A Child's Christmas in Wales
by Dylan Thomas
Directed by Ceil Herman
Performances December 12-21, 2003
Las Cruces Sun News - Entertainment - Dec. 14, 2003 
Tom Smith reading the part of Dylan Thomas
Christmas unplugged - A classic Dylan Thomas story recalls simpler times
By Cheryl Thornburg
There are so many holiday specials on TV and on stage every December: "A Christmas Carol," "The Nutcracker," "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," all of which are very familiar. But there are some true holiday treasures that are less well known. This year, No Strings Theatre Company offers one such holiday treat.
"A Child's Christmas in Wales" is a classic story by Dylan Thomas that looks back on a much simpler time and place when family gatherings and snowball fights were the norm - long before DVDs, television and video games. The production is a reading of Thomas' classic tale featuring veteran actor Tom Smith as the author and different community members reading the minor parts at each production.
Smith is animated and his eyes gleam as he recounts the Christmas memories of Thomas' boyhood. His aunts and uncles and friends come to life as Smith vividly tells stories about them.
Their attributes and antics are sometimes not very flattering, but Smith describes them with such fondness that it evokes only positive feelings.
The show leaves one longing for, and trying to plan, a less commercial holiday season.
In addition to Smith, Friday night's readers included Mercedes Benavidez, Nicki Wolf, K.C. Cherkasky, Wilma Hutson and Kimmarie Hartley. Various patrons, volunteers and donors to NSTC have been invited to participate in each show, so each show may be slightly different.
The reading lasts about a half hour and is followed by a reception after each show. Remaining performances are at 2:30 p.m. today and Sunday Dec. 21 and at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Downtown Mall. Tickets are $7. Reservations are available by calling (505) 523-1223 or online by going to www.no-strings.org and using the reservation form.
Coming up next month at the Black Box will be "Prelude to a Kiss," directed by Rachel Space. The show will run Jan. 9-25.
Cheryl Thornburg can be reached at cthornburg@lcsun-news.com.
The Readers for Each Night
Left - Friday 12/12/03 (L to R) Mercedes Benavidez, Niki Wolf, K.C. Cherkasky, Tom Smith, Wilma Hutson, Kimmarie Hartley
Right - Saturday 12/13/03 (L to R) Paula Leighton, Gaby Gibson, Tom Smith, Christina Brillante, Kim Kendall, Jerry Pendelton
Left - Sunday 12/14/03 (L to R) Tom Smith, Bill Alford, Ken St. Thomas, Kathryn St. Thomas, Brandon Brown
Right - Friday 12/19/03 (Back L to R) Eric Young, Tom Smith, Dave Edwards (Front L to R) Courtney Richmond, Lauren Wolf, Rachel Space
Left - Saturday 12/20/03 (L to R) Tom Smith, Jackson Whelpley, Wanda Towney, Jameson Mott, Chris Rippel
Left - Sunday 12/21/03 (Standing L to R) Caryl Porter, Tom Smith, Alice Little, Mark Steffan, Kathi-Jane (Front L to R) Hannah Covert, Lauren Wolf, Courtney Richmond
|| Mission | Performances | Reservations | Upcoming Events | Auditions | Past Productions ||
|| Volunteers | Contact Us | Meet the Board | Visit the Theatre | Directions | Donors| Links | Guestbook ||
Web graphics by :
Web design and layout by:
The "No Strings Jester Logo" is copyright to Meredith Loring, 2000-2002. For questions regarding this web site, please contact Enchanted Graphics. Web site created 20 apr 2000. This page was last updated 13 July, 2002 . Best viewed using 800 x 600 resolution, minimum screen size, 13 inches. Please maximize your browser window when viewing.
|
|
