A Civil War Christmas with Alice Ripley

[Dangerous Jade]

At NYTW - anyone else going to this?

[someone.else's.story2]

I wish I could! Wrong coast...but I can't wait to hear how it is. Alice Ripley is amazing and Vogel is one of my favorite contemporary playwrights.

[Candleshoe2]

Looking forward to seeing it on Sunday!

[eperkins]

The show got a good review in the Times when it was done at Long Wharf in 2008.
Times Review of A Civil War Christmas at Long Wharf

[Rainbowhigh23]

Saw the show Saturday night and enjoyed it very much. Alice was definitely a standout as Mary Todd Lincoln and Lewis Payne (alternating from feminine to masculine via a hoopskirt and a top hat with quick changes onstage). The cast was quite impressive vocally.

[Candleshoe2]

Saw it this evening - a very magical and moving production! This is definitely an ensemble show, making it very difficult to pick one or two characters that stood out among the cast. Tina Landau's staging is very effective, and she really uses the entire set and space to lead us through the play. If anyone wants to see something that will put you in the holiday spirit, I highly recommend checking this out!

[dave1606]

I saw this last night with a group of friends that had varying reactions. One was bored out of his mind and left at intermission. The other two found it too long, but with promise. That is where I fall.

There are parts of this show that are truly wonderful. The singing in particular is fantastic. Honestly I want them to put out a cast recording!

The staging is very inventive. There are shades of Peter and the Starcatcher and Blooody Bloody thrown in for good measure. Tina Lanadau has really done fantastic work.

The show tells lots of intersecting story-lines and we watch as they gradually fit together. I really liked this aspect, but there were a few that seemed extraneous, and made the show longer than it should have been.

The cast was mostly wonderful. That said I think Alice Ripley was miscast. She veered from campy to serviceable, but I felt like her Mary Lincoln was some strange mix of Scarlett O'Hara and Diana Goodman.

I do think there needs to be some cutting, but for Christmas fare this is the best of the season, a cut above both A Christmas Story and Elf.

[Rainbowhigh23]

"The cast was mostly wonderful. That said I think Alice Ripley was miscast. She veered from campy to serviceable, but I felt like her Mary Lincoln was some strange mix of Scarlett O'Hara and Diana Goodman."

The real Mary Todd Lincoln was manic so casting Alice made some sense. I did see some Diana thrown in for good measure, the accent definitely Scarlett. She's said she's glad she's in a show where at the end she's happy.

I really enjoyed the show and look forward to seeing it again.

[followspot]

While well-intentioned and expertly performed by all, this felt like an overly-earnest Epcot pageant to me. Only at Epcot it wouldn't have lasted 2-1/2 hours. I fear what the inventive staging of Peter and the Starcatcher may have begat. I think reactions will be across the board on this one.