the instructions for little engineers, and produce “what might be mistaken for a sea-going tramcar!” It had been mentioned that the instructions might be “easy for Leonardo.”

In spite of the humor, a bittersweetness permeates as Thomas recollects the ambience of his native Wales. “Then I went to bed … Looking … out into the moonlight and the unending smoke-colored snow, I could see the lights in the windows of all the other houses on our hil l… I said some words to the close and holy darkness and then I slept while the distant voices from the room below comforted my rest.”

In between Thomas’s own words you will hear the glorious voices of the performers singing “Deck the Halls,” “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” wittily sung by Ashley Robinson and Kerry Conte, and many more.

Director Charlotte Moore also wrote music and lyrics for four of the songs, including “Ring Out the Bells!”

Musical director John Bell accompanies at the piano, also lending his voice to ensemble numbers. David Toser has designed charming red dresses, almost but not quite identical, for the two women. The gentlemen are appropriately attired.

This presentation is a true Christmas gem. It must be savored, however, before the closing date of Jan. 2.

A Child’s Christmas in Wales in Concert
Irish Repertory Theatre
132 West 22nd Street
Tickets: 212-727-2737 or www.irishrep.org  
Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Closes: Jan. 2, 2011

Diana Barth writes and publishes New Millennium, an arts newsletter. For information: www.diabarth@juno.com.