BWW Reviews: CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY Is What Everyone Wishes For

This performance is a part of Boise Contemporary Theater's (BCT) Children's Reading Series. Dano Madden and Jenny Sternling adapted the story by William Dean Howells written in 1892. The house was almost full. This is in regards to how Boise feels about BCT, they love it.

There was Christmas music being played on the piano when we entered and through the start of the show, John C. Bostron was very talented. There was no directors speech to gather the attention of the audience, the actors just appeared around the piano and the mood changed. The lights gently dimmed and the children got settled in their seats.

Tracy Sundlerland, the director, and her actors Dwayne Blackaller, Annie Bulow and Justin Ness did a wonderful job. They had microphones, but they weren't really needed. They were loud enough and articulate, perfect for an audience of youth.

The story was adorable. It makes for perfect reader's theatre. The actors played many different characters, all distinctive from each other. Even the music was a character throughout the performance. They had different props for each character, mostly different hats, and their stance and voices changed as well. It was told in a way that you could close your eyes and just listen to the story. The narration was mostly based on action more than descriptions, but the descriptions were covered by the actors.

We are told that the "Little Girl" wishes it was CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY. The story tells us of all the mishaps that can happen from such a wish. She ends up taking the wish back. The moral of the story was that you may wish it were CHISTMAS EVERY DAY, but what you need is to keep the feeling of Christmas alive every day,

not the presents and dinners and sledding and other traditions. Just the feelings that you have. (I am only putting this in the review because they tell the audience at the end.)

It was a very entertaining story and the actors and author greeted the children after the show was over. The youth were talking excitedly and asking questions and playing with the props (the boys liked the crash box).