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Volume 2, Issue 23 • December 10–23, 2010 • San Diego Uptown News


Going ‘Plaid’ for the holidays


By Charlene Baldridge SDUN Arts Writer


s they say during the 90-minute musical show, “There’s no place like ‘Plaid’ for the holidays.” That statement, made in song by four close-harmo- ny guys, is borne out as they bring about a bit of seasonal charm in “Plaid Tidings,” the 2002 sequel to “Plaid” creator Stuart Ross’s phenomenal hit, “Forever Plaid.” The four youthful characters, who so endeared themselves to theatergoers in the past, are allowed to return to earth a second time, not knowing why. They’ve been given another chance to achieve what they didn’t in life—this time in a holi- day show titled “Plaid Tidings,” which plays locally through Dec. 26 at Balboa Park’s Old Globe Theatre.


A


Landing amid lightning strikes, Jinx (Leo Daignault), Smudge (Jason Heil), Sparky (David Brannen) and Frankie (Michael Winther) find them- selves in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre at the Old Globe. One of the quartet says, “Look. We’re back in San Diego, at the Old Globe. Is it my imagination or do they (audience members) look kinder?” Another replies, “No. Not kinder. Just older.” Well, the “boys” are older, too, this time around, gently lending the show a feeling that though things have changed, we’re still safe with these dear, funny men, all of whom are inept on pur- pose still upset the “harmonal” balance of the world, especially now that we are held hostage by awful holiday recordings. As before, high tenor Jinx is inept with the microphone and prone to nosebleeds; Smudge, the bass, is a rather pompous word lover and blind as a bat without his glasses. To say that Daignault, Heil, Brannen and Winther all sing like angels all the time and that the blend is always perfect would be hyper- bole (I saw the evening show Sunday, Dec. 5, at the end of a long opening week); however, all do a superb job of establishing character and lightness and their specialty is still making onlookers feel “comforted, warm, and runny inside.” Music director is Don LeMaster, with Steven Withers on piano and Tom Christensen on bass. Daignault is the dance cap- tain, with Heil turning in some amusing terpsichorean moves. Favorite skits resurrected from


“Forever Plaid” include the Perry Como segment and the quicksil- ver “Ed Sullivan Show” replete with Topo Gigio. Ross adds an extremely funny cell phone gag, with the guys running all over try- ing to discover the source of the (to us) familiar ring tone, then not knowing what a cell phone is. Along the way to Plaid fulfill-


see Plaid, page 20


“DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE


CHRISTMAS”


When: Through Dec. 26 Where: Old Globe Theatre, Balboa Park Tickets: $39-$77 adults, $20-$57 children Info: (619) 23-GLOBE Web: theoldglobe.org


By Patricia Morris Buckley SDUN Theatre Critic


his year, the Grinch at the Old Globe is a kinder, gentler Grinch. Perhaps it’s because this is actor Jeff Skow- ron’s second year playing the scene-chomping part or that last year’s too-scary version didn’t play well with younger Whos in the audience. Whatever the reason, this funny and toned-down Grinch is a romping cheerful, candy-cane- eating good time. Now an honored holiday tradi- tion after 13 years, “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a musical staging of the 1966 an- imated cartoon (not the miserable 2000 live film with Jim Carrey).


T


This years Old Globe production of "Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas" features Jeff Skowron (right) as the Grinch and Logan Lipton (left) as Max the dog. (Courtesy Michael Lamont)


It features two of the songs from the TV version, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (in an audience participation moment that’s one of the show’s highlights) and “Welcome, Christmas (Fah Who Doraze).” The rest of the music was written by Timothy Mason and


Mel Marvin, although none of it is as memorable as the 1966 songs. The show runs a kid-friendly 90 minutes (with no intermission), which is 60 minutes longer than the original. New songs and dance scenes fill up some of that time, but beefing up the script itself are two different versions of Max the


dog sharing the stage. The older Max tells us the


story of how he’s leaving Who- ville (he never really says why or where he’s going) and remembers his first Christmas as the green- tinged Grinch’s pet. While Martin


see Grinch, page 24


San Diego Symphony 2010-2011


Centennial Season


Holiday Pops


Winter Pops


with BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL† San Diego’s Favorite Holiday Music Tradition!


December 17-19


Matthew Garbutt, conductor; Brian Stokes Mitchell, vocals San Diego Master Chorale; San Diego Children’s Choir


Dubbed “The Last Leading Man” by the New York Times, San Diego’s favorite Broadway son, Brian Stokes Mitchell, comes


home for the holidays to host this season’s favorite musical tradition featuring music from “Stokes’” newest CD, Ring Christmas Bells.


Tickets: $20-$85


Family Packs sold out for December 19, 2pm. Family Packs based on availability. †Brian Stokes Mitchell does not appear on the Family Festival concert December 19, 2pm.


Meet Brian Stokes Mitchell!


$150 VIP Package: December 19, 7:30pm VIP event Includes best seats, private Meet and Greet, and photo with Brian Stokes Mitchell. For more information call 619.236.5410.


CALL 619.235.0804 or VISIT sandiegosymphony.com Copley Symphony Hall, Seventh Avenue & B Street


Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.


Stole Christmas" "How the


presented by


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