Santa Arrives in Toyland!

Toyland Santa's Arrival and Presents!!!

Santa and his elves arrive in Toyland with presents for everyone!

Barnaby gets a present

Mary's Little Lamb offers Mean Old Barnaby a present while Santa watches on.

Photos from Toyland

Barnaby is captured by Toyland's Police Force under the direction of Santa Claus, while Tome, Mary, Gonzorgo and Ronrico look relieved!

FINAL POSTER DESIGN for Goldilocks and the Three Bears from Outer Space!

The Review is in! The Barnstable Patriot reviews A Christmas Carol.

A Christmas Carol is a hauntingly good holiday show

by Kathleen Szmit

There are many popular Christmas stories, but none more beloved, perhaps, than Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

It wouldn’t be a proper holiday without a telling of the timeless classic in which miserly old Ebenezer Scrooge receives redemption from his wicked ways through the lessons learned during visits with three powerful spirits.

This time the Barnstable High School Drama Club takes on the task, and masterfully so, offering an engaging, and at times stunning version of A Christmas Carol.

In keeping with his desire to put as many fine actors onstage as possible, director John Sullivan has again double-cast the show. While not a surprise to devoted Club fans, what was a surprise to me was having a woman cast as Scrooge.

Having spent years taking in various versions of the Dickens drama, I don’t recall ever seeing Scrooge played as a woman, and I was immediately intrigued.

Caitlin Gardipe was fantastic, seamlessly transforming Scrooge from a curmudgeonly miser into a wretched shrew. The gender change offered a refreshing take on the tale, and clever changes to parts of the storyline made it all the more believable.

As Scrooge attempted to set to bed on that cold Christmas eve, the routine she’d clung to for far too long was suddenly rocked by none other than Jacob Marley, or rather, his ghost, come back to haunt her and set her straight.

Shane Harris as Marley was spectacular. From the chains clanking about him, to his ghastly face and ominous tone, he was a truly eerie sight, becoming even more frightful when he suddenly flew mightily above Scrooge’s head in a fit of anger, special effects thanks to Flying by Foy.

Then came the spirits. On this night Christmas Past was portrayed by Emma Charpentier, Christmas Present by Tom Myers, and Christmas Future by Jason Pacella.

Charpentier, adorned in festive holiday crimson with a halo of holly and ivy, was charming and thoughtful as she took Scrooge on her journey back in time, reminding her of what a lighthearted girl she had once been.

Resplendent in green velvet and majestically tall thanks to skilled stilt walking, Myer cast an imposing figure as Christmas Present, delivering his lines such that it was not only Scrooge who snapped to attention in his presence.

The most frightening and powerful of all of the spirits, however, was also the most silent. Pacella, as Future, spoke no words. Suspended high above the stage and clad in flowing black robes, Pacella simply pointed out Scrooge’s grim future with skeletal hands.


Because the tale is familiar, everyone expects Scrooge’s profound personality change in the end, but it was the little touches that made the journey within the BHS show so entertaining.

Look for several flying characters, an utterly adorable Tiny Tim, superbly played by young Austin Benevides, falling snow, and a chillingly creepy scene following the visit of Christmas Present.

What made this show even more stunning are the amazing sets. While some were rented, such as a beautifully painted backdrop, designer Ethan Brown created much of the set.

With help from a slew of builders including stage manager Evan Hausmann, Dickens’ 1800s London came to life. Lighting from Steve Bearse, Tristan O’Toole and Brittany Myers greatly enhanced each scene.

Though not a musical, the show did include several holiday carols with accompaniment from musical director Michael Gross and musicians Carolyn Kunze, Larry Chaplan, Dan LePage, Al Orlando, and Jarrod Henly.

Limited space prevents me from mentioning everyone onstage and off who was integral to the success of the show, but it was obvious that this team put in great effort to create a dynamic and exciting play.

The holidays are upon us. If you need a little lift, A Christmas Carol will put you right in the spirit.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol will be performed by the Barnstable High School Drama Club Nov. 28 and 29 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 29 and 30 at 2 p.m. All tickets are $10. For more information and to make reservations, call the BHSDC at 508-771-6246.

The Wizard of OZ

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

Don't miss this laugh filled comedy directed by Ed O'Toole. Your sides will ache with laughter watching the the antics of Sir John Falstaff (Riley King) as she schemes to woo the fair Mistress Page.



