Circle Theatre is on the move again. It’s alive once more after having exited its former venue at Central Presbyterian Church last year. This November it vigorously came back to life with a wonderful production of David Mamet’s Speed The Plow in a Benson pizza restaurant. Now it returns to its dinner theatre concept. Another church. First United Methodist Church.
The show is The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Presents “A Christmas Carol,” one of eight comedies about such a group from Walter Zerlin and David McGillivray Jr, Their publisher says there have been close to 2,500 productions world-wide: http://www.samuelfrench.com/author/3681/walter-zerlin-jr. Evidently a previous performance by Circle Theatre is among that number.
Zerlin and McGillivary write about a gaggle of local English ladies with limited talent and limited means, undaunted, take on familiar and beloved plays. In this instance four women and a male stage hand endeavor to present the Dickens story in theatre form. That is, they play all the characters, trying to resemble separate identities, hurriedly changing costumes, earnestly maneuvering fragments of sets and aiming not to too often fumble props. In other words, the comedy is about foolish people making fools of themselves, being far out of their depth.
This production, directed by Doug Marr, emphasizes the frantic nature of what the Guild members are trying to do. Nancy Ross came up with an amazing array of costumes and Laura Marr’s props proliferate like crazy. The cast: Laura Marr, Rosanne Glock, Sherry Fletcher, Loris Obradovich and David Sindelar.
Dinner is not obligatory. The entrees are Florentine chicken with lemon orzo plus a vegetable or vegetable lasagna and salad. There is cake for dessert with coffee. No alcohol is served and, evidently, you can’t bring your own.
The venue is on the north side of the church.
The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Presents “A Christmas Carol,” continues through December 20 at First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass Street, Omaha. Fri. Dec. 12. Fri. Sat. Dec. 19, 20. Dinner: 7 p.m. Play: 8 p. m. Dinner and show: $20-$25. Show only: $10-$15. circletheatreomaha.org