Read the Book
Three of the holiday stage productions mentioned in this issue are
based on books originally intended for family reading. To get the most
from the play or musical, read the book first. Or as a stocking stuffer
that’s also a souvenir of a family outing, order a gift copy of the
book when you visit the Bookstore on West 25th (1921 W 25th St.,
216.566.8897). Standard book numbers for each edition have been
provided.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has this in common with the Bible
and the works of Shakespeare: its content has entered our consciousness
not so much through direct contact, as through a kind of osmosis.
Adaptations for the screen and stage, such as the musical “Scrooge”
currently on stage at the Near West Theatre, have for decades surpassed
the popularity of the original novella. The Victorian language and
references of Dickens’ text leave today’s younger readers (or
listeners) a bit in the dark. To remedy this, try the “Whole Story”
edition, published by Viking Children’s Books (ISBN: 0670888796). It
includes the complete text of the 1843 novella, evocative ink and
watercolor illustrations by William Geldart, and abundant annotations
to make you look smart when you’re explaining it all to the kids.
Back in 1972, when Barbara Robinson first published a short version of
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (ISBN: 0064402754) in McCall’s, she
might not have guessed that the story had such legs. So popular that
McCall’s published it twice, Robinson’s tale of six juvenile
delinquents who make up the horrible Herdman family (”so mean they
could have been Herod’s relatives”) is both hilarious and touching.
Besides being a wonderful family read-aloud (especially appealing to
reluctant readers), it’s also been transformed into a play, currently
onstage at West Side Ecumenical Ministry’s Reinburger Auditorium.
If you decide to “go away” to see “A Little House Christmas” at
Barberton’s Magic Theatre, you’ll enjoy the book of the same name, by
Laura Ingalls Wilder. This collection of chapters from her popular
series of novels is presented in the author’s original words — not
abridged or adapted text — along with colored versions of the familiar
Garth Williams drawings. Although the play does not adhere completely
to the text of any one story, audience members familiar with this book
will immediately recognize the characters, setting and situation of the
stage production. (ISBN: 0064406156)