Christmas is a time for traditions in a lot of areas: food, decorations, music, stage shows, you name it. But this year, New Village Arts Theatre gives us what will likely become a new tradition: a Christmas show about a black family. In fact, about the Black family, getting ready to do their version of the traditional thing. And this time, they’re letting us in on it.
Award-winning playwright and former San Diego arts commissioner Dea Hurston was tapped to write a new Christmas show for the Carlsbad theater. It’s a beauty, and a musical to boot.
It’s called “1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas,” and it plays through Dec. 26 at the theater, just before the whole building is destroyed to make way for a new theatrical home for the popular company.
But this is about the show. It takes place in the lovely Carlsbad home of Dorothy Black, played by Milena (Sellers) Phillips, who has done the honors for more than 20 years for her son James Jr. (Kory LaQuess Pullam), her sister Lizzie (Portia Gregory) and Lizzie’s adopted son Javier (Frankie Alicea-Ford).
This year, James Jr. (aka Junior) brings someone new: girlfriend Aadya (Deja Fields), cute as a button and someone Junior has permanent designs on.
At the top of the show, Dorothy and Lizzie are getting the food (lots of pasta, no turkey) ready to go, singing familiar Christmas songs and new ones (by Phillips) along the way.
There’s plenty of well-sung music to enjoy, along with the usual family banter. Everybody’s got some news to share, headlined by this: Dorothy announces that this is the last time she’s doing the Christmas dinner.
The script is by turns funny and charming, with lots of twists and turns to the plot. I’ll leave you to discover those, but I do want to mention two more characters: Victor (Victor Morris), a post office employee who works with Lizzie, and Javier’s boyfriend Brian (Durwood Murray).
Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg directs with just the right, light touch and Savannah Brittian gives us a lovely set. Chanel Mahoney and Joy Yvonne Jones provide fine costumes and Violet Ceja’s lighting is just right.
The acting and singing are uniformly excellent, and it’s especially lovely to hear Phillips’ new songs, some of which may well become favorites (“Christmas Morn” is one I especially liked).
If you’re looking for a new Christmas show, or want to support NVA, or just want to spend a fun evening in the theater, head on over to New Village Arts for “1222 Oceanfront.”
“1222 Oceanfront” plays through Dec. 26 at New Village Arts, 2787 State St. in Carlsbad.
Shows Wednesday at 2 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.
For tickets: newvillagearts.org or call the box office at (760) 433-3245
I had the privilege of seeing this play on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!
The Cast, the Set, the Music PERFECT!
Cowboy Christmas was my personal favorite!
Congratulations Milena, our Sister Tammi Tilley would be So Proud!
I Love You So Much Dear Sister💗