Taproot’s Christmas Party of Kindness

Let’s face it, each and every one of us is different. (Some of us even more so than others.) But regardless of who dances what and to which drummer, during the winter holidays it’s all about sharing and caring, rather than just … staring.

A good play this holiday with just such a theme is Beasley’s Christmas Party at Taproot Theatre Company. (Your Hedonista attended as media not too long ago.) Adapted by C.W. Munger from the story by Booth Tarkington and directed by Producing Artistic Director Scott Nolte, this play is recommended for ages 8 and up. It tells the tale of a recently-moved journalist in Wainwright, Indiana at the turn of the century who has a most unusual neighbor. This play hits upon some basic characteristics of humanity, such as pride, jealousy, vengeance, curiosity, tenacity, generosity, love, joy, and kindness. Much like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, it’s the kind of tale that makes one feel redemption exists for us all – all we have to do is open our minds and our hearts (and perhaps a pocketbook or two).

But what impressed me the most is the stamina and resilience of this play’s four-member cast. That cast is: Don Brady (Beasley and others), Aaron Lamb (Mr. Meyers and others), Frank Lawler (Booth), and Lisa Peretti (Miss Apperthwaite and others). These actors together represent a total of twelve roles, with three of the actors playing multiple roles, at times switching rapidly between a given two characters.

Beasley’s Christmas Party runs from November 18th to December 30th, 2011. Tickets range in price from $20 to $35, with $20 Tuesdays extended to December 6th and 13th. Also on December 6th and 13th are the Dinner and Theatre combination packages for $57 (with dinner starting at 6:00 p.m.). Post-Play Discussions take place every Wednesday in December, with student/senior discounts at $3 off regularly priced tickets.

Early Holiday Gift Ideas:

• The Taproot Theatre Acting Studio is offering a $250 week-long Holiday Break Camp, taught by Marianne Savell. This camp is for 3rd to 8th graders from Monday to Friday, December 26th-30th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a performance to take place on Friday, December 20th, at 3:00 p.m.
• 2012 Season Subscriptions are available now for next year. This year’s line-up: Tartuffe, Freud’s Last Session, Leaving Iowa, Chaps!, and Gaudy Night.

In the play, David Beasley says: “Christmas-time is the best time because it is the kindest time.”

Kindness is also hedonism, dear hedonists … and not just at Christmas-time.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable overage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.