Saturday, December 24, 2016

The Tree With The Bump

by Scott C. Forrest-Allen

A young boy and his father went shopping for a Holiday Tree for their apartment.
There were many beautiful trees in the lot.
His father noticed an odd-looking tree that had a curious bump in the middle of its trunk. When he asked him what he thought of this tree, the boy said, "There's a big bump in the middle of it. It looks like the letter 'D.' I don't like it. Can't we get one of the nicer trees?"
When his father explained that this was the only tree he could afford, the boy paused and said "okay."
When he went to purchase the tree, the father was told by the salesman he would take an additional five dollars off the price because of the imperfection. 
"Did you hear that?" the father asked his son in delight. "With this extra money, we can buy some hot cocoa and cookies for us to enjoy while we decorate the tree!"
"That sounds nice," replied the boy, still sad they couldn't afford a nicer, more perfect tree.
All during the decorating, the boy was quiet but enjoyed the cocoa and cookies. His father played his son's favorite music on their CD player.
When they finished, his father asked the boy what he thought of the tree.
"I think it looks nice."
"Thank you, and thank you for your understanding. Your mother would have been proud. Tell you what; I'm going to make some more cocoa, and when I come back, we can each open one present!"
"That sounds nice."
Once his father left the room and was out of hearing distance, the boy sat on the floor in front of the tree and stared at the big bump that looked like the letter "D."
"I hate you, Tree," he began, "because you are so ugly, and you are going to ruin our Holiday. I wish we had bought one of the better trees!"
Just then, a glass ball fell from the tree and rolled towards the boy.
"Look at that. You can't even hold up our ornaments!"
The boy needed both hands to pick up the glass ball, which he did not remember putting on the tree. A blizzard of snow was happening inside. When it cleared, he saw a vision of himself and his father, and they were at the tree lot. 
The boy gazed in wonder.
He could see his father purchasing a perfect tree at the lot. He also saw his father give the salesman everything in his wallet. The boy inside the ball could not see his father's expression because he was too busy jumping up and down. The boy holding the ball, however, could see his father's face.
Another blizzard of snow took over the glass ball. Once it cleared, he saw another image. It was of the tree with the bump. It was sitting all alone and lonely in the lot in the darkness. He saw the salesman enter.
"What am I gonna do with ya?" the salesman barked. "Heck, I couldn't even give you away, you sorry pile of twigs. Guess I'll just have to throw you away. I'll be right back."
After the man left, the boy witnessed something falling from the branches of the tree in the ball. At first it looked like snow. The boy looked more closely. He saw it wasn't snow at all, but tears falling from the tree's branches. The tree was crying because no one wanted it.
The boy looked up the tree in front of him. He stared at its bump.
The boy felt heavy tears in his own eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Tree," he whispered,"for all of the terrible things I thought and said about you." He paused and added, "Thank you for making our Holiday special."
"Who are you talking to?" they boy's father said as he entered the room with two mugs of cocoa. 
"Thank you for the tree, Dad. I love it."
His dad smiled and sat next to his son.
"I'm sorry I already opened one of the presents already."
"That's okay. Which one?"
"The Magic Snow Globe."
"What Magic Snow Globe?"
"The one in my hands --" but when he looked down he realized his hands were empty. "Oh, I must have dropped it. I'll look for it."
He looked everywhere, but he could not find the glass ball.
What he did find, however, were beautifully-wrapped presents for him from his dad placed under the tree while they were decorating it.
He had not noticed them before.
Dad handed his son his cocoa,
and they both clicked their mugs in a toast.
The lights on their tree twinkled softly
as the snow outside fell gently from the sky.
*
*
Whatever Holiday you celebrate, please enjoy!
Thank you,
Scott

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

TOP TEN OF 2016!

Let The Countdown begin!

10. A CHRISTMAS CAROL
(Salem Trolley & The Griffen Theatre)
What a fun and festive, creative and clever way to bring this Charles Dickens classic to life! Each stave of the story is a stop along the streets of Salem MA as Scrooge and spectators meet the specters and stories in this imaginative and interactive treat! 


