REVIEW: THE BIG CHILL & THE LITTLEST PILGRIM The holiday season means three things to me: long underwear that tucks into my socks, over-eating and great theatre. Tonight, my long underwear was in the wash and I had only a bag of Spider-Man Cheezits in my pocket, so as I journeyed to venerable Raynor Country Day School for the mini-theater troupes holiday classic, The Big Chill, lets just say I was in a foul mood and prepared to be underwhelmed... Afterall, I had recently seen Jenny Bracovic and Reen Abbotts Pee-Wee Theatre Troupe Thanksgiving Thespian-athon, “The Littlest Pilgrim,” and the emotional impact of that performance was anything but littlest… It took me two solid weeks for the social resonance to cease its endless assault on my tear ducts. Acting, story, Tambor-esque direction… it was a ménage a trios of dramatic integrity of which we’ve all come to expect of Bracovic and Abbott. What can one say of true directorial genius? Bravo? Normal accolades just don’t seem to cut it. I recovered, but I doubt I am alone in saying the struggle of the Littlest Pilgrim rages in all of us. Needless to say, the bar was set high and the Mini-Theatre Troupe had their work cut out for them this evening…The Big Chill, is a massive musical undertaking that has slain performing titans like Brando, Olivier and Streep. How could a group of 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders move this old jaded critic; especially after discovering my Spider-Man Cheezits were stale and full of Green Goblins (side note: I am petrified of the Green Goblin). My only hope was the reputation and talent of director, Suzanne Kissane Lewis and theatre jack of all trades, @Donna Gobel. A True visionary, I became acquainted with Lewis’ work several years ago and have been a fan ever since... But reputation is like a bike with no wheels -- it doesnt get you very far... What have you done for me lately, Lewis?... Well, what she did tonight (with the help of a chorus of angelic voices) was blow the roof off the old gymnasium; while blowing the minds of the theatre-going public across the greater Speonk area and beyond. From the opening note, the singing lifted my spirits whilst the choreography lifted me out of my seat. I found myself dancing in the aisles, Cheezits be damned. No dramatic stone was left unturned, from the costuming to a powerful method-acting cameo by @Kerry Coonan (who I truly believed as the school principal)… If you see only one elementary school show this holiday season, strap on your long underwear, eat a loaf and a half of Homepride Buttertop Wheat Bread and go see, “The Big Chill” at Raynor Country Day School and Camp Encore Friday night… do not miss it!
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 04:52:07 +0000
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