TAB Newspapers Theater Review: Revels transports audiences to Victorian England

Reviews

12.15.2014


By Iris Fanger

For The Patriot Ledger

sarah_delima_dance_hall.jpg

Imagine watching a street scene in London at the end of the 19th century, just before Christmastime. Many of the shoppers carry boxes of all sizes, tied in red ribbons. Some of the women are dressed in colorful, long gowns covered by cloaks that sweep the cobblestone streets and bonnets on their heads. The men who escort them wear long coats and tall hats. But there are simpler folk, too, wrapped in shawls and humble jackets. Over all of them float the sounds of tradesmen calling out their wares.

Welcome to the 44th annual production of the “Christmas Revels,” this year set in England when Queen Victoria was on the throne. The amazing structure known as the Crystal Palace, built in 1851 to house the Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations in Hyde Park, London, had been moved to a different site where it housed numerous entertainments including concerts, recitals and circus troupes. Sir Arthur Sullivan, the distinguished composer, was having his greatest successes with the operettas he wrote with W.S. Gilbert, despite his numerous serious works, and George Bernard Shaw was writing music reviews. The Alhambra and Empire theaters were flourishing as music halls, filled with comic performers, animal acts, jugglers, dancers and eccentric oddities. At Christmastime the stages hosted pantomimes or “pantos,” spectacles often based on fairy tales but featuring various music hall entertainers as well. Act I of “The Christmas Revels” takes place in a holiday street market. Act II moves to the Crystal Palace for the performance of a “panto” of “Cinderella,” commissioned by the Prince of Wales, later to be crowned as Edward VII.

Weaving together familiar and beloved performers such as David Coffin, the genial master of ceremonies, and the Pinewoods Morris Men, as well as the Cambridge Symphonic Brass Ensemble, the 2014 Revels is a blissful mix of the sacred and the comically profane. The 2½-hour performance includes the annual recitation of the Susan Cooper’s poem, “The Shortest Day,” and the group-sing finale, “Susex Mummers’ Carol” (“God bless the master of this house”). And that’s not to forget the metaphor-laden “Lord of the Dance,” which transforms Coffin into a Morris dancer, to lead the singing and dancing members of the audience, clasping hands with strangers into a chain of instant friendship, out to the high ceiling lobby of Harvard University’s Memorial Hall. George Emlen, music director of the production since 1984, chose and directed the adorable children’s choir and the adults of the Royal Albert Chorus, in addition to arranging the music.

Although it’s hard to keep count, there were perhaps 75 actor-singers and musicians on stage in the Sanders Theatre, with its perfect acoustics, burnished by the wooden alcoves and hard benches of the university’s largest auditorium where the Christmas Revels holds forth every year. In Act I, two sets of buskers, or street performers, competing for attention, are played by professional actors hired for the leading roles: the versatile Billy Meleady, paired with Marge Dunn; the round-eyed, bald-headed clown, Mark Jaster and his partner, Sabrina Selma Mandell. The book for the show, written by Patrick Swanson, longtime director of the Revels, has the buskers join forces for the “panto,” a big boost to their careers – and their pocketbooks.

The plot is set in motion by David Gullette, bringing a savvy gravitas to the role of Sir Arthur Sullivan, and Walter Locke as a theatrical magnate who undertake to produce the “panto” at the Crystal Palace. Sarah deLima appears first as their socialite friend, Fanny Ronalds, who is also a famous singer. She later lets it rip in two lively music hall numbers. Jaster appears in drag as one of Cinderella’s mean sisters, another of the “panto” traditions.

This year’s Revels are as good for looking as for listening, due in part to the costume parade, devised and made by Heidi A. Hermiller and her crew. From the tiniest girls in the children’s chorus to the grown-ups, especially the music hall players, each cast member is costumed in a different but sumptuous array. Mrs. Ronalds, in a sequined and feathered peacock-like gown and hat, borrowed from a Hasty Pudding show, provides the best viewing of all.

How appropriate for the British-hued, Victoria- era production of “The Christmas Revels” to be staged in Cambridge, where the storied “Tory Row” mansions of the Revolutionary War period still stand on Brattle Street. However, these songs, gags and dances, ushering in the 2014 holiday season, cannot help but charm all comers, no matter their persuasion.

share this story on social media

Related Stories
See More
Blogs
02.21.2024
Revels Fringe Spotlight: Seven Times Salt

Read More

Blogs
01.07.2024
Midwinter Revels Children’s Chorus Spotlight: Marina & Lena Nugent

Read More

Blogs
12.22.2023
Midwinter Revels Children’s Chorus Spotlight: Jacob & Mira Whiting

Read More

Announcements
12.21.2023
Boston Globe REVIEW: Midwinter Revels Serves Up a Frolicsome ‘Feast of Fools’

