It’s that time of year again! Christmas shows are popping
up all over town and whether you’re a fan of traditional or playful, there’s
something for everyone. The Phoenix Theatre’s annual Xmas show is a mix of
song, dance, parody, and poems. My favorite part about it is that it’s
different every year. The content is fresh and ever-changing, so while you
might not love every skit, at least it’s something new!
The 11th annual show focused on celebrating the holidays
internationally. A narrator shared bits about unique traditions around the
globe between the scenes. The set utilized multimedia screens that showed song
lyrics and photos throughout the show.
During a dance sequence I felt myself appreciating that the Phoenix
never constrains itself with meeting every social norm. The dancers were not a
uniform body type and it was beautiful. The theatre consistently tries to
represents people from many walks of life, instead of just one traditional
Midwestern one.
The tone was much more somber than past years, but there
was still plenty of humor. From Stonehenge to Disney World, from an airport to
a pharmacy, anything is fair game. Gratefully there were no references to
politics. I think all of America is burnt out on that topic right now. I could
have done with one less puppet skit, but it didn’t take anything away from the
show.
This year it was the quiet moments that stood out to me.
One piece on spending Christmas in the hospital with a loved one was
particularly poignant. Another took us to Syria, bringing home the severity of
a situation that can sometimes feel far away to us. I also loved the audience
interaction for a mad libs sketch.
As always, the greatest strength of this Phoenix
tradition is that it is unpredictable in every way, except that you’re sure to
have a good time.
Don't Miss the Show
For more information about the Phoenix Theatre, visit www.phoenixtheatre.org. The theater is located at 749 N. Park Ave., Indianapolis, just off Massachusetts Ave.
Performances: The show runs until December 23rd and offers five performances a week. Wednesdays and Thursdays begin at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturdays begin at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Tickets: To purchase tickets, call (317) 635-7529 or visit phoenixtheatre.org. Prices range from $22 to $35.
Photos courtesy of Zach Rosing.
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