Acadia Players get in the spirit with ‘Christmas Reunion’

By:Saja Hoffpauir

Lifestyles Editor

Just in time for the holiday season, the Acadia Players present Shannon Le Grand’s “Christmas Reunion,” which really is a holiday production for the entire family to enjoy.

The play is set in the mid-western town of Walden, which is preparing for its annual Christmas pageant and carnival. Things are not going smoothly, however, as the ancient nativity scene’s baby Jesus is stuck blinking on and off and a wise man has somehow been decapitated. To top it off, a giant snow storm hits just in time to stop the town in its tracks.

The production is set in “Aunt Daph’s Diner,” a hub of activity in the small community, with sophisticated flashbacks between the present day and the past two decades. The plot revolves around a group of friends who grew up together and, for the most part, left Walden as soon as they were able, vowing never to return to the tiny town for which  they considered themselves to be too good. The occasion for their return is the dedication of a new gym at the local high school, but they all wind up at Aunt Daph’s, where they are stuck for the duration of the storm. While there, the friends reflect on their childhoods and their present lives, coming to grips with many hard truths about their pasts and the lives to which they aspire.

In this particular production, the Players may well outshine their material. Although only three of the actors have prior stage experience, the majority of the cast comes across as a crew of veterans, leaving theater-goers to marvel at the natural talent on hand.

Particularly impressive are the outstanding young actors who play the 12-year-old versions of the reuniting friends: Landen Istre as Michael Cartwright, Emma Istre as Babs Whitton, Charlotte Doucet as Sue Anne Cartwright, Kathryn Stanford as Sadie Benton and Lily Mire as Jessie Hamilton. They really shine as they develop their characters for the audience, “pre-casting” themselves in the town’s Christmas pageant in 1988. Not one of them misses a line or cue.

Special recognition should go to Mire, who flawlessly plays all three versions of the Jessie Hamilton character. The only one to carry all three versions, she is successful as a 12-year-old, 18-year-old and 38-year-old.

Tori Bourque makes an excellent “Aunt Daph,” and Timothy Van Patten is a natural in the role of Officer Stanley Grigsby.

Alyson Hetzel, in the role of the adult Sadie Benton, is smooth and assured and also has a chance to show off her vocal talent.

Brianna Comeaux as present-day Babs Whitton, Kimberly Sharon as present-day Sue Anne Cartwright, Christopher Comeaux as present-day Michael Cartwright, Sawyer Bourque as Myra Grigsby, Jennifer Mire as Mrs. Caroline Brinks and Waylon Gotte as Mayor Riggs round out the cast.

“Christmas Reunion,” dedicated to the memory of JoAnne Ronkartz, is directed by P.E. Ronkartz, with Gotte serving as assistant director. It is produced by Shawn Murphy LaCroix.

The supporting cast should also be commended for an extremely professional production with smooth setting changes between acts. Those behind the scenes are Nicole Simon, stage manager; Kaleb Sharon, backstage crew; Gerad “BG” Landry, curtain; Mark Miller, sound; Patty Ronkartz, lights; Lynne Broussard and Desiree’ Doucet, tickets; Samantha Ronkartz, photographer; and Ty Adkins, photographer’s assistant.

Performances will be at the historic Rice Theatre at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, with a special 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children and students with i.d., and tickets are available at http://www.theacadiaplayers.com or at the door prior to the show. 

Santa will also be available for pictures 30 minutes before each performance.