Read More

Announcements
12.21.2023
Theater Mirror REVIEW: Revels Goes Medieval in Swanson’s Swan Song with ‘Feast

Read More

Announcements
12.21.2023
Stage and Cinema REVIEW: You’d Be a Fool to Miss this Feast

Read More

Announcements
12.21.2023
Broadway World REVIEW: Midwinter Revels – A Journey of Comfort and Joy

Read More

Announcements
11.10.2023
Boston Globe HOLIDAY ARTS PREVIEW: A medieval ‘Midwinter Revels’ will suffer these

Read More

Blogs
09.18.2023
RiverSing Spotlight: Good Trouble Brass Band

Read More

Announcements
04.11.2023
Debra Wise Appointed Associate Artistic Director of Revels, Inc.

Read More

Blogs
01.12.2023
Midwinter Revels Performer Spotlight – Rosalba Solis

Read More

Blogs
01.05.2023
Midwinter Revels Performer Spotlight – Carolyn Saxon

Read More

Reviews
12.27.2022
Stage and Cinema REVIEW: Let the Revels’ Sun Shine into Your Home

Read More

Reviews
12.22.2022
The Arts Fuse REVIEW: “Midwinter Revels” — Unity, “Behold How Good”

Read More

Reviews
12.21.2022
New England Theater Mirror REVIEW: ‘Midwinter Revels’ Brings Together Multiple Cultures for

Read More

Reviews
12.19.2022
WBUR REVIEW: Revels is back with a more inclusive, rebranded holiday spectacular

Read More

Reviews
12.19.2022
Boston Globe REVIEW: A ‘Solstice Celebration’ for everyone

Read More

Blogs
12.16.2022
Midwinter Revels Chorus Spotlight – Heather Koerber Nunes and Jake Nunes

Read More

Announcements
05.19.2022
Chorus Auditions for The Midwinter Revels: A Celebration of the Solstice

Read More

Blogs
05.13.2022
Midwinter Revels – A Celebration of the Solstice

Read More

Blogs
03.19.2022
Revels Spring Sing Artist Spotlight: Dr. Kathy Bullock

Read More

Blogs
03.11.2022
Revels Spring Sing Artist Spotlight: Claire Dickson

Read More

Announcements
02.21.2022
In Memory of Ashley Bryan

Read More

Blogs
01.03.2022
Common Pursuits in Different Suits

Read More

Reviews
01.01.2022
The Sleepless Critic: ‘Christmas Revels In Celebration of Winter Solstice’ a clever

Read More

Reviews
12.31.2021
The Arts Fuse: “The Christmas Revels 2021” — As Usual, Rising in

Read More

Reviews
12.31.2021
Joyce’s Choices: The Christmas Revels

Read More

Reviews
12.23.2021
New England Theater Mirror: Christmas Revels Returns to Sanders Theater

Read More

Announcements
12.21.2021
Revels, Inc. Names Elijah Botkin as New Music Director

Read More

Reviews
12.20.2021
Boston Globe Review: The ‘Christmas Revels’ celebrates a new direction

Read More

Announcements
12.11.2021
Behind the Scenes at Revels

Read More

Blogs
11.23.2021
Thanks Giving

Read More

Blogs
10.08.2021
Meet Arkansas Light, Christmas Revels Production Stage Manager

Read More

Blogs
09.22.2021
Artist Spotlight: Ken Field

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
01.26.2021
Volunteer Spotlight: Haley Fisher

Read More

Reviews
12.29.2020
The Sleepless Critic Review: Christmas Revels 50th virtual anniversary delivers mirth, merriment,

Read More

Reviews
12.23.2020
Review: Christmas Classics – Virtual Editions and Good as New!!

Read More

Reviews
12.19.2020
Boston Globe Review: This virtual Christmas Revels is a virtual triumph

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
11.10.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Rachel Grygorcewicz

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
10.29.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Nick Browse

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
10.01.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Ross Hall

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
08.26.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Harvey Cohen

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
08.05.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Cathie Ghorbani

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
07.07.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Mari Young

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
06.30.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Julie Smith

Read More

Blogs
05.19.2020
David Zooms to Perkins

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
05.13.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: John Recroft

Read More

Blogs
04.30.2020
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

Read More

Reviews
12.19.2019
Review: Christmas Revels Brings Its Special Cheer to Depression Era America

Read More

Reviews
12.19.2019
BWW Review: THE CHRISTMAS REVELS: A Long Tradition of Community Forged Through

Read More

Reviews
12.17.2019
Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – American Version

Read More

Reviews
12.16.2019
REVIEW: Nearly 50, Christmas Revels is better than ever

Read More

Reviews
12.14.2019
REVIEW: This Christmas Revels goes to the American heartland

Read More

Blogs
11.21.2019
Thanksgiving

Read More

Blogs
06.21.2019
Solstice Duality

Read More

Blogs
03.19.2019
Happy Spring!

