It's not often one hears "Shalom Chaverim" sung in a program purporting to replicate a medieval Christmas Revel in celebration of the winter solstice. But at the Revel on the campus of Evanston's Northwestern University, the Jewish song shares equal time with "Dona Nobis Pacem" under the collective title "Canons Of Peace". Anyway, Sidney Carter's "Lord Of The Dance"' -- set to a traditional Shaker hymn -- leads audiences up the aisles at intermission, so authenticity is no stricter than necessary to give us a feel for our milieu.
Director John Mills, a longtime producer of Renaissance Faires, has never hesitated to stretch historical authenticity in the name of seeing that audiences have a good time. And while the shape of this inaugural incarnation of what one hopes will become an annual event is still on the ingenuous side -- the Village Waifs could do with more rehearsal (as could everyone, for that matter) and the audience-selected Lord Of Misrule could be given more to do onstage -- the entertainment potential manifest in its concept and the enthusiasm displayed by its largely-volunteer cast cannot be faulted. Music by the Polished Brass Quintet (clad in monk's robes) and the Greenwood Consort soothe audiences roused by the athletic exhibitions of the Evanston Morris Men and the gender-integrated Youngblood Sword Dancers, while the Boar's Head Mummers supply a Paul Sills-styled interpretation of an authentic English revelers' staple, Saint George And The Dragon.
The Cahn auditorium's canyon-like orchestra pit somewhat hampers the pacing and intimacy of the performer-spectator dialogue, but did not prevent the event emerging as a congenial, family-friendly experience. Christmas, as the saying goes, comes but once a year -- a long time to wait in anticipation of what the always-innovative Mills will incorporate into the festivities for 2001.
Ended:
December 2000
Country:
USA
State:
Illinois
City:
Evanston
Company/Producers:
Revels Chicago
Theater Type:
Regional
Theater:
Cahn Auditorium
Theater Address:
600 Emerson St.
Phone:
(847) 467-4000
Genre:
Holiday Revue
Director:
John Mills
Review:
Critic:
Mary Shen Barnidge
Date Reviewed:
December 2000
