As a child, I always looked forward to the holidays and fruitcakes (the edible kind). The candied fruit, nuts, and the other ingredients were such a treat. There was something about such a variety of elements working together to be enjoyed.
Pennsylvania Playhouses œFruitcakes offers much the same”a variety of characters and situations, not overly sweet, that come together with the holiday spirit.
Pennsylvania Playhouse has chosen a lesser-known work, œFruitcakes, a family-friendly production that contains many familiar themes, yet adds some unique touches.
The play, written by Julian Wiles and directed by Robert Callan Adams, opened a night later than planned, due to electrical problems on Friday night. The delay did not dampen the spirit of the cast who gave life to the aptly titled show.
The show has been described as the story of a œ batch of fruitcakes, three dozen Christmas trees, 10,000 outdoor Christmas lights, a chicken pox epidemic, two southern spinsters, an estranged old man, a lost cat named Tutti Frutti, and a Christmas hog named Buster.
What brings all this, and more, together is the story of a runaway boy, Ryan (played by Peter Loikits), who enters a small town and is greeted by a tree salesman, Mack, (Bob Bennicoff).
Gradually, Ryan encounters other residents of this town, including the senior Southern sisters who have a ˜spirited recipe for fruitcakes, and the towns police officer and his family. Ryan also becomes part of a Christmas pageant that is reminiscent of the pageants of our youth”both experienced and in literature . Does œThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever ring a bell?
Ryans journey in this town not only helps him to resolve his own issues, but also has him helping the townsfolk in a variety of ways”a common, yet welcome message for this season.
Ably led by area veteran actors, including Jim, Denise, and Sawyer Long; Mary-Catherine Bracali; Stevie Daniels; and Peter Loikits, the cast tells the story with energy and warmth.
The younger members of the cast who are featured in the pageant scenes are natural performers who allow their youth, enthusiasm, and charm to warm the heart of even the coldest Scrooge among us.
With sets done by Charlie Sivick and John Bracali, and lighting design by Dan Lewis, the casts work was truly supported and illuminated. The sisters kitchen was especially warm and inviting.
The play runs through December 16th, at the Playhouse, on Illicks Mill Road, in Bethlehem.