Theater Review: In ‘Follies’ we trust at Touchstone
It’s a tradition that’s akin to the Christmastime hanging of the greens.
Call it the hanging of the quilt.
You know it’s “Follies” time when the big quilt patchwork curtain hangs over the stage of Touchstone Theatre on Bethlehem’s south side.
The show’s different each year. The curtain’s the same.
For the 2016 holiday season, “Christmas City Follies XVII” is a sanctuary city.
The sketch comedy with songs, through Dec. 18, Touchstone Theatre, Bethlehem, has a through-line of “A Christmas Present for ... , “ whereby cast members step out of character and into the reality of holiday memories in 10 monologues recalling the best Christmas gift ever that each received.
“Follies” is a patchwork quilt of characters old and new, themes revisited and new ones explored. It’s a temperature-taking of the zeitgeist of the Lehigh Valley, the United States and the world. It’s the world according to “Follies.”
Pay attention to the characters behind the curtain. Also pay attention when the actors step out of character in front of the curtain. The sanctuary is found in the memories of a special season. The sanctuary is found in the laughter of the trials and errors of a confusing time. The sanctuary is found in a “Christmas City Follies” that is one of the best-written, superbly acted and biggest casts ever presented by Touchstone.
“Follies,” directed by Jp Jordan, Touchstone Artistic Director, who also did production design, is created by the Touchstone Ensemble, with 16 scenes in Act 1 and 14 scenes in Act 2 during a two-hour show (including intermission) seen Dec. 3 for this review.
The lore of yore is provided by The Old Guy (Bill George, Touchstone Co-Founder), who sounds the alarm, “You can’t trust anybody these days,” a rubric that runs through his several appearances in the show. With Touchstone’s “Follies,” you can trust in some insightful fun.
Little Red (Mary Wright) is back, joined by Little Yellow (Sabrina Deweerdt) and Little Blue (Emma Ackerman).
The “Shopping Cart Ballet” returns as a “Nutcracker” ballet send-up, complete with a mice fight.
The opening curtain talk by Lisa Jordan, Touchstone Managing Director, is one of the “Follies” best bits, with an appearance by Countess Benigna von Zinzendorf, founder of Moravian Academy in 1742. It’s a real “Cold Opener” since Benigna, in Moravian gray dress and white bonnet, is reminded she’s buried in God’s Acre, the Moravian cemetery in downtown Bethlehem.
“The Roast of Santa Claus,” a parody of those TV show comedic roasts, is one of the show’s most hilarious. The “Radio Hour” scene also showcases the comedic chops and sharp timing of the ensemble.
Costumes by Lisa Jordan are extraordinary and hilarious: a Pickle costume for the “Pickle in a Pickle” scene.
Lighting Design is by Emma Ackerman. Music Direction is by Jason Hedrington.
In addition to Bill George, Mary Wright, Sabrina Deweerdt and Emma Ackerman, the Touchstone Ensemble for the “Follies” show includes Joseph Ferraro, Dan Maher, Christopher Morris, Ashley Tait Weller, Alexander Vogelgesang and Sarah Vogelgesang.
Excellent singing and harmonies sparkle throughout, especially in the closing classic, “What A Wonderful World,” which helps to make Touchstone Theatre’s “Christmas City Follies XVII” especially bright.
Tickets: touchstone.org, 610-867-1689