Theatre at TWU presents a student-created romp through the paradoxes of a most sacred season

November 21, 2006

Source: Trinity Western University
http://www.twu.ca/news/view-specific.aspx?newsID=535

Why do we do the things we do at Christmas? This seems like odd question, but one that 10 Trinity Western University students have been toying with (pardon the pun) these past two months.

Since September the cast members of this playmaking project have been writing and creating sketches that explore the glorious and not-so-glorious parts of the holiday season. Their finished product—Fixing Christmas—will premiere on Nov. 29 and run until Dec. 2 on the stage at TWU. The production is part of the Spirit of Christmas, a Langley community celebration of the holiday season on Dec. 1 and 2.

Fixing Christmas—a fast-paced collection of 34 theatre scenes including music, dance, drama, multimedia and comedy—takes a farcical look at Christmas customs and traditions. In one scene, religious zealots protest against Christmas trees. In another, a family re-enacts their bizarre Christmas ritual that involves pudding and candy canes. Another sketch rewrites the Christmas story with Santa as the main character, instead of Jesus.

Most of the theatre sketches—which are produced with minimal sets and costumes—are comedic. In fact, few aspects of the season are free from mockery. Fixing Christmas skewers toy shopping, church pageants, holiday dinners, unruly children and family dynamics. Yet many of the sketches draw out the poignancy and reality of the season.

"We hope audiences will not only be entertained but encouraged to re-evaluate this complex time of year," says Aaron Caleb, director of the production.

Fixing Christmas will run Nov. 29 and 30, and Dec. 1 and 2 at 8 p.m, with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Performances will take place in Freedom Hall, Robert N. Thompson building on the campus of TWU (7600 Glover Road in Langley). Tickets are $8 to $10, and are available through the theatre box office at 604.513.2121 extension 3872 or online at www.twu.ca/theatre.

In the new year, TWU's theatre season includes Broken Sleep: July 7, 1994 and The Taming of the Shrew. The final show, Remnants: A Fable, is a co-production with Pacific Theatre, taking place at the company's Vancouver space in May.

For more information, visit www.twu/ca/theatre.
Erin Mussolum
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Tel: 604-513-2121 ext. 3369
Fax: 604-513-2061
erin.mussolum@twu.ca