22 THE QUEENS COURIER • DECEMBER 18, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Titan Theatre Co.’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ Bah, humbug! What possible spin could be added to this holiday classic? Just include some wit and warmth to compete with Charles Dickens’ original version. The result is the Titan Theatre Company’s “A Christmas Carol.” This new adaptation by Emily Trask and director Lenny Banovez begins with a kindly “grandfather” who shares his storybook introduction. It quickly morphs into the popular holiday story. The main stage at Queens Theatre provides the current venue. The audience enjoys a surprisingly likable Scrooge and a very talented cast. All your favorite characters appear. There’s old Marley’s ghost (Andy Baldeschwiler) with his creaking chains and ever ominous accusations. The all-knowing spirits of Christmas past, present and future offer their yuletide warnings. Exuberant Fezziwig (Michael Selkirk) and his wife (Wilmari Myburgh), gentle Belle (Bailey Seeker), young Scrooge (Dylan Wittrock), the happy townspeople (Andrew Mazer, Shayna Schmidt, Jason Zednick) and lots of children fi ll the stage as well. Some modifications separate this version from countless others. The troupe frequently breaks the “fourth wall” as they play directly to the audience. The colorful costumes (Becky Willett) are true to 19th-century London. The clever set design (Jasmine Nicole) reminds us that we’re attending a live, onstage performance. A mature sense of humor combined with an innocent sense of values creates the most important holiday magic. Curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge is a kind soul who has been bullied by fate. He doesn’t succumb to greed but is rather pushed into it. Bravo to Kevin Loomis for his outstanding performance as Scrooge/Grandfather. In stark contrast is humble and forgiving Bob Cratchit (John Taylor Phillips). His levelheaded and loving wife (Laura Frye) manages to care for the Cratchit children. They embody the love that Scrooge has forgotten. And Tiny Tim (Moore Theobald)? He’s still the most optimistic and trusting soul of all. Ultimately, the lesson is the same. Our modern world is fi lled with dangers that could turn us into a “Scrooge,” whether emotionally or materialistically. To challenge these pitfalls, “A Christmas Carol” is one of the most reaffi rming and uplifting holiday stories. As a happy Scrooge and the rest of the characters face the audience, there’s comforting reassurance in Tiny Tim’s innocently touching fi nal words — “God bless us, everyone!” For information on this and future productions, surf to www.queenstheatre.org or call the box offi ce at 718-760-0064. As always, save me a seat on the aisle. Michael Selkirk as Christmas Present Photo by Lloyd Mulvey A VIEW FROM THE CLIFF BY CLIFF KASDEN Hanukkah spirit burns bright in Queens BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAFF [email protected]/@QueensCourier The lighting ceremony of the menorah in Bay Terrace has taken place for the last 22 years, and this year, Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky will lead the Northeast Queens Chabad Lubavitch on Dec. 21 in the ceremony. “Hanukkah is not just an ancient holiday. It’s relevant to modern times,” Blesofsky said. “The prevalence of light over dark is an important theme in lighting the candles, and we sure need that these days.” In keeping with the theme of fi re and light, the ceremony will be marked with a professional fi re eater. There will also be a four-piece klezmer band, along with a raffl e. “Let your light shine bright,” Blesofsky said. “And with it bring light to the world.” The holiday began on Dec. 16, with menorahs being lit a candle at a time at sunset for eight consecutive nights in homes and at synagogues across the borough as families celebrate the THE COURIER/Photos by Eric Jankiewicz festive holiday.
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