Dylan Thomas’s Christmas Classic

Coming To Town

By Nancy K. Crevier

Local theater goers have a special holiday treat to look forward to when The Town Players, under the direction of Mary Poile, present A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Based on the childhood memories that poet Dylan Thomas commemorated in his narrative poem of the same name, Ms Poile’s script was originally inspired by the 1987 British television version of the poem. That adaptation was performed by The Town Players at The Little Theatre in 1999, but it is a later adaptation that Ms Poile created for Yale-New Haven radio that is being used for the 2010 production.

“Dylan Thomas’ language is very expressive and evokes a lot of images. What we try to do in this production is illustrate those memories through a series of little vignettes, and some singing that goes along with the lyricism of those words,” said Ms Poile. “It’s an ensemble piece, without any real stars,” she said, “and you need a group that works well together.”

The poem is a series of memories bouncing back and forth between the adult narrator and the poet as a young boy. Therefore, children are an essential part of this production, and Ms Poile has cast three young people she feels will be comfortable on stage.

“In choosing the children, I was looking for that  sense of comfortableness. There’s a lot of improvisation in this production. I needed children with good speaking voices, and as a bonus, I got three who also have good singing voices,” Ms Poile said.

Will Sandercox, 12, of Sandy Hook, is in the seventh grade at Newtown Middle School, and has been doing theater since he was 7 years old. He takes acting lessons and is an active member of C.H. Booth Library’s Mask & Wigs Players.

“I love singing, too,” said Will, who is a member of the Trinity Choristers and Fairfield County Children’s Choir. Will squeezes in some time for karate lessons, as well — and now puts in at least 20 to 40 minutes a day practicing for the upcoming Town Players’ production, in addition to the two or more rehearsals each week.

“I’m always interested in doing something new, and I love Christmas, so I was interested when I found out about A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” he said. Will is cast as the “young boy,” who interacts with the narrator and then “steps into the memories.”

Having already appeared in various productions in the area, Will has worked in casts before that combine children and adult actors.

“You have to be respectful to the adult actors, but all actors are easy to get along with,” Will said. “When you’re in a cast together, it’s like you’re in a big family.” He has found that on occasion he has more acting experience than some adults do, and that has gained him respect from older cast members. “Adults can be very accepting of you,” said Will. 

Also from Sandy Hook is Jordan Williams. A fifth grade student at Reed Intermediate School, 10-year-old Jordan has appeared in productions by Sabrina’s Encore Productions in Newtown and Brookfield Theater of the Arts, since becoming interested in acting a year ago.

“I really like acting,” she said, “and my mom heard about A Child’s Christmas in Wales from a friend, so I tried out.”

Jordan plays multiple characters in the play, two of which are boys.

“It’s not really hard to play boys’ parts,” she said, “but I have to remember to talk a little deeper than my normal voice.”

Like Will, Jordan is involved in multiple organizations outside of school. She plays trombone in the school band, plays piano, takes singing lessons, and plays Parks & Recreation soccer and basketball. Practicing her parts for A Child’s Christmas in Wales adds another 20 minutes each day to what she must do, but it is enjoyable.

“The best parts for me are the boys’ parts. We aren’t exactly the best behaved boys around the neighborhood, so I think that they will give the audience a lot of laughs,” said Jordan, of her alter egos Jack and Dan.

The third child actor in A Child’s Christmas in Wales is Ridgefield sixth grader Gabe Gordon.

“It’s exciting being on stage,” said Gabe, who had the lead in last summer’s The Music Man at camp, and who appeared in the Town Players’ production of Merry Wives of Windsor in 2009. He has also written, directed, and acted in a school talent show play.

“I am in the chamber singers at East Ridge Middle School in Ridgefield. I play piano and am first cellist in the school orchestra,” said Gabe. “I like performing because you get to show what you can do and it’s great being different characters,” he said. In this play, Gabe has the part of Jim.

“My favorite parts of this play are the scenes where we help put out a little fire with our snowballs and when we sing ‘Good King Wenceslas,’” said Gabe, who, like acting partners Jordan and Will,  must fit his homework into his busy after school schedule. “I work on my lines and singing while I’m hanging out at home, and while [my mom is ] driving to rehearsal,” he said.

Ms Poile is pleased with how nicely the three children have blended into the cast.

“Children are actually easy to work with,” she said, “and respond to what you ask. There’s a freshness about children, and they are willing to try what you ask and are very enthusiastic.”

All of the actors, whether adults or children, have the same goal — that of putting forth a wonderful production, said Ms Poile. “If you go in with the attitude of doing your best, there’s no difference based on ages,” she said.

Some special effect and a few little surprises are in store for audience members, said the director. “I think it will all keep the audience’s attention, and maybe they’ll have a few laughs,” she said.

A Child’s Christmas in Wales will be a different and pleasurable experience for the audience, Ms Poile believes. “We are doing a staged performance of a piece that most people will only read. I think that will draw an audience, and it’s a very nice Christmas piece,” she said.

A Second Performance Piece

In agreement with Ms Poile’s assessment of the Dylan Thomas poem as a performance piece is Newtown Choral Society Director Mary Andreotta, who coincidentally has chosen A Child’s Christmas in Wales, composed by Matthew Harris, as the showpiece for the choral group’s winter performance.

“I chose this music based on its subject, text and composer,” said Ms Andreotta. “I was looking for music that fit into the theme of Christmas, seen through the eyes of a child, when I came across this piece.”

Ms Andreotta was familiar with the work of Mr Harris, through his Shakespeare’s Songs, performed ten years ago by Newtown Choral Society. “I remembered the composer as one who paints a picture with his music that matches the text, both skillfully and humorously. I knew we would enjoy it, and be able to convey the sentimentality and humor of the poem’s memories of Christmases past,” said the choral director.

The major tenor solo in A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Matthew Harris will be performed by choral member John Sullivan, and other Newtown Choral Society members will be featured in smaller solos throughout the performance. Accompanying the singing group on piano is Susan Anthony-Klein, with Reed Intermediate School band instructor Robert Nolte lending his talents on timpani and percussion.

“I believe that the audience will enjoy this piece, and probably doubly so if they have heard the text and seen The Little Theatre’s production of A Child’s Christmas in Wales beforehand,” said Ms Andreotta.

A Child’s Christmas in Wales, performed by the Town Players at the Little Theatre, 18 Orchard Hill Road in Newtown, runs Friday and Saturday nights, at 8 pm, November 26 through December 5, with Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults; $10 for children age 10 and younger. Cash or checks only at the door. The box office number for reservations is 203-270-9144. For more information visit www.NewtownPlayers.org or e-mail townplayers@yahoo.com.

Newtown Choral Society will present a winter concert, featuring A Child’s Christmas in Wales, on Saturday, December 11, at 7:30 pm, at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street. Tickets are $10, or $8 for seniors and under 12, and will be available at the door.  Doors open at 7 pm.  For more information call 203-426-3769.