REVIEW

Theater Review (LA): The Charles Phoenix Holiday Jubilee by Charles Phoenix at Disney Hall

Written by Robert Machray
Published December 20, 2007
Part of StageMage

Charles Phoenix is an eccentric entertainer who has appeared on cable and even Martha Stewart's show. He travels the country presenting a hand-chosen slide show of mid-century design, the kitsch and the classic. His retro slide shows have been entertaining people since the late '90s and his Christmas Jubilee has become a cult sellout.

The Jubilee began with the audience being serenaded on a Hammond organ played by Dominic Cangelosi, the Hall of Fame roller skating organist who has been providing music for skaters at the national championships since 1969; wonderful and fun - we all sang along. Then Charles Phoenix arrived in the first of three outfits, full of sparkles and bright colors. His delivery is very comic and droll and he modulates his voice for maximum comic effect.

The slides were a total hoot, and between the hairstyles, dresses, ties, Christmas trees, and décor, he thoroughly won the audience over, transporting us back in time to the 50s and 60s. He even made some ambrosia to serve us all at intermission, throwing in a hot dog and some Cheese Whiz for good measure. (I didn't taste it.) While he made the ambrosia, a dancing fairy, prima ballerina Caitlyn Carradine, danced for us.

After intermission, Bob Baker, bless his heart, now in his eighties, did a Christmas marionette show.

The background set for the whole evening was a collection of period lawn ornaments from the collection of Danny Brauer and Jim Drobka. There was Santa, a snowman, a gingerbread man, a nutcracker, Frankenstein, Betty Boop, and even Yes Kitty.

Someone in the audience tried to fix Charles up with her friend but, alas, it wasn't to be.

At The Redcat Theatre in Disney Hall until Dec. 20.

ROBERT MACHRAY has appeared in over 150 plays and has worked at 14 Tony Award-winning theatres. He has been nominated for and won numerous awards. Robert has a B.A. from Yale and an M.F.A. from USC. He has taught at USC, UCLA, UCSB, and Pasadena City College. Robert was the Artistic Director for the Classical Theatre Lab in Los Angeles. He has directed, cast, produced, and acted.
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Theater Review (LA): The Charles Phoenix Holiday Jubilee by Charles Phoenix at Disney Hall
Published: December 20, 2007
Type: Review
Section: Culture
Filed Under: Culture: Theater, Review
Part of a feature: StageMage
Writer: Robert Machray
Robert Machray's BC Writer page
Robert Machray's personal site
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