Madeline’s Christmas

Madeline’s Christmas
Horizon Theatre
through December 31, 2017

Ludwig Bemelmans’ tale of a young girl in Paris at Christmas time has become a standard right up there with A Christmas Carol. This musical version is directed by Spring Mason, who has brought together a wonderful cast or more than two dozen players; most of whom are young ladies of incredible talent.

A collaboration presentation with The Atlanta Children’s Theatre Company, it is a pure delight whether you may be 8 or 88 years of age. On a neat set by Isabel & Moriah Curley-Clay, twelve girls who are students at a Parisian ecole, carry off the songs and the dance movements with great aplomb. Nicole Johnson choreographed the girls and Keena Redding Hunt is the music director.

The headmistress, Miss Clavel, is played by Lauren Rosenzweig for the 5th time and she works so well with the girls that she could be their headmistress in real life. Her assistant, Miss Murphy is played by Vallea Woodbury and Orlando Carbajal Rebollar comes on both as Monsieur Brun and the genie Harsha.

What is really interesting is that there are two casts of 12 girls, referred to as the Red Cast and Green Cast. Not sure which one I saw, but I can rest comfortably that each of the 12 young ladies pulls it off just right.

This is the tenth year that the Horizon has presented this show, and it is a one-act show which runs about 80 minutes. Show times are designed for the youngsters with morning shows and afternoon presentations. If you want to introduce a youngster to theatre it is a perfect first-timer. But, I saw every one of the adults having a great time as well. The cast is charming and nobody gets hurt, and there are no politicians involved.

More info at HorizonTheatre.com