Hoosick

Broadway star Kevin McGuire returns to the Capital Repertory Theatre as Ebenezer Scrooge in Patrick Barlow’s rousing new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. McGuire – who founded the Theater Company at Hubbard Hall – was recently at theREP, playing artist Mark Rothko in John Logan’s critically-acclaimed Red and previously appeared as Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha. He plays a decidedly different Scrooge downtown, surrounded by actor/musicians who remember the fun found in the original tale.

Barlow, an English actor/comedian/playwright, is best known for his hit Broadway adaptation of the espionage thriller The 39 Steps. He has built a career on stripping stories down to their basics and finding frivolity in the midst of tension. In The 39 Steps, one actor played the role of spy hunter Richard Hannay, and three actors played everyone else, often switching characters at high speed in mid-scene. The result was a Charles Ludlam-like wackiness that never lost sight of the true heart of the tale.

Similarly, Barlow’s take on A Christmas Carol – which is being given its second national production at theREP –  is funny, sweet and redemptive, with, as the playwright said, “The beating heart of Dickens still safe and sound within.”

At theREP, a wonderful quartet, featuring Kevin Kelly, Marcy McGuigan, Doug Trapp and Kristyn Youngblood, creates Victorian London all around McGuire’s stingy Scrooge. In addition to juggling roles, they are creating even more characters with puppets (wait ‘til you see Tiny Tim!) and straw dolls, singing Yuletide favorites and providing all of their own accompaniment on a variety of musical instruments.

Preview performances for the family-friendly A Christmas Carol, which runs approximately two hours with one intermission, take place November 22-24. Opening night is Tuesday, November 26. Regular performances continue through Sunday, December 22. Performance times are 7:30 pm Tuesday through Thursday and 8 pm Friday and Saturday with matinees at 3 pm Saturday and 2 pm Sunday and Wednesday, December 4. The Capital Repertory Theatre is located at 111 North Pearl Street, Albany. Tickets range from $20 to $60. Students with valid ID and children under 17 pay $16 for all shows. For tickets and information on other events surrounding these performances, call Tickets by Proctors, 518-445-7469 or visit capitalrep.org.

On October 23, David Schmidt gave a report on New York State Grange held in Albany. It was held at the Best Western Sovereign Inn. After our regular meeting, David gave a very interesting day by day report. The New York State Dairy Princess, Courtney Luskin, was there and Rensselaer County Dairy Princess Lindsey McMahon was also there. They both made milk punch on Friday and both were delicious. At 6 pm we had our annual banquet. Our State and County Princesses were there, and the State Princess, Courtney Luskin, gave a nice talk. The New York State FFA President, Ashley Willits, was also. She gave a very interesting speech. The Keynote speaker was the Hon. Steve McLaughlin, Assemblyman Capitol District. On Saturday we had five minute reports from the State Secretary, Treasurer and Chair of the Executive Committee. On Saturday night they had the Sixth Degree. On Sunday they had a memorial service, and the Youth Department gave its annual report. Monday they had election of officers. Tuesday they had Committee Reports and action on them. Afterward they installed the officers. David answered questions and told about many different resolutions. They were very interesting. The Grange thanked David.
It was time for the program. Mary Remancus and Louise Ciuk were in charge. Louise had an October Trivia Quiz, with prizes. They had lots of stories and jokes.
The Lecturer reported on two baskets that the Grange gave to raise money for S. Grange. She also announced that Rensselaer County Pomona Grange would meet at Hoosick on November 6, and there is a covered dish supper at 7 pm.The next regular meeting of Hoosick Grange is on November 13. It is award night, and it starts out with a covered dish at 7 pm. Martha Babbitt is in charge of the program.