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Regional Reviews: Albuquerque/Santa Fe All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 Also see Carole's reviews of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley and The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley
All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, written by Peter Rothstein with vocal arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach, was first produced as a live broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio in 2007 and has since toured the United States, playing in such venues as The Kennedy Center and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The play debuted Off-Broadway in 2018 and won the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience that season. For years after World War I, stories were told about spontaneous truces breaking out between the Allies and the Germans along the frontlines of the trenches. Playwright Rothstein researched these events and incorporated his research into the play. Music of World War I, Christmas carols, and historical classics were added. The music is performed a capella and augmented with poems, letters, and memoirs of soldiers. The result is a tight, sixty-five minute show performed without intermission that captures the true spirit of peace for the holidays. Mother Road has assembled a very talented cast and experienced production team under the direction of Marc Comstock for this, their fifth incarnation of the play. Many of the cast members have participated in other runs of the play. All of the actor/singers are excellent. This show has become a holiday classic for Mother Road and for Albuquerque. There is so much to like about this production. All the technical aspects work well in service to the play. The set provides all the necessary levels and spaces for the action, and the set painting is classically simple. The lighting is well done and the costumes are generic yet perfect for all the players. The play's action moves seamlessly through the various vignettes with no missteps Under the music direction of Lina Ramos, the singing is the highlight of the show. With only a pitch pipe as accompaniment, the actors harmonize beautifully on all of the familiar songs. For the speaking voice, a dialect coach has ensured that the German and French spoken and the Scottish and Irish dialects are authentic. Make this a holiday must-see for your family this season. Mother Road Theatre Company's All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 runs through December 24, 2023. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Performances through December 15, 17, 23, and 24, at the North Fourth Arts Center, 4904 4th St NW, Albuquerque NM. Performances December 21 and 22 at the New Mexico Actors Lab, 1213 Parkway Dr., Santa Fe NM. General Admission $24, ATG and Unions $27, and Students $24. For tickets and information, please visit www.motherroad.org. Director: Marc Comstock Cast: Amy Bourque |
