Local talent featured in holiday play

MY TAKE by Rose McGlew

   People often comment that Christmas is for kids. Well, at least for this week’s column, they’re right. More specifically, this week’s column is about some kids involved in a story about Christmas. "A Christmas Story" by Jean Shepherd, to be really exact.
   "A Christmas Story" is from Mr. Shepherd’s book, "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" which was made into the 1983 movie starring Melinda Dillon as the mother, Darren McGavin as The Old Man, and Peter Billingsley as Ralphie. You remember Ralphie, don’t you? He’s the kid with glasses and an annoying little brother named Randy. He’s the kid who wants a genuine Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Air Rifle with a compass and this thing that tells time built right into the stock. Ralphie is the kid who is told over and over that if he were lucky enough to receive said Red Ryder Air Rifle, he’d surely shoot his eye out.
   As funny and endearing as the movie classic is, seeing it live, on stage brings an added dimension of Christmas cheer and we are lucky enough to have it coming to a stage near us. The Pennington Players will present "A Christmas Story" in its entirety at the Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor. Director Bobbi Mendel has her hands full of young talent and she is putting that talent to good use. All of the youngsters in the play are from local towns including Robbinsville, Cranbury, Hopewell, Ewing and Lawrenceville. Several kids are making their stage debuts, but there are several already familiar faces in the cast as well.
   Did I mention that several of the kids are from Robbinsville? Why, yes I did. Two of them, as a matter of fact. Regular readers of this column might recognize the names Paul and Jacob McGlew in the cast list, playing the roles of Schwartz (the triple-dog-dare-you kid) and Randy (the whiny little brother), respectively. As if we didn’t have enough on our plates, we decided that adding a holiday play would be just the thing. The boys have really enjoyed the experience and have made some new friends at rehearsals, as has Mom while sitting through rehearsals.
   Paul and Jacob aren’t the only under-18 talents in the show. Ian Lowry plays Ralphie and has been practicing cursing like nobody’s business. Sydney Kobil and Bailey Outerbridge — who are cast as classmates Esther Jane and Helen — are appreciating just how far girls’ fashions have come since the 1940s. Alex Charwin, playing Flick (of the stuck tongue infamy), has become quite a fan of swamps and pythons, unforgiving as they may be. Jesse Girard, also known as the bully Scut Farkas, will never want to say "uncle" again. In addition, Theresa Buckhusen, Meghan Casey and Kristen Birdsey make some scary Santa’s helpers.
   These kids have a little help from a few brave adult cast members. Steve Decker plays Ralph, the narrator. His voice is perfect; I could just listen to him read a phone book with inflection. Raymond Pental is The Old Man, Ralphie’s dad. No, I mean it…Ray IS this character. And God bless Dara Lewis, who plays the mother to Ralphie and Randy. This young woman has more fortitude and patience than Randy’s real mother. Hilary Kayle Crist, as Miss Shields, makes you want to sit down and write a theme about Christmas.
   This raucously talented group is moved and motivated by the most Zen-like director I’ve ever met, Bobbi Mendel. Ever calm and ever serene, Bobbi can get these people (and by people, I mean rowdy kids) to pay attention and do what they’re supposed to when and where they’re supposed to without ever raising her voice. Of course, I’m sure that Bobbi’s right hand, Eileen Kennedy, helps keep her focused. Eileen, as stage manager, keeps everyone up to speed and updated on a daily basis — and always with a smile on her face. Although I haven’t had too much interaction with the producer, MaryEllen Birdsey, she seems focused on getting a good job done right. She has the crew to do it!
   The Pennington Players’ production of "A Christmas Story" opens at the Kelsey Theatre on Friday, Dec. 10 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 19. There are matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and evening shows at 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The theatre has revamped their seats, so if you haven’t been to a show in awhile, now’s the time! You can contact the Kelsey Theatre box office at (609) 584-9444 to reserve your seats.
   Come see a great show to help get you in the holiday spirit. Guns, romance, and family values. What more could you want?

   Rose McGlew is a resident of Robbinsville.