Theater Assessment: ‘A Magical Cirque Christmas’ at The Nationwide Theater

The forged of “A Magical Cirque Christmas.” Picture by Matt Bishop.

“A Magical Cirque Christmas” was created by MagicSpace productions, a Utah-based firm that spins out lyrical masterpieces of touring theater reveals from actually nothing to gold on phases in all places. That is an up to date and new form of “A Christmas Carol,” stuffed with marvel, magic, thrilling acrobatics, hand-to-hand excessive flying artists, and Rola Bola excessive balancing masters.

Christopher Stoinev because the Guardian of Time (changer of seasons) is apprehensive in regards to the finish of this season. Who ought to pop by however the spunky and optimistic Christmas Fairy, performed by Carissa Hendricks aka Lucy Darling, a star in her personal proper. She is a multi-talented magician with comedic timing and wit likened to a Vegas present and is enchanting as she captivates the viewers along with her interactions. The Christmas Fairy steals and mishandles the important thing which breaks in two and the clock of time stops ticking, so there is no such thing as a time in any respect when Christmas comes. The Christmas Fairy manages to attempt the half key and he or she and the Guardian of Time are each despatched right into a fantastical journey to save lots of Christmas. 

Seeing is believing, and when you’ve seen this manufacturing, you’ll imagine…a spectacular occasion and entertaining for the entire household…enthralling and heat…

Created by Steve Sprinkels, the video proven on the again wall was a big, spinning time clock, unraveling and encompassing all the stage with eye popping readability. Actually, all of the video backdrops had been simply as artistic and phenomenal. The lighting, designed by Tom Edwards, blends the tapestry of the present collectively—the hues and the synchronized effulgence had been masterful. It feels as if you’re swept away by the point spectrum, like a whirlwind curler coaster journey to quite a lot of ages—the roaring Twenties with all of the type and grandeur of the Nice Gatsby period; rockin’ around the clock and jitterbugging within the Nineteen Fifties; the energetic dance music of the Nineteen Seventies; and the grand Victorian period of the Nineties, with a dusting of Charles Dickens. If that didn’t take your breath away, the shows-within-this-show of high-flying acrobatics, juggling, unicycling, magic, a Cyr wheel, contortionist archery, and extra actually will. Seeing is believing, and when you’ve seen this manufacturing, you’ll imagine. The costumes had been genuine to the interval—daring and flashy when it wanted to be and demure, saucy, and glowing, all sewn collectively by designer Adam Martin. Properly completed!

The Christmas Fairy, performed by Carissa Hendrix aka Lucy Darling. Picture by Jon-Christian Ashby.

The Christmas Fairy/Hostess (Hendrix/Darling) is a seemingly bumbling klutz however had everybody fooled as she is a magnificently expert magician, particularly with sleight of hand. Jonathan Rinney, the unicyclist and Rola Bola stability specialist, stuns the viewers together with his mad cycle expertise. We held our breaths as he balanced on objects, and we sat on the edges of our seats able to have a religious kumbaya second. Christopher Stoinev began slowly together with his juggling act as he went from balls to pins, including on an increasing number of till there’s a whirl within the air of pins and lights so quick that’s was magical. Itzel Salvatierra and Scott Cooper did what known as a hand-to-hand duo which is a swish ballet whereas hanging from bands from the ceiling. They made it look very straightforward. It was a creative ballet within the sky as they intertwined round one another, matching the great thing about the track being sung as they carried out. A Christmas track was chosen from every time interval and sung by Audri Bartholomew throughout every of those distinctive performances. Her robust, pitch-perfect voice reached out to the again row and past. Her buoyant timber resonated to my very soul in each track, as if I used to be listening to it for the primary time. 

Director Louanne Madorma will get a standing ovation for orchestrating the forged and narrative seamlessly. The performers preserve you in your toes because the story turns your disbelief to perception in time journey and excitedly asks…what’s subsequent? Madorma manages to create a strong platform for this present and molds this various forged into one cohesive unit, aligned in creativity and mastery. 

This fast-paced present is a spectacular occasion and entertaining for the entire household. Close to the tip, the tempo slows down because the Christmas Fairy brings the forged on stage for her studying of the Cirque Christmas model of “The Night time Earlier than Christmas.” They gathered like kids round her, excited to listen to the story which was fairly witty, thought-provoking, and touching. It defined that the present is about what’s an important gesture and the true spirit of Christmas. To me, it was summed up as spending time with household and buddies; exhibiting love and cheer; and sharing many hugs. “A Magical Cirque Christmas” was enthralling and heat, like a chestnut on a scorching fireplace. It actually received me into the Christmas spirit.

Operating time: Roughly two hours together with one 15-minute intermission.

“A Magical Cirque Christmas” ran by way of December 16-18, 2022 on the Nationwide Theater, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. For extra info and tickets for upcoming productions, the Field Workplace is open Monday – Friday, 12:00-6:00 pm, name (202) 628-6161, or go online. Masks really helpful.