If you’re out for laughs this Christmas season, head for Riverwalk and Christmas Belles. It’s a southern fried fruitcake of nuts and jokes and some weird unidentifiable candied fruit. This Hope Jones Wooten show was a crowd pleaser in their inimitable, folksy style. http://www.joneshopewooten.com/about.htm

Director Kate Clark led a motley assortment of wacky characters through a Christmas pageant gone awry, plagued with rivalries, pregnancy, kidney stones, misdirected pills and more. As they say, “hilarity ensues” with an underpinning of sisterhood and love and Christmas spirit.

Debbie Lundeen convincingly endured a later-in-life pregnancy as she supported her kidney-stone plagued Santa husband Charles Hoogstraten. It was fun to see both Morgan Pohl and Linda Widener step out from their usual backstage roles, Morgan as Debbie’s sweet adult daughter (and Virgin Mary) and Linda as the ambitious and frequently frustrated new pageant director “trying to bail out the Titanic with a thimble", often at odds with pushy, shrill, previous director, Teresa Hurd.

Revengeful jail-bird Holly Kay-Cannon and her guard (and more) Jerome Kluck were an unlikely but fun couple. Kelly Jo Garland was a worthy “secret” addition to the Futrelle sisterhood. Rich Kopitsch was particularly charming as reverend Waverly, Santa’s helper, and the frustrated suitor of Virgin Mary Morgan. Julie Franklin was the snooty one you love to hate, with a fun comeuppance — and Tim Edinger was adorable with his ubiquitous wagon and love of Christmas.

Christmas Belles runs through December 17 - tickets at https://www.riverwalktheatre.com/box-office.html  or call Mike at 482-5700. ALSO, ask Mike about Gift Certificates, in any amount, which make great Christmas gifts. Available for pick up or mailed to you, through the end of the Christmas Belles run. 

I was a little doubtful heading into Starlight’s latest It’s a Wonderful Life. I knew this show had been challenged by having to switch directors and locations and forego the usual dinner option, and juggle/replace/recast some roles…

But what do you know? Theatre synergy worked its magic and the show was solid and earnest and well received by an almost full house at Delta Presbyterian Church. (Starlight plans to return to food service at their usual location at Waverly Intermediate School for this March show, Over the River and Through the Woods.)

The church location necessitated a simple set of mostly furniture whisked in and out behind black flats by speedy cast and crew. A projection screen helped with slides and occasional video. Credit to Jim Lorenz (set construction/designer/light and sound), Bob Gehrls (special stagecraft), and Darryl Schmitz (prerecorded audio/video).

Kudos to David Brooks for taking on the directing task at the last minute. Producer Linda Granger says, “He was a real hands-on director, thorough and always handled situations with kindness and class.” The cast of fourteen — eleven new to Starlight — took on 36 roles in this classic, complex tale.

Mark Polzin bravely tackled the multi-faceted role of George Bailey and Stephanie Spagnuolo Vosburgh was the warm, charming, concerned love of his life, Mary. (You may remember them as the young doctor and pretty nurse in Harvey last year. Will they audition to play opposite each other in the next show? Stay tuned…)

Douglas Foy was convincing as the formidable villain, Henry Potter. Paul Levandowski was endearingly wry as angel Clarence, working to earn his wings by helping distraught George. Mark Bethea was the benevolent but bumbling Uncle Billy. Jacob Cook was particularly convincing as Peter Bailey, Harry Bailey, Ernie, Charlie and Carter. Young Norah Anderson brought a sincere sweetness to daughter Zuzu. Frank Boston, Laura Brooks, Angela Gardner, Julie Hartley, Matt Lorenz, Lilia Mann and Apollo Reed rounded out the cast with style.
 
Starlight Dinner Theatre’s current, temporary, NON-dinner location is Delta Presbyterian Church on the north side of west Michigan Avenue between Mall Drive and Creyts Road. Advanced reservations (517-599-2779) are available with tickets at the door while they last. General seating, so get there early for best seats. $17; $15 sr. & student; $10 age 12 and under. Four shows left: Dec. 2, 8, 9 at 7:30 and one Sunday matinee only: Dec. 10 at 2pm.

starlightdinnertheatre.com