The Christmas spirit is alive and well at the Lamplighters Community Theatre this holiday season with the staging of “A Christmas Cabaret”, an uproariously fun and joyful take on classic Christmas standards.
Directed by Shirley Johnston and produced by Raylene J Wall, “Cabaret” was a delight from start to finish with many standout vocalists among the small ensemble.
The Christmas spirit is alive and well at the Lamplighters Community Theatre this holiday season with the staging of “A Christmas Cabaret”, an uproariously fun and joyful take on classic Christmas standards.
Directed by Shirley Johnston and produced by Raylene J Wall, “Cabaret” was a delight from start to finish with many standout vocalists among the small ensemble.
Vanessa Miller brought a gentleness and warmth to the Nat King Cole classic “The Christmas Song,” while Stephanie Nesbitt gave it her all for a soulful rendition of “Winter Wonderland.”
BJ Robinson, from KPBS’ “Spectrum”, gave a hilarious and vaudevillian-like take on “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and Karen E Donahue, whose voice would make angels weep, gave a superb vocal performance of “O Holy Night.”
The adults were also joined by a group of talented children who stole the show.
Standouts included Madeline Tulagan, who sang the modern Christmas song “Text Me Merry Christmas” by Straight No Chaser and Eva Playman’s hilarious take on Buck Owens’ “Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy.” Each girl sang her song with a knowing wink and smile that had the entire audience in stitches. The cutest moment of the night came when little Madeline Kinnard and Zachary Teng sang and danced their way through “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” They both played well off of each other and were an adorable duo.
The cast then led an audience sing-along to such classics as “Deck the Halls,” “Feliz Navidad,” and “Joy to the World,” which had everyone, even the most Scroogiest of the bunch, singing and laughing and clapping along.
Other seasonal holidays were even included in the program, a rarity for a show such as this. A brief explanation was given of Kwanza and Hanukah, with reverence and respect paid towards those who celebrate these holidays. Then the cast erupted in a rousing take on “Hanukah, Oh Hanukah,” ending with them all holding hands and dancing in a quickly spinning circle.
Overall, the cast and crew at Lamplighters Theatre have put on a wonderfully fun show full of Christmas cheer. “Cabaret” runs until Dec. 17.
Upcoming shows in the theatre’s 2017-2018 season include a staging of Agatha Christie’s murder mystery “The Mousetrap” from Jan. 12-Feb. 4, 2018, “Night Mother” (March 2-25) about a down on her luck middle aged woman who decides to commit suicide and her mother’s frantic attempts to stop her, and “Peter and the Star Catcher” (April 20-May 13), a musical prequel to Peter Pan, detailing the early exploits of The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up.
