By: Joseph Szalinski
Put up your decorations and pull down your venetian blinds because a case has just opened like a present on Christmas morning, and everyone’s favorite jolly home invader is at the center of it in Hobnob Theatre CO’s latest original production, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: A Musical Noir, ” directed by Ken Smith, now dashing through the snow at Butler County Community College’s Succop Theater, in Butler, PA.
Boasting a familiar, public domain title, this festive detective story subverts the standard holiday fare in favor of something a little different. Featuring book and lyrics by Deanna Sparrow and music by Ken Smith, audiences are treated to a merry mystery that wonderfully balances the fatalistic grittiness of noir narratives with delightful song and dance in a play that’s sure to get even the most cynical PIs in the holiday spirit.
Despite a brief runtime of an hour and some change, Sparrow manages to pack plenty of material into the script. Featuring humorous wordplay, witty references, and a healthy dash of intrigue, this show has something for fans of either The Maltese Falcon or “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
Sporting a large cast, ‘”Twas the Night Before Christmas” is replete with great performances. Justin Anderson effortlessly embodies Detective Mac O’Brien, a grizzled lawman who may be a little jaded, but hasn’t lost his yuletide cheer. He entertains in his everyday outfit as well as in his clever disguise, which he garnishes with a hilarious voice. Contrasting the good detective is the devious elf, Quigley, played by Luke Frederick, who devilishly demonstrates why he belongs on the naughty list this year. Further fleshing out the main characters are Berg and Irene, a lovesick yeti and elf, respectively, brilliantly brought to life by this duo charms through animated physicality and impressive singing.
What would a North Pole caper be without its most famous residents? Laura Crago (who double duties as choreographer) mystifies as the femme fatale, Carmen Sandi…erm, I mean Claus, while Greg Crawford shines in a role he seems born to play as Nicky Claus. Completing the six of them is a gaggle of elves by a swarm of talented young performers: Ava Beattie, Corryn Borkowski, Willow Calvert, Elin Cloutier, Kaimana Colvin, Carley Cousins, Jenson Dudash, Corbin Federkeil, Hayden Federkeil, Reignah Federkeil, Ava Gerber, Palmer Gifford, Katelyn Hankey, Adeline Hills, Maranda Horstman, Lily Morgan, and Quinn Warheit.
Aside from the cast, the band helps this wintry world become realized. Ken Smith and Jessica Sanzotti (the show’s musical director) handle the keyboards, while Karen O’Donnell ba rumpa bum bums the drum kit as percussionist. Not only do the musicians provide catchy tunes that’ll leave you tapping your toes, but they also soundtrack the onstage antics with some terrific sound effects.
The technical side of things is equally amazing. Danyle Verzinskie has devised a gorgeous set with help from a dedicated construction team and stage crew. Katie Moore ensures costumes bring the characters to life even more so, with the costuming and makeup for Berg being the most exceptional. Danyle and Katie have also concocted ingenuous props that seamlessly add to the comedic elements of the production. Playwright Deanna Sparrow lends a hand with lighting and Mike Beck handles sound, rounding off the behind-the-scenes contributions.
Succop Theater is a marvelous venue. Not only is the auditorium sprawling, but the building is beautiful and leaves audiences in awe as they enter and exit the space. Situated on sleepy streets a little way from town, BC3’s campus is an oasis of art and culture. Even though Hobnob does have a home of its own, it’s nice to see them work in concert with another local institution.
Hobnob, yet again, offers a magical evening (or matinee) during the holiday season. They continue to dazzle attendees and engage the community by putting on unparalleled productions. Their commitment to fostering the love of theatre in an area that benefits from its presence is a noble pursuit. By showcasing tenured talent and encouraging burgeoning thespians, they’ve established themselves as an indispensable cultural resource. Whether it be comedy, a new musical, or a classic drama, Hobnob puts in work that deserves to be noticed by more people. And by continuing to host shows at their studio or bringing their excellence to some other stage, they’ll certainly get the recognition they deserve. It’s exciting to think about what they have coming up in the near future.
-JS
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: A Musical Noir continues its run at Succop Theatre on the Butler County Community College campus in Butler, PA on Saturday December 21st at 7:30 PM and Sunday December 22nd at 2:30 PM. For more information, click here.
