FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 13, 2018 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 79
buzz
Titan’s ‘Scrooge’ off ers holiday twist
It’s Saturday evening at Queens Th eatre
(Flushing Meadows Corona Park). Th e
Navidad Flamenca dancers are captivating
the audience on the main level.
Meanwhile, the resident acting troupe,
Titan Th eatre Company, is creating a
holiday phenomenon at the lower studio
level.
Th e beloved tale of holiday joy and
hope still tugs at our heartstrings. But
it takes a special twist to bring vitality
to this century’s old tale. Artistic
director Lenny Banovez explained, “We
have a new director (Broadway’s Tony
Clements) and females playing both
Scrooge and Marley in makeup roles. So
there is a lot new this year!”
Carine Montbertrand, wearing whiskers
and mutton chops portrays Ebenezer
Scrooge with jaw-dropping skill. Her
physical mannerisms and vocal infl ections
are astounding. She off ers an oft en
fl awless combination of wit, angst and
charisma in a not to be forgotten interpretation
of Dickens’ notorious miser.
Scrooge’s doomed partner Jacob
Marley is well played by Laura Frye. Her
eloquent, anguished advice is riveting.
Th ere are several other gender-bending
roles. Th ese include Katrina Dykstra
as Peter Cratchit/young Scrooge, Eva
Raff aele as street denizen Grubbin (alternating
with Silas Wade), and Tekla
Zurashvili as ever optimistic Tiny Tim
(alternating with Seth Wade). A very
funny Wynn Harmon dominates the
stage as likable but frustrated housemaid
Miss Dilber.
Supporting players are equally well
studied. Ben Lohrberg is charming as
the young, hopeful Scrooge before he is
corrupted by wealth. Sara Ornelas earns
our compassion when young Scrooge
chooses greed instead of true love.
Michael Selkirk returns as ever-happy
Mr. Fezziwig. Bailey Seeker as the Spirit
of Christmas Past wears a glowing robe
and a genuinely concerned expression.
Kindly Bob Cratchit (Marcus Denard
Johnson), shares the holiday spirit with
his practical wife (Alyssa Van Gorder),
his children played by Wesley Cady,
Julia Mechner, Melissa Muench, Mia
Soleil Jacquez, Beatrice Frisbie and Nia
Jimenez. Other youth include nine year
old Isabella Fiallo and Radek David
Vasicek. Journeyman Kevin Stanfa and
guest artist Alan Ross complete the cast.
Kudos to the entire creative team
including Kevin Beebee (managing director),
Emily Trask (co-adapter), Jessica
McIlquham (production stage manager),
Laura Frye (choreographer), Michael
Sabourin (scenic design), Weston Wetzel
(sound design) Katy Atwell (lighting
design), Analiese Puzon (costume design)
and Braden Spear (understudies).
For information, visit www.
TITANTh eatreCompany.com or call
347-738-5602. As always, save me a seat
on the aisle.
A VIEW FROM
THE CLIFF
BY CLIFF KASDEN
A happy anniversary in Brooklyn
Local political and community leaders
joined friends and loved ones of Brooklyn
Democratic Party boss Frank Seddio and
his wife Joyce Becker-Seddio to celebrate the
couple’s 20th anniversary at a party at Mill
Basin’s El Caribe Country Club on Dec. 7.
Guests including Borough President
Adams, Assemblyman Steven
Cymbrowitz, Attorney General-elect
and outgoing Public Advocate Letitia
James, Kings County Justices Sylvia Ash,
Mark Partnow, and Lawrence Knipel,
local District Leaders Lori Citron Knipel
and Sue Ann Partnow, former Borough
President Markowitz, New York City Taxi
and Limousine Commissioner Th omas
Sorrentino, attorney Frank Carone,
Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello of the Shrine
Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
in Williamsburg,
From left, Justice
Mark Partnow,
District Leader of
the state’s 59th
Assembly District Sue
Ann Partnow, Justice
Sylvia Ash, District
Leader of the state’s 44th
Assembly District Lori Citron
Knipel, and Justice Lawrence
Knipel.
and others all came out to toast the
happy couple, and wish them many more
decades of health and happiness together.
Former Borough President Marty Markowitz
and his wife, Jamie.
Justice Sylvia Ash and New York State Attorney
General-elect Letitia “Tish” James.
Happy anniversary! Brooklyn Democratic Party
leader Frank Seddio, far left, and his wife
Joyce Becker-Seddio, far right, celebrated
20 years of marriage with loved ones,
friends and local leaders including
Dolores Stratis, center, at a bash on
Dec. 7.
Borough President Adams and Msgr. Jamie
Gigantiello, pastor of Williamsburg’s Shrine
Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
Assemblyman Steven
Cymbrowitz and wife
Vilma Huertas.
/www.TITANTh
/www.TITANTh
