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By Kathy Carpenter
Associate/Youth Reviewer www.sdtheatrereviews.
December 8, 2015 (El Cajon) - The students at El Cajon Valley High School took on two Christmas plays this winter. Both with fairly large casts, with only a couple students taking on roles in both shows. A huge undertaking for teacher and director Shannon Turner. These students work hard, come out for the evening and support the local arts. The two shows the students performed were A Charlie Brown Christmas and Scrooge Makes UP!. The Christmas message in both ...the holiday season is one of love, kindness, giving, and being out best selves. Is seven dollars and an hour and a half to much too give?
Everyone knows the story of Charlie Brown. This play is the same 25 minute show we see on television every year. This version ofScrooge is a short 1980's version set in a make-up factory.
I remember when I went to Shrek last year at ECV, I commented they did trees well. The first thing I notice again this show was the trees. Whether or not they were the same trees dressed up for Christmas I can not say, but they were great with their holiday lights, festive and colorful. Also, the snow across the stage looked pretty authentic from where I sat.
Charlie Brown played first in this double feature. They opened with the cast ice skating. the cast did a great job on this. They really looked like they were gliding across ice. A Charlie Brown Christmas, was done extremely well. The entire cast evoking memories from one of my childhood favorites, along with Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty The Snowman. In the days gone by we watched them faithfully each Christmas season when they came on . We could not tape them, watch on demand, or on a dvd over and over. We actually has to yes stay home and watch make an evening of it, family time. These students brought to life the characters we know and love quite realistically.You had no question who was who.
Scrooge Makes Up! brought us a fresh take on a old classic. The students were up to the task. Jorge Garcia, played the miserly old Scrooge. He made a great lead for this entertaining nineteen member delightful cast.
Christmas songs played favorites tunes on the theatre's wonderful sound system between scenes. Adding the right touch of merriment to the evening. Hot Chocolate and Christmas cookies are available at intermission. A nice homey Christmasy family evening.
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