Cloverdale Playhouse: "Shadowlands"

In addition to The Chronicles of Narnia and other literary masterpieces, C. S. Lewis is highly regarded as one of the 20th Century's most renowned Christian apologists. In the early-to-mid century he was one of a small coterie of Oxford intellectuals who met regularly to discuss a range of philosophical, theological, social, human subjects. He was a bachelor who shared accommodations with his brother "Warnie", living a comfortable and relatively uneventful life. -- Then Joy Davidman came into his life and changed him forever, as he moved from skepticism to being in touch with his own emotions.  Joy was an American Jewish divorcee who struck up an acquaintance in a series of letters that demonstrated intellectual abilities equal to his as well as a straightforward demeanor. -- An unlikely match, but one sensitively recounted in William Nicholson's Shadowlands which is currently on offer at the Cloverdale Playhouse

Director Sarah Kay Grinstead's adroit manipulation of Nicholson's script relies on the talents of her excellent ensemble cast to engage audiences as they convincingly deliver the philosophical themes [the "shadowlands" of the title emerge in several ways as they also develop plot and character] along with some gently humorous romantic comedy dialogue.

At the center, Lewis -- referred to here as "Jack" [J. Scott Grinstead] and Davidman [Rachel Pickering] allow themselves time to develop their relationship from pen-pals to an awkward social afternoon tea gathering to a marriage of convenience to a stronger love, through cancer and death and ultimately to an understanding of what it takes to face life with all its complications and pains, and to emerge stronger. -- It's a controlled and fully convincing story.

They are joined by Joy's young son Douglas [a soft-spoken Carson Campbell], Lewis's brother "Warnie" [John McWilliams makes him a slightly stuffy but sweet man who allows others to dominate the scenes he is in], and the aforementioned Oxford intellectuals played by Todd Taseff, Scott Rouse, Scott Denton, and Evan Price: each with his own distinct personality and philosophical bent that contribute to and comment on the Lewis/Davidman plot. -- Sarah Worley as the Nurse while Joy suffers from painful bone cancer, and Ethan Montgomery as the Registrar round out the cast.

Mr. Grinstead also serves as Scenic Designer, creating yet another deceptively simple multi-leveled set, placing Lewis's famous "wardrobe" at its focal point that makes a subtle commentary on the text.

There's a lot to think about both during and after for audiences experiencing Shadowlands. You'll probably be a lot better off.

Pike Road: "Meredith Wilson's Miracle on 34th Street"

Originally titled Here's Love on its debut in 1963, Meredith Wilson later changed it to Miracle on 34th Street, as it was based on the 1947 film of that name that featured Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, and a young Natalie Wood. -- An updated 1994 film with a marvelous Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle is another popular variation.

Wilson's musical rendition of Miracle on 34th Street contains orchestrations of his oeuvre familiar to those aficionados of The Music Man, leaving audiences tapping their collective toes or relishing the romantic moments. -- And though Wilson wrote music, lyrics, and book, Pike Road's director James Keith Posey and company occasionally use references to later dates than in the 1963 text.

Posey has as usual collected a multi-talented ensemble of actors young and old[er] to give energy to Wilson's rather lackluster story that leaves a few issues unresolved. -- Divorcee Doris Walker [Mara Woddal, in fine voice] organizes the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that culminates with Santa Claus arriving to start the Christmas Season and the shopping frenzy that follows. Her daughter Susan [Ruby Mallory] has been brought up to not believe in Santa, but when Kris Kringle [a thoroughly believable Sam Wallace] saves the day as a last minute substitute for the drunk Santa who Doris had hired, it doesn't take long for Susan, in the company of neighbor/lawyer Fred Gailey [Jason Isbell] to realize that Kris is the real Santa, whose lessons about faith and humanity and compassion and treating everyone with love are the backbone of the plot.

It's good to see Lee Bridges back on-stage as department store tycoon R. H.Macy, Kristen Vanderwal as a bewildered Miss Crookshank, and Assistant Director Jason Morgan providing yet another excellent comic portrayal as Marvin Shellhammer. -- And when Kris is sent to court to test his sanity, Eric Arvidson gives a solid performance as Judge Martin Group who is faced with the dilemma of determining that Santa Claus does exist and in the person of Kris Kringle.

All this is told in two acts over two-and-a-half hours [a bit overlong], with numerous pitch-perfect songs by the cast and Ensemble -- "Arm in Arm", "You Don't Know", "Here's Love", "Pine Cones and Holly Berries/It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas", "That Man Over There" and "Love Come Take Me" -- and production numbers delightfully choreographed by Kim Isbell.

There was a festive atmosphere in the theatre last night, even though the audience was small. Yet, Meredith Wilson's Miracle on 34th Street remains one of the Christmas Season's engaging stories to share with the River Region.