Holiday magic: Arcadia play tells tale of Christmas poem

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

The well-loved poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement C. Moore will be in the spotlight at Arcadia Theater, 1418 Graham Ave., Windber.

“ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” a children’s play, will be presented at 2 p.m. Dec. 10.

The show is geared for children in kindergarten through fifth grade and will be presented by Theatre IV of Richmond, Va., the second-largest touring theater company in the United States.

“The story was inspired by the poem and tells about the real life of Clement Moore,” said Gordon Bass of Theatre IV.

“You’ll see the Moore household – Mom and Dad and two kids.

“We’ve taken some liberties. There are some singing mice, and at the end, there’s a visit from St. Nicholas.”

In the play, with music and lyrics by Bruce Miller, the audience will visit the Moore home on the day before Christmas.

Moore is pressed for time and stressed because his daughter is sick, and he has not written the family’s annual Christmas poem.

With the spirit of Christmas in the air, the story takes a magical turn as the expression of a father’s love and the mysteries of Christmas unfold.

Moore was an American educator and poet who was born in New York City and graduated from Columbia University in 1798. He is best remembered for his poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” which was first published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel on Dec. 23, 1823.

According to tradition, Moore wrote the poem in 1822 as a Christmas present to his children.

Bass, who toured with Theatre IV for 15 years before working in its main office, remembers children’s reactions to seeing live theater.

“Their mouths are open when they realize this is live, not a movie or video,” Bass said. “There is amazement, wonder and joy. That’s one of the glories of live theater.”

The musical tale lasts about an hour.

Theatre IV’s actors, who have been described as enthusiastic, energetic and friendly performers, will meet with the audience after their performance if the venue requests it.

Jerry Ledney, artistic director at Arcadia, said that after the show, the actors will come to the edge of the stage to pose for pictures and chat for a while.

“They’ll talk about the play since it’s something the children are familiar with,” Ledney said. “Each child is different. They might be intrigued with a costume or want to know how special effects were done.”

Ledney said the theater’s Coal-ala Bear Series for Children has been well received, with almost all the shows selling out.

Tickets remain available for “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” he stressed.

“We want to get kids interested in theater,” Ledney said. “Some adults wanted to see the show, too, and asked if it would be all right if they came. This puts you in the holiday spirit. It works for young and old.”

Ledney has worked with Theatre IV before at the Arcadia and was impressed with the company’s talent and show production.

“We have a committee that reviews children’s shows,” he said. “We like to spend time picking shows that are not repetitious and that kids recognize.”

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