A Review - Cowboy Christmas Carol

Here in the Antelope Valley, when it comes to community theatre, we are so fortunate to have many opportunities to see and to be a part of as many shows as we wish. We are also fortunate to live in an area that is central to other local community theatre companies to the north of us in Tehachapi and to the south of us in Santa Clarita. Last night, I traveled south to see a relatively new theatre company called Olive Branch Theatricals and their latest production called Cowboy Christmas Carol, "a rip-roarin' twist on the classic Dickens tale".

I would begin by saying "spoiler alert", but Dickens' A Christmas Carol is such a well-known story that I would be surprised if any parts of the plot would actually be spoiled if mentioned here. In Olive Branch Theatricals production, the Dickens' plot remains completely intact, but with an Old West / California Gold Rush setting as a twist. This adaptation was written by Jackie Mellor-Guin. She very cleverly and humorously uses references from western history as well as TV shows and movies throughout the script. For instance, the main character's name is Ebeneezer Scrooge McCoy and his long-deceased partner is Jacob Marley Hatfield, a reference to the famous Hatfield and McCoy family feud. There are other references including characters named John Boy, Calamity Jane, and Hoss Cartright. But, my favorite was Old Bill Clinton, a greasy old guy who was hanging out with what I believe were the town's "ladies of the night". Ms. Mellor-Guin manages to keep everything we know and love about the transformation of grouchy Ebeneezer Scrooge and his encounters with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future all while infusing the story with modern humor and music.

Yes, that's right, Cowboy Christmas Carol is also a musical! The original music was written by Ayla Lippincott and lyrics provided by Ms. Mellor-Guin. Before I say anything else, I must commend this production for having live music accompaniment. The music is played live on stage on a piano. Yes, this is a simple way to provide music (not to say that playing the piano is simple), but live music in a live theatrical production adds so much to the audience experience. Too many times nowadays, community theatre productions use pre-recorded music and the shows seem like a karaoke competition. Thank you for the live music performances in this show. The music is written with a western twist and with lyrics that match the same clever and humorous tone as the script. One of my favorite musical moments was "Hoe Down", a lively full cast number with lots of square dancing-type choreography and (the best part) a fiddle played live on stage by Robert William. Another standout musical number is "Let's Leave It Here", a ballad sung by Ayla Lippincott, the multi-talented composer and pianist of the show. She has a wonderfully rich tone to her voice that carries powerfully throughout the theater. The laugh inducing "The Goose Is Cooked" is another musical highlight. Familiar Christmas music is also sung throughout the show including a rendition of "What Child Is This" which is beautifully sung by Michelle Jace.

The show is very well-directed by Jackie Mellor-Guin and has the feel of an old-fashioned melodrama, probably because of the old-west setting. The ensemble cast is filled with talented actors and actresses who sing, dance and act with an infectious energy that makes an audience love them from the opening of the show. George Cummings plays Scrooge McCoy with the right amount of cantankerousness (is that a word?). While there's not much to laugh about with Dickens' Scrooge, Mellor-Guin's Scrooge McCoy as played by Mr. Cummings is quite humorous when he is supposed to be. Robert William plays multiple parts in the show including Billy Bob Cratchit and Hoss Cartwright. Mr. William is another one of the multi-talented cast members who not only acts well but has a beautiful singing voice and, as mentioned above, plays the fiddle. He gave a standout performance. Tim McGowan had the envious roles of the ghost of Jacob Marley Hatfield and Old Bill Clinton. I say envious because he was given the chance to play the most comical roles in the show. His over-the-top performances and songs were a highlight of the night. The show was narrated by Adam C. Murphy and Mia Zumsteg. The two were a nice comical duo who pop in and out of the action on the stage. I would say they add comic relief, but since most of this show is comical, I will say they fit their roles very nicely. The entire cast does a wonderful job, and those that I have not mentioned by name, sang and danced their hearts out. The audience was having a great time.

Cowboy Christmas Carol is presented at The Main, a small 80-90 seat theater. There's not a bad seat in the house. The stage is quite small, but this production makes the stage feel bigger than it is. The set is simple but fits the style of the show. The director makes good use of the space with some of the actors entering through the aisle in the audience. I was actually startled by the entrance of one of the spirits. The choreographer, Caroline Siler, deserves kudos for getting the cast to move and perform some tricky steps on this tiny stage. There's one moment when Jacob Boscarino, a very tall and lanky actor, kicks his heels together at the edge of the stage and because the theater is so small, it had an almost 3D effect and made me wonder how he didn't actually kick someone in the front row. The costumes are another highlight of show with everyone dressed in beautiful western ware or in crazy character costumes.

Olive Branch Theatricals' mottto is "Entertainment and Beyond". On their website, which you should check out at olivebranchtheatricals.com, they state, "We believe theater is more than entertainment, it is a platform to educate, embrace diversity, and spark creativity." One way that they are accomplishing their goal is through a sensory sensitive program that is run by Michelle Jace. At certain performances throughout the run of their shows, for example, they will have therapy dogs in the lobby and they will adjust the lights and sound for those who may be sensitive. These are just some of the accommodations they hope will make theatre more accessible and inclusive for all. I applaud these efforts and say BRAVO to the creative board of Olive Branch Theatricals.

The script of Cowboy Christmas Carol is lighthearted and silly. If you're looking for Sondheim, this is not the show. However, this is a family-friendly, really nice way to spend a night out and get yourself in the holiday spirit all while supporting a very worthy community theatre troupe. For those of you in the Antelope Valley, here's your excuse to take a ride out of the AV and see something new. For those of you in the Santa Clarita area who may not realize that Olive Branch Theatricals exists, please support your local community theatre. It's also an excuse for you to check out beautiful Old Town Newhall all decked out in Christmas decorations. I would suggest that you arrive early because finding a parking place can be a little difficult, but it‘s certainly worth your while. Cowboy Christmas Carol runs for one more weekend, December 20-22.

If you can't make it to their holiday show, their upcoming productions include Love, Learn, Sing: A Musical Cabaret, Life Could Be a Dream, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Again, check out their website for more information at olivebranchtheatricals.com.

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Gary S. is your average community theatre geek, residing in the Antelope Valley in Southern California where he participates in community theatre productions a few times per year. He works a 9-5 job in the medical field. He has the two most brilliant and talented kids. This blog is written simply for his need to write and for his love of theatre.