It was a wonderful evening at the
Kodak Theater in Hollywood where we went to see a live performance of the play, “A Christmas Carol”. The Kodak Theater is in the heart of Hollywood and we got there early to walk around and check out the street scene. (Very different from our quiet little suburban outpost.) In front of
Grauman’s Chinese Theater, we saw Yoda, Catwoman, and Charlie Chaplin posing with the tourists for tips. The area is full of restaurants and shops so we had dinner before the play at an Italian trattoria. It was “molte bene”, especially the thin crusted, wood fired stove pizza. Then it was off to the theater to sit my buns in possibly the same seat as Meryl Streep or Hugh Grant.
The venue is lovely; amazing acoustics, beautiful architecture with elegant sculptured wood panels and a mosaic of red on the walls. It is a suprisingly intimate theater for one seating 3500. The play was delightful despite some opening night glitches with the scenery and costume changes. There was one very memorable improvisation by Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Lloyd) after he wakes up Christmas morning and changes from his nightgown to suit and cape. Poor Ebenezer Scrooge had to go out to see Bob Crachit and his nephew, Fred with a zipper that just would Not Cooperate! Christopher Lloyd was wonderful, as was John Goodman as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Jane Leeves as Mrs.Crachit, Tiny Tim’s mum. Unfortunately, Gene Wilder and Jane Seymour were ill. Their understudies did a yeoman’s job as Jacob Marley’s ghost and the Ghost of Christmas Past. (“Who’s past?”…. “Your past, Ebenezer Scrooge”.) I love this line about how we all carry around our own past.
Dicken’s classic tale and the performance were magical and helped me recapture the season’s spirit. The modesty and poverty of Dickens’ story are current and timeless. I cried when the Ghost of Christmas Future showed Scrooge a grieving Mrs.Cratchit and rejoiced at Scrooge’s transformation. (“I’m as light as a feather, I'm as giddy as a school boy…”)
I feel blessed that my husband and I can share our love of the arts and the enjoyment of being together with our children.
Thank you and please accept my best for Many Blessings of the Spirit and the Season to You and Yours,
Martha"Business! Mankind was my Business!" Jacob Marley
