REVIEW: Midwinter Revels brilliant ‘The Feast of Fools’ blends hope and laughter in the darkest of times
Dragon battles! Reindeers dance! Kings and Fools! Hope in darkness.
This year’s annual Midwinter Revels is titled The Feast of Fools: A Medieval Celebration of the Solstice, and though fools may be onstage, not even a fool would miss this production.
Showing fresh ingenuity and as immersive as ever, The Feast of Fools delivers as much reveling as insightfulness into medieval hierarchy, the contemporary world we live in, and and the importance of eternal peace in this unpredictable world.
Directed cleverly by Patrick Swanson and Debra Wise while seamlessly musically directed by Elijah Botkin, Midwinter Revels joyfully presents The Feast of Fools: A Medieval Celebration of the Solstice through December 28 live and in person at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The December 16th performance was dedicated to ‘GBH’s legendary and beloved Brian O’Donovan who passed away this year. This show is translated in ASL and is approximately two hours with one intermission. Click here for more information and tickets.
An apt and enthusiastic master of ceremonies, veteran reveler David Coffin grandly declared, ‘We are all here to sing!’ He vigorously prepares the audience pre-production for an afternoon of sing-along carols and interactive fun in the spirit of the season.
Accompanied by lively fiddle and horn-infused rhythms performed by the onstage Sting and Buzzy Walking Band, scenic designer Jeremy Barnett warmly sets the stage with an inviting red glowing wooden fireplace festively adorned with garland and pewter mugs hanging on both sides of the mantel. The Yule Log and a Christmas Star are pivotal pieces in this exciting tale and keys to a bright New Year.
Costumes Supervisor Dexter Wadsworth and costume designer Heidi Hermiller deliver a splendid and kaleidoscopic vision of medieval and festive garb from villager to soldier and jester to royalty in gold embroidered velvet, silver and gold detailed armor, shiny red and black scales, a blue-hued pair of enormous ethereal wings, and much more.
This particular production featured Jeff Adelberg’s gorgeous and luminous lighting for a moonlit night, in a glowing red fire, gleaming lanterns, a haunting twilight on a vastly creative voyage, and in a dazzling solstice flame. Illuminated by gleaming lanterns, Gabriel’s Message is a moving and glorious moment in this touching production.
Rene Collins as Folly, Eliza Rose Fichter as Fiasco, and Roger Reed as Flop form a comical and jovial trio of fools with affable camaraderie who declare they must present The Feast of Fools celebration much to the King’s accommodating dismay. Where love, joy, peace and hope metaphorically take center stage, the trio wears bright, distinctive, and zany costumes as they navigate this symbolic and exciting tale with juggling and more.
The talented Evergreen Children have a larger role in this tale as their angelic falsetto voices partake in carols, games, puppetry and more. Some of the particular highlights include a beautiful rendition of Lees Wais’ Wassail with David Coffin on recorder and Karen Burciaga on rebec. Roger Reed not only portrays dimwitted and mustachioed Fop, but pops up in additional roles including a mischievous and expressive participant in a children’s game of Old Roger is Dead before taking on a silent, silly, yet fascinating role later in the production. Charismatic Rene Collins later demonstrates some unique skills and magnificent courage facing an intriguing domestic beast.
Wearing animal hats including crow, cow, and sheep, The Evergreen Children chime for an adorable rendition of There was a Pig Went out to Dig and a significant illuminating shadow puppet show for the King, portrayed with a charismatic baritone laugh by Vincent Ernest Siders. His regal, playful and natural gravitas is a bit scene stealing, even without a crown. His poignant yet hopeful recitation of the Shortest Day was delivered with full throated gracefulness and one of the most memorable parts of this production.
Accompanied by a concertina, The Pinewoods Morris Men literally revel with bells on in an interactive Morris Dance, an intricate and rhythmic Upton stick dance, and the traditional Mummers Carol.
Soloist Barbara Allen Hill provided rich vocals in various parts of the production including O Cruor Sanguinis chant, the instrumental hymn Dies Irae and in a stirring arrangement by John Fleagle’s Winter Wakeneth.
Having never been swept up in the moment of the production, it was exhilarating to participate in the interactive and traditional Lord of the Dance as revelers and audience members joined arms in the halls dancing jubilantly into intermission and in the lobby of the Sanders Theatre.
From Sing We Noel to the Peasant Dance to the Traveler’s Prayer to the Village Bransle Ding Dong Merrily on High to the marvelous Lord of the Dance dynamically choreographed by Susan Dibble, the Midwinter Revels will have everyone on their feet to ring in a wondrous New Year.
Directed cleverly by Patrick Swanson and Debra Wise while seamlessly musically directed by Elijah Botkin, Midwinter Revels joyfully presents The Feast of Fools: A Medieval Celebration of the Solstice through December 28 live and in person at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This show is translated in ASL and is approximately two hours with one intermission. Click here for more information and tickets.