Read More

Reviews
12.20.2018
REVIEW: Christmas Revels Celebrates the ‘Other’ Great White North

Read More

Reviews
12.18.2018
REVIEW: ‘The Christmas Revels’ points north

Read More

Reviews
12.18.2018
Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – A Wonderful Nordic Celebration

Read More

Blogs
11.12.2018
Just Add Audience

Read More

Blogs
06.21.2018
The Longest Day

Read More

Blogs
05.16.2018
A Magical Experience: The Making of a CD

Read More

Blogs
02.14.2018
Malibu 2018

Read More

Reviews
12.27.2017
REVIEW: Revels’ ‘Venetian Celebration’ glitters

Read More

Reviews
12.13.2017
REVIEW: Old World Music, Comedy from Renaissance Era Lights Up Christmas Revels

Read More

Blogs
12.12.2017
St. Nicholas in Bohemia: Mikulas Eve

Read More

Reviews
12.10.2017
REVIEW: A handsome ‘Christmas Revels’ brings the party to Venice

Read More

Reviews
12.01.2017
A liberating holiday performance

Read More

Blogs
11.30.2017
The Master of the Revels

Read More

Blogs
06.21.2017
The Solstice Stands Revealed

Read More

Announcements
06.15.2017
Revels is here! Revels is here!

Read More

Blogs
05.24.2017
Striding Arches

Read More

Blogs
04.18.2017
Moonlighting with Shakespeare

Read More

Blogs
02.23.2017
What Blizzard?

Read More

Reviews
12.14.2016
Christmas Revels Enchants with Celebration of Acadian, Cajun Cultures

Read More

Announcements
12.12.2016
The Holy and the Broken Hallelujah Or How I learned to stop

Read More

Reviews
12.12.2016
This Acadian-Cajun Christmas Revels lets the good times roll

Read More

Reviews
12.04.2016
Annual Christmas Revels’ production fills the stage with delight

Read More

Blogs
06.06.2016
A Music Director Reflects

Read More

Blogs
04.11.2016
Fenway’s Ritual Earth

Read More

Announcements
03.08.2016
Welcome to Our New Music Director

Read More

Blogs
02.17.2016
Reflections on Malibu

Read More

Reviews
12.14.2015
‘Christmas Revels’ finally makes it to Wales

Read More

Blogs
12.10.2015
Christmas Revels – Looking Back and Looking Forward

Read More

Blogs
10.26.2015
Dylan Thomas: the intersection where poetry and drama meet

Read More

Announcements
09.16.2015
Revels Music Director George Emlen Announces His Retirement

Read More

Blogs
08.24.2015
Giving Voice

Read More

Blogs
07.17.2015
A Revels Director in Wales

Read More

Blogs
06.19.2015
Summer solstice: the year’s circus act

Read More

Reviews
06.12.2015
The Boston Globe profiles harpist Maeve Gilchrist and Revels FRINGE

Read More

Announcements
05.27.2015
Reporting on Education at Revels

Read More

Blogs
05.11.2015
The Great Flying Machine Race

Read More

Blogs
05.01.2015
The Wheel of the World

Read More

Blogs
04.13.2015
What’s Your Version of the Revels Elephant?

Read More

Announcements
01.26.2015
Farewell from Steve

Read More

Announcements
01.14.2015
Summer Camp

Read More

Reviews
12.17.2014
Fuse Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – Charming English Music Hall Edition

Read More

Reviews
12.17.2014
The Boston Globe Review: For Christmas Revels, a welcome return to Victorian

Read More

Reviews
12.16.2014
Events Insider Review: Christmas Revels Brings Victorian Dance Hall Celebration to Sanders

Read More

Reviews
12.15.2014
TAB Newspapers Theater Review: Revels transports audiences to Victorian England

Read More

Blogs
12.11.2014
The Crystal Palace

Read More

Blogs
09.16.2014
Don’t Blame Persephone

Read More

Blogs
07.07.2014
From the FRINGE: Who’s Maeve Listening to?

Read More

Blogs
06.20.2014
Solstice Fires

Read More

Blogs
04.25.2014
Patriot’s Day – My Favorite Holiday

Read More

Announcements
04.14.2014
A Forum on Arts Funding

Read More

Blogs
03.18.2014
Spring Forward

Read More

Blogs
03.03.2014
The Itinerant Musician

Read More

Announcements
02.05.2014
Welcome to the Revels blog

Read More

Stay up to date
with Revels.
Sign up to receive email updates on performances, events, and news coming from Revels.