Review: Christmas Classics – Virtual Editions and Good as New!!
Reviews
12.23.2020
The two events I recommend here are among the most joyous presentations of the season, and are just as, if not more effective in virtual form! One marks its 50th ANNIVERSARY this year, that medieval pageant celebrating the winter solstice known as THE CHRISTMAS REVELS. The second has been a classic on page, stage, and screen since Charles Dickens wrote it in 1843. This is among the most beautiful, touching, vividly performed and just plain theatrically wondrous versions ever of A CHRISTMAS CAROL!…
Then DO NOT MISS THE CHRISTMAS REVELS— now marking a half century of pageantry which has wrapped itself around the stage of Harvard’s Sanders Theatre since Revels founder John Langstaff’s first Christmas Revels in 1971. This year we can’t gather together in person to celebrate the shortest day of the year and the beginning of the next one, BUT the Revels team has culled its archives and virtually wrapped itself around the globe with 50 years worth of highlights, music, stories, songs, and dances from all over the world, Celtic to Baltic, India to Roma, Northland to Mexico and beyond!
It all comes to life beginning with the statues of James Otis and Josiah Quincy who’ve seen it all. They are enacted by beloved local acting star couple Paula Plum and Richard Snee who guide us through the merriment, including precious archival footage of Christmas Revels past topped off by Yo-Yo Ma cello-ing a round of Dona Nobis Pacem with chorus zoomed in. Sweeping shots of the audience on their feet stand in for all of us as a ghost light hovers in the wings and echoes of revels past, present, and yes, future remain fully ensconced whether we’re physically there or not. The spirit of the season carries the day in this glorious pastiche of life and right good fun. STREAMING NOW THROUGH MIDNIGHT DEC 31!
Related Stories
See More
Boston Music Intelligencer REVIEW: Going Deeper Underground with “Secret Byrd”
Events Insider REVIEW: Revels Presents Immersive Musical Theatrical Experience SECRET BYRD at
Secret Byrd Spotlight: Owain Park
The Boston Musical Intelligencer PREVIEW: Don’t Tell Anyone About “Secret Byrd”
Revels Fringe Spotlight: Seven Times Salt
Midwinter Revels Children’s Chorus Spotlight: Marina & Lena Nugent
Midwinter Revels Children’s Chorus Spotlight: Jacob & Mira Whiting
Boston Globe REVIEW: Midwinter Revels Serves Up a Frolicsome ‘Feast of Fools’
Theater Mirror REVIEW: Revels Goes Medieval in Swanson’s Swan Song with ‘Feast
Stage and Cinema REVIEW: You’d Be a Fool to Miss this Feast
Broadway World REVIEW: Midwinter Revels – A Journey of Comfort and Joy
Boston Globe HOLIDAY ARTS PREVIEW: A medieval ‘Midwinter Revels’ will suffer these
RiverSing Spotlight: Good Trouble Brass Band
Debra Wise Appointed Associate Artistic Director of Revels, Inc.
Midwinter Revels Performer Spotlight – Rosalba Solis
Midwinter Revels Performer Spotlight – Carolyn Saxon
Stage and Cinema REVIEW: Let the Revels’ Sun Shine into Your Home
The Arts Fuse REVIEW: “Midwinter Revels” — Unity, “Behold How Good”
New England Theater Mirror REVIEW: ‘Midwinter Revels’ Brings Together Multiple Cultures for
WBUR REVIEW: Revels is back with a more inclusive, rebranded holiday spectacular
Boston Globe REVIEW: A ‘Solstice Celebration’ for everyone
Midwinter Revels Chorus Spotlight – Heather Koerber Nunes and Jake Nunes
Chorus Auditions for The Midwinter Revels: A Celebration of the Solstice
Midwinter Revels – A Celebration of the Solstice
Revels Spring Sing Artist Spotlight: Dr. Kathy Bullock
Revels Spring Sing Artist Spotlight: Claire Dickson
In Memory of Ashley Bryan
Common Pursuits in Different Suits
The Sleepless Critic: ‘Christmas Revels In Celebration of Winter Solstice’ a clever
The Arts Fuse: “The Christmas Revels 2021” — As Usual, Rising in
Joyce’s Choices: The Christmas Revels
New England Theater Mirror: Christmas Revels Returns to Sanders Theater
Revels, Inc. Names Elijah Botkin as New Music Director
Boston Globe Review: The ‘Christmas Revels’ celebrates a new direction
Behind the Scenes at Revels
Thanks Giving
Meet Arkansas Light, Christmas Revels Production Stage Manager
Artist Spotlight: Ken Field
Volunteer Spotlight: Haley Fisher
The Sleepless Critic Review: Christmas Revels 50th virtual anniversary delivers mirth, merriment,
Review: Christmas Classics – Virtual Editions and Good as New!!
