The Critics Review

  The Only Christmas Pageant in Town - Clio Cast and Crew By: Laura Anne Miller ‘Tis the season for Christmas songs and Christmas pageants. Clio Cast and Crew, with the direction of Jan Palmer and the Show to Go Singers deliver a solid, family friendly Christmas production, ”The Only Christmas Pageant in Town”. Olive Green (Nicole Dunckel) directs the church’s Christmas pageant every year. Every year, something seems to be missing and in an effort to change things up and figure out what is missing, Olive hires the Hollywood Theater of Peace and Tidings of Great Joy Traveling Troupe to put on the show this year.  A big snowstorm keeps the Hollywood troupe away and the existing church members get stranded at the church. They decide to put on the Christmas pageant instead, including the pastor, Reverend Holly (Bill Fagerstrom), and the church board, and women’s auxiliary.  Seeking shelter from the storm, Allen (Tom McCarty), Fred (Malachi Kittell), and George (Aaron Cole...

  A Seussified Christmas Carol - Muth Community Players By: Laura Anne Miller What happens when you mix a beloved classic Christmas tale with the stylings of Dr. Seuss? A Seussified Christmas Carol ! While much of the story remains the same, A Christmas Carol is given a Seussical flair and is shortened, as Narrator 1 (Lauren Visuri) and Narrator 2 (Beth Emmons) are quick to point out.  The Scrooge (James Lloyd) - not Scrooge, THE Scrooge - is a curmudgeon of an old man who overworks and underpays his one employee, Bob Cratchit (John Dunning). He is stingy and mean and even turns down an invitation from Bed-Head Fred (Ashton Edie), and refuses to donate to the Solicitors (NIckolas Perretti, Jay Waliczek). What a guy, that “The Scrooge”. Meanwhile, the Cratchit Family is poor, but happy. The children (Ada Emmons, Azalea Krummen, Sophia Lloyd, Everly Moore, Victoria Sebert, and Sylvie Wilson) must all get jobs to help make ends meet. Little Timmy Loo Hoo (Peter Howell) is...