A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, Happy Ramadan

An entertaining and novel take on the well-known Dickens tale suitable for all ages.

Posted on December 25, 2021 by Victor Gluck, Editor-in-Chief in Off-Broadway, Plays

Valois Mickens, Katarina Vizina and Vit Hořejš as the puppeteer in a scene from Czechoslovak- American Marionette Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, Happy Ramadan” taped at Theater for the New City

Victor Gluck, Editor-in-Chief

Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, Happy Ramadan is a unique and original creation and suitable for viewers of all ages. The current production taped at Theater for the New City has been updated to now include songs in Czech, English, Hebrew, Slovak, Spanish and Swahili. As with previous incarnations, puppeteer/narrator Vit Hořejš who has adapted and directed this version of the Charles Dickens classic manipulates all of the puppets to tell the heartwarming Christmas tale. The show also includes a blend of English, Jewish, African and Czech winter rituals and customs. Hořejš’ narration turns the the story into a Czech folk tale.

The 30 puppets by Miloš Kasal and Václav Krčál which also include historic Czech and Slovak varieties are of varying sizes from six-inch toy marionettes to twelve-foot rod puppets. There are ghost puppets by Hořejš himself as well as a large size camel used in previous Czechoslovak- American Marionette Theatre’s productions. The Ghost of Marley is made of chain and original to the production while the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come is a large red devil complete with horns.

Vit Hořejš as the puppeteer with the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come and Scrooge in a scene from Czechoslovak- American Marionette Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, Happy Ramadan” taped at Theater for the New City (Photo credit: Jonathan Slaff)

The witty show includes intentional anachronisms to update and tweak the story: Uber, a fiddler on the roof, bitcoins, Black Friday, The Sunday Times, frequent flyer miles, seat belts, National Health Plan, etc., are contemporary references which make this suitable for adult viewers.

The set uses a century-old toy marionette theater donated by Madeleine Albright as well as a second locale for Scrooge’s bedroom. The set design by Michelle Beshaw is strung with colored Christmas lights by designer Federico Restrepo. The variegated Czech and Slovakian inspired costumes are also by Beshaw.

Vocalists Katarina Vizina and Valois Mickens in a scene from Czechoslovak- American Marionette Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, Happy Ramadan” taped at Theater for the New City (Photo credit: Jonathan Slaff)

Not only is this a puppet show but it is also an extended concert. This year’s vocalists are Valois Mickens, of West African, Celtic, and Native American origin, and Katarina Vizina, a transplant from Slovakia, who sing pieces of about 20 carols and songs including “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Feliz Navidad,” “Silent Night,” and “The Dreidel Song” in the original languages. Occasionally they participate in the action, as well as in the prologue that sets up the show.

Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, Happy Ramadan” is an entertaining and novel take on the well-known tale. However, its unique departures from the original story make this a surprising and unusual evening of fun for the whole family during this holiday season, one that can now be seen from the comfort of one’s own home.

A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, Happy Ramadan (streaming from December 22, 2021 – January 9, 2022)

For tickets, visit http://www.theaterforthenewcity.net

For more information, call 212-254-1109

Running time: one hour and 17 minutes without an intermission

About Victor Gluck, Editor-in-Chief (971 Articles)

Victor Gluck was a drama critic and arts journalist with Back Stage from 1980 – 2006. He started reviewing for TheaterScene.net in 2006, where he was also Associate Editor from 2011-2013, and has been Editor-in-Chief since 2014. He is a voting member of The Drama Desk, the Outer Critics Circle, the American Theatre Critics Association, and the Dramatists Guild of America. His plays have been performed at the Quaigh Theatre, Ryan Repertory Company, St. Clements Church, Nuyorican Poets Café and The Gene Frankel Playwrights/Directors Lab.