'American Century Christmas' a return to holiday classics
By: Nancy Dunham
Special to The Examiner
December 19, 2008
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Glenn White, Patricia Tinder and Kathryn Fuller star in "An American Century Christmas." -- Courtesy Photo
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ARLINGTON — There's a reason that Nielsen reports 11.37 million of us tuned in this year when ABC broadcast "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which premiered in 1965.
It's the same reason that "An American Century Christmas," presented by The American Century Theatre, will likely play to sold-out crowds during its run.
No one's trying to deny the social injustices, inhumanities, and fear that pervaded our society then as it does now. And there's the unsettling realization that these "All-American shows" are still primarily — or sometimes completely — populated by white American actors.
But there's also no denying that this show is a treat that transports its audience into a world of kinship and childlike innocence.
The ensemble cast — set to the metaphoric sound track of the approximately 70 classic holiday songs performed — recreates the seasonal celebrations of Christmases past. A mix of vintage short stories, poems, writings, and even audio snippets from performers including Frank Sinatra remind all of the joyful comfort this entertainment brought in years past. All's right with the world — at least for this hour or two.
But don't think the revue is akin to a trip to a musty, dusty attic.
The 10 performers in the two-hour long performance are full of energy and warmth as they sing, dance and scatter snippets of historic tidbits throughout the show.
Nowhere was the high-voltage energy of the cast more evident than the recreation of the Christmas tree scene in "A Charlie Brown Christmas," especially when actor Glenn White played an exuberant Snoopy complete with fake floppy ears and howls. A strong second, though, was when Ann DeMichele does a G-rated and completely enchanting "Santa Baby" performance.
Truly, though, it's tough to pinpoint the show's richest moment because the performers' engaging on-stage personas and well-trained yet guileless vocals gave each part its own special look and sound.
That's not easy when moving from happy, silly songs into heart-wrenching tales of sadness, but director Jack Marshall's quick pacing is what makes this production work. One doesn't linger too long in melancholy before rays of hope shine through.
Set Designer Trena Weiss-Null has wisely chosen to decorate the main room of the home in which all action occurs with Victorian but slightly shabby motif that's easy to equate with a friend's comfy digs. Sort of like a derivation of "Friends" from the past century.
"An American Century Christmas" is very much like dropping into the home of a loved one and being met with warmth, joy, and good fellowship — not to mention some star-quality singing.
If you go
"An American Century Christmas"
When: times and dates vary but generally 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; through Jan. 4.
Where: The American Century Theater, Theatre II, Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington.
Info: $25 to $32; 703-998-4555; americancentury.org