“The Merry Wives of Windsor,” presented by Barnstable High School Drama Club; 7 p.m. Feb. 7-9 and 1 p.m. Feb. 10; Knight Hall at the school, 744 W. Main St., Hyannis; $8

Meet the BHS Drama Club

WIZARD OF OZ AUDITIONS!!!!

Thw Wizard of Oz, the most beloved musical of all time will be produced by the Barnstable High School Drama Club in March/April.

Auditions will be held for High Schoolers Jan 7, 8, 9 from 6 to 8:30 in the Performing Arts Center at Barnstable High School. Auditions for Middle School and Elementary School students will be held on Jan 14 and 15 from 6 to 8. Students from the Barnstable School System only are allowed to audition. We will be looking at children from 8 to 18 for the roles available. High school auditioners (14 -18) will include speaking as well as a singing audition. Younger children will be only asked for a singing audition. More information call 508 771 6246.

The Barnstable High School Drama Club will pull out all stops to make this a most memoriable production of The Wizard of Oz. Flying by Foy a company that the club used to fly Peter Pan for that production will be returning to help add to the magic of this production.

TIN MAN on the Sci-Fi channel

Barnstable High School Drama Club alumnus Neal McDonough has a starring role in Tin Man on the Sci-fi Channel. Neal got his start with acting with the Drama Club as a freshman when he played Snoopy in "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown." Neal also starred as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz in his senior year 23 years ago. Now he plays the Tin Man in the series bearing the same name!






Tin Man Star Praises Cast

Neal McDonough, who plays the title character in the upcoming SCI FI original miniseries Tin Man, told SCI FI Wire that his co-stars were "incredibly perfect" for their respective roles.

Based on L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the six-hour Tin Man stars McDonough as ex-cop Wyatt Cain (known as a Tin Man) opposite Zooey Deschanel as DG, Alan Cumming as Glitch (who's missing half his brain) and Raoul Trujillo as Raw (a nervous wolverine-like creature).

"Zooey is so terrific in the character," McDonough said in an interview. "She's that angst-ridden, 20-something-year-old girl who's just perfect in this really different ride. And it's a different ride from what you'd expect with The Wizard of Oz, and it's an amazing emotional ride. Alan, if there's ever a dull moment, he'll do something to make everyone laugh, and he'll do it without even knowing it. He's such a great, funny, charming, wonderful guy to have on a set. You always have to have an Alan Cumming on every set."

As for Trujillo, McDonough said that he enjoyed working with the actor and felt tremendous compassion for him. "Raoul, my God, what this poor guy had to go through," McDonough said. "Every day, he spent hours in a chair getting the makeup put on, and he never complained. I'm telling you, he never complained. I wouldn't be able to take it. I always have two rules when I'm choosing roles, and they are two things I can't have: tights and prosthetics. Raoul would go through that every day for hours. I was like, 'Man, how do you do it?' I'm just claustrophobic, I guess. He's so perfect as Raw."

ENCHANTED VILLAGE OPENS!!!

In the courtyard at The Cap Codder in Hyannis each night at dusk, you will be dazzled by the glow of more than 100,000 lights. Topiary animals will greet you as you make your way past rows of miniature Christmas Trees and Santa's Reindeer to a Santa's Village reminiscent of an old fashioned Enchanted Village. On Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30pm to 8:30pm and on Sundays from 5pm to 7pm, carolers from Barnstable High School Drama Club will walk among the visitors, dressed in festive costumes, spreading holiday spirit through song. And, back by popular demand, Santa will be taking some time out of his busy schedule to visit us at the Cape Codder! Children are welcome to sit on his lap to tell him their holiday wishes. (Please note: the carolers and Santa will be on-site until Sunday, December 16). Hot apple cider, hot chocolate and cookies (available for purchase in the Hearth 'n Kettle) may be enjoyed by the glow of the Cape Codder's bonfire, while children roast marshmallows and sing along with the carolers (weather permitting). The centerpiece of the Enchanted Village will be a 16 foot tall "Giving Tree" with a 3.5 foot star on top. Guests to the Enchanted Village are encouraged to bring an unwrapped new toy, gift card or non-perishable food to place under the tree. All donations will be given to Independence House in Hyannis. Last year, the "Giving Tree" yielded over $10,000 in food, toys, and gift cards for Independence House! Drop by and say "Hello!"