Review: O LITTLE TOWN OF BAGELS, TEACAKES AND HAMBURGER BUNS at A.D. Players

'Twas three days before Christmas and what do you do, go to the theatre and let the Christmas spirit touch you! I had the pleasure last night to see O LITTLE TOWN OF BAGELS, TEACAKES AND HAMBURGER BUNS produced by the A.D. Players, and it was the highlight of my holiday break. In a world where we rush to the store to purchases gifts and partake in the commercial side of the holiday, this story reaches inside of your heart and forces you to forget regret.

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This Christmas play was penned by A.D. Players founder Jeannette Clift George and brilliantly directed by Christy Watkins. The core of this production is the writing. When you have a well-written piece, a director with vision and brilliant actors, you will have a successful production.

O LITTLE TOWN skimps on the "Jingle Bells," but gives you a hearty dose of the true reason for the season. The play is set in the Copeland Arms Hotel Bakery and Coffee Shop located in Palestine, Texas, on a Christmas Eve in 1960, and at the center of the story are four characters: Bob MacIntyre (Ric Hodgin), Albert Bartlett (Marion Authur Kirby), Hepburn Morrison (Katie Fridsma) and Inez Carpenter (Elizabeth Marshall Black).

Bob is a middle-aged man who is stuck running his bakery without any help; Albert has lost his wife and is trying to adapt to life without her; Hepburn is looking for love in all the wrong places; and Inez is in a delusional state after the death of her husband. This story also features great characters such as Rhonda Bartlett (Patty Tuel Bailey), Velma Jean (Christy Watkins), and the Pastor (Craig Griffin).

I must admit this was my first time watching a show by this theatre company, and I was pleased on many levels. As a theatre lover this production had me hook, line, and sinker from the beginning. Usually the first act of a play moves slowly in order to establish the narrative. But O LITTLE TOWN kept a great pace, moving with ease from scene to scene.

I love going to a production where every detail is tended to. From the period costumes designed by Donna Southern-Schmidt to the intricate set design by Mark A. Lewis, my eyes were pleased. As an audience member, you want to go on a ride with the characters; to watch these characters in this play change and soften their hearts and move pass their regret is beautiful. And -- no spoilers, I promise! -- you can't help but hum the lyrics to "Another Day" from RENT.

This story warms you up on the inside like grandma's chicken and dumplings. And it has a spiritual message that hits home for believers. It reassures that God is truly in control. That all we have to do is acknowledge and lean on Him and depend -- not on our own understanding -- but on His.

Going to any play there are some standout moments. With this production, there are many. Marion Authur Kirby's physical transformations from the present to past is by far some of the best acting I've witnessed in a long time. His physical commitment to the older character, even in his youthful years, is believable. It isn't contrived and it reads very clearly. Patty Tuel Bailey's acting is nothing short of a master class; her nuances are impeccable and executed like a pro. Craig Griffin is a man of many hats in this production. He plays more than four individual characters and each was developed physically and vocally. He's truly a treat. And Orlando Arriaga's sound design moves the story along as it audibly pleases the spirit.

If you are looking for the heart of a Hallmark Channel movie on stage, this is the show for you. O LITTLE TOWN OF BAGELS, TEACAKES AND HAMBURGER BUNS appears at the Grace Theatre until December 23. I was pleased to be one of the last audience members in the Grace Theatre before the A.D. Players make their transition into their new facility near the Galleria.

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