Worth Chirping About

One of the highlights of the 1996 local theater season was the Santa Paula Theater Center production of a dramatization of Charles Dickens’ “Cricket on the Hearth.” Not only was it a relief from all those versions of “A Christmas Carol” but also a strong show in its own right, with a solid story, nicely drawn characters (this is Dickens, after all) and a worthy production under the direction of Fred Helsel, who also starred.

The show is in Simi Valley this year, but Helsel returns, along with a couple of the Santa Paula cast members. Although the script seems pretty much the same as the last time around, this time Helsel takes co-writer credit with Lowell L. Manfull.

About to celebrate their first anniversary on Christmas Eve, John and Dot Perrybingle (Helsel; Candace Crow) live with their infant son and nanny Tilly Slowboy (Linda Livingston, from the Santa Paula cast). The Perrybingles have taken as a house guest a bedraggled stranger (Bernard Webber), whom John found by the side of a road.

John Perrybingle makes a relatively good living, by Victorian standards, delivering packages for toy manufacturer Mr. Tackleton (Mark Halstead, also from Santa Paula). Tackleton is prosperous but a real grouch, about to be married to young May Fielding (Jenny Cariker), who doesn’t seem especially pleased at the prospect. Her mother (Leslie Nichols) anticipates a rapid rise in the family’s wealth and social position.

The toys Tackleton sells are made by the poor but noble (again, this is Dickens) Caleb Plummer (Jared McVay), who lives with his blind daughter, Bertha (Gina Lopez).

All are gathered for Christmas dinner when John sees something he shouldn’t, and relationships begin to change dramatically, and not necessarily for the good. Until, of course, the heartwarming conclusion.

For all the warmth and sentimentality, the play moves along quickly, and with a fair amount of comic flair. Livingston is very funny as the nanny, who seems--shall we say--more than one pine cone short of a wreath, and there’s a segment where the Perrybingles meet a number of people while John’s making his deliveries that got several laughs Saturday night. Worthy of special mention is James Leslie, who recreates his Santa Paula characterization of the Cricket, narrator of the play.

This is the last play to open this season with more than a one-weekend run; note that there will be extra performances Monday-Wednesday evenings next week.

DETAILS

“Cricket on the Hearth” continues through Dec. 23 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. Performances are tonight and Dec. 20-23 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Tickets to all performances are $15; $12 seniors and students; and $8 children 12 and under. For reservations or further information, call 581-9940.

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Theater to audience: Bah! Humbug!: Cast problems led to the cancellation of two performances of the Camarillo Community Theater’s very funny “A Christmas Carol” parody, “A Dickens of a Holiday,” and director Adrea Gibbs’ taking over one significant character during two other performances. Gibbs assures us the show will continue as scheduled--and that she will make a third “guest” appearance Friday night. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to call before hiring the baby-sitter and making dinner reservations. The show was recommended here last week and still is, but only if they’re actually performing it.

DETAILS

“A Dickens of a Holiday” concludes Sunday at the Camarillo Airport Theatre, 330 Skyway Drive on the Camarillo Airport grounds. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday, 3 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets are $12; $10, seniors, students and active military; and $8, students 11 and under. For reservations or further information, call 388-5716.

Todd Everett can be reached at teverett@concentric.net.