Boston Globe Review: This virtual Christmas Revels is a virtual triumph
Volunteer Spotlight: Rachel Grygorcewicz
Volunteer Spotlight: Nick Browse
Volunteer Spotlight: Ross Hall
Volunteer Spotlight: Harvey Cohen
Volunteer Spotlight: Cathie Ghorbani
Volunteer Spotlight: Mari Young
Volunteer Spotlight: Julie Smith
David Zooms to Perkins
Volunteer Spotlight: John Recroft
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!
Review: Christmas Revels Brings Its Special Cheer to Depression Era America
BWW Review: THE CHRISTMAS REVELS: A Long Tradition of Community Forged Through
Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – American Version
REVIEW: Nearly 50, Christmas Revels is better than ever
REVIEW: This Christmas Revels goes to the American heartland
Thanksgiving
Solstice Duality
Happy Spring!
REVIEW: Christmas Revels Celebrates the ‘Other’ Great White North
REVIEW: ‘The Christmas Revels’ points north
Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – A Wonderful Nordic Celebration
Just Add Audience
The Longest Day
A Magical Experience: The Making of a CD
Malibu 2018
REVIEW: Revels’ ‘Venetian Celebration’ glitters
REVIEW: Old World Music, Comedy from Renaissance Era Lights Up Christmas Revels
St. Nicholas in Bohemia: Mikulas Eve
REVIEW: A handsome ‘Christmas Revels’ brings the party to Venice
A liberating holiday performance
The Master of the Revels
The Solstice Stands Revealed
Revels is here! Revels is here!
Striding Arches
Moonlighting with Shakespeare
What Blizzard?
Christmas Revels Enchants with Celebration of Acadian, Cajun Cultures
The Holy and the Broken Hallelujah Or How I learned to stop
This Acadian-Cajun Christmas Revels lets the good times roll
Annual Christmas Revels’ production fills the stage with delight
A Music Director Reflects
Fenway’s Ritual Earth
Welcome to Our New Music Director
Reflections on Malibu
‘Christmas Revels’ finally makes it to Wales
Christmas Revels – Looking Back and Looking Forward
Dylan Thomas: the intersection where poetry and drama meet
Revels Music Director George Emlen Announces His Retirement
Giving Voice
A Revels Director in Wales
Summer solstice: the year’s circus act
The Boston Globe profiles harpist Maeve Gilchrist and Revels FRINGE
Reporting on Education at Revels
The Great Flying Machine Race
The Wheel of the World
What’s Your Version of the Revels Elephant?
Farewell from Steve
Summer Camp
Fuse Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – Charming English Music Hall Edition
The Boston Globe Review: For Christmas Revels, a welcome return to Victorian
Events Insider Review: Christmas Revels Brings Victorian Dance Hall Celebration to Sanders
TAB Newspapers Theater Review: Revels transports audiences to Victorian England
The Crystal Palace
Don’t Blame Persephone
From the FRINGE: Who’s Maeve Listening to?
Solstice Fires
Patriot’s Day – My Favorite Holiday
A Forum on Arts Funding
Spring Forward
The Itinerant Musician
Welcome to the Revels blog
Stay up to date
with Revels.
with Revels.
Sign up to receive email updates on performances, events, and news coming from Revels.