9. A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER
(Broadway Across America)
A hilarious and witty romp well-deserving of the Best Tony it has received. One actor plays all the victims while another actor does them in one-by-one as he attempts to gain what he believes is his rightful place in the family!


8. THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB
(The Pittsfield Players)

Stevie Nicks sings "Lightning strikes; maybe once, maybe twice," and lighting has struck again! The majority of the original cast reunites - not unlike the charming, delightful characters they play. Swim team friends since high school, these women meet at the same cottage by the ocean to discuss their lives and how they have changed. The friends go from toasting their fellow Speedo-clad male swimmers to honoring their beloved coach, making this one piece of theatre that deserves several relays.


7. WEST SIDE STORY
(North Shore Music Theatre)

The creative team of Bob Richard and Diane Laurenson transport their critically-acclaimed Theatre By The Sea production for an in-the-round experience that is as electrifying as it is relevant (unfortunately). The direction does not hide the hatred shared by the rival gangs, and the jaw-dropping choreography propels the gritty story and deep-rooted heartbreak they also share.


6. MURDER FOR TWO
(The Lyric Stage Company)

Jared Troilo is making a name for himself in the Boston scene, and here he shines as Marcus Moscowicz dealing with a murder investigation. But this isn't your average crime scene. All of the suspects are being played brilliantly by Kirsten Salpini. Originally performed by two male actors, the male/female combo creates another level of sex appeal in this hilarious whodunnit that fortunately does not rely on becoming a one-joke wonder; it has a legitimate book and clever score, creating an evening of non-stop laughter. Which reminds me --


5. SILENCE! THE MUSICAL
(Arts After Hours)

I am as pleasantly surprised as you! I say this because on paper this does not look like my thing, but on stage it is one of the most uproarious, laughter-generating shows I've enjoyed in a long, long time. A smart and witty parody of the film Silence Of The Lambs, the naughty and so-wrong-they're right lyrics are matched by Lisa McDonough's spot-on Jodi impersonation, which just gets funnier as the evening progresses. The lucky audiences are anything but silent!


4. SPEECH AND DEBATE
(Bad Habit Productions)

Before Stephen Karam won his Tony for The Humans, he was already expressing his thoughts about people and relationships and the dark places they go with this earlier work. The polished, professional staging by director Rebecca Bradshaw features some of Boston's finest talents with the likes of Katie Elinoff, Ross Magnant, and Evan Vihlen portraying teenagers finding their places in the world and with each other. Veronica Anastasia Wiseman rounds out the stellar cast as both teacher and reporter. This is my first production with this theatre, but certainly not my last.


3. ART
(Arts After Hours)

Yasmina Reza's sharp-tongued Tony Winner gets an incredible re-staging here thanks to Fran Weinberg's thoughtful, intelligent direction. Anchored by powerful performances by Thomas Grenon, Anthony Mullin, and Jason Myatt, their tumultuous relationship plays out like a chess game with each "friend" vying to be king of the conversation. All this over an expensive piece of art. Who knew a blank canvas could say so much?


2. THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS
(SpeakEasy Stage Company)

SpeakEasy is hardly a stranger to my countdown, and there is a reason for that. They do not know how to do bad productions.

Such is the case here. Director Paul Daigneault tackles this subject matter and makes it entertaining while at the same time does not shy away from the horrific truths. There is much discomfort in watching a beautiful tap number but realizing it's about the electric chair. This is the harsh irony that cements brilliant composers John Kander & Fred Ebb into Broadway History. I wish I could say that the attitudes expressed in this piece are dated, but at least this production honors these fine Scottsboro Gentlemen, and it's "never too late."


1. THE LARAMIE PROJECT
(Theatre Company of Saugus)

Every so often there is a production that is more of an experience than anything else.

Jason Hair-Wynn's mature, sensitive direction brings forward the horrific details surrounding the incident of Matthew Shepard. Told through monologues and vignettes by this unbelievably talented cast, the audience witnesses everything - the good, the bad, and everything in between. It is not an easy show to witness but necessary. The set design made of broken fences and various shoes speaks volumes.

One could argue that we have made some progress,
but we are constantly reminded of the long road ahead.

But we can walk.

Together.


Thank you, Matthew.