Theatre Nebula invites you to experience the joy and wonder of "The Life and
Adventures of Santa Claus" at Cutting Hall in Palatine this weekend.
This imaginative and unusual look at the origins and formative years of Santa
Claus is based on the popular 1902 novel by Chicago resident L. Frank Baum,
the creator of "The Wizard Of Oz."
"Other Christmas stories pretty much deal with Santa as we know him, already
up at the North Pole making toys. This story starts when he was an infant and
shows how he became what he is now," said J. Spencer Greene, Theatre Nebula
executive director.
In fact, the North Pole isn't mentioned since much of the story takes places
in the magical Forest of Burzee, where an infant mortal child is found and
raised to young manhood by fairies and wood nymphs and protected by a master
woodcutter against the dreaded King Awgwa and his evil minions.
"It is good for the children because it has Santa Claus and there these funny
creatures and the language is so lyrical and beautiful," Greene said. "And
because it is L. Frank Baum, there is this dark side to it and underlying
meanings, so the adults really enjoy it as well."
Greene promises plenty of action in the one hour production that was created
as part of their professional Humanities Educational Theatre Company.
"There is a swordfight between the King of the Awgwas and the Master Woodsman,
but not Santa. He never gets violent with anybody," he said.
The production, which returns to Cutting Hall for the third year, presents a
young trim Claus, whose belly doesn't shake like a bowl full of jelly, who
makes toys by hand for local villagers.
A good Claus
"We wanted to keep Santa more real to show that he, as well as his morals, had
a basis in the human side," Greene said. "Humans are at a point where they are
pretty much grumpy and Santa comes along and shows them how to be nice to each
other."
The production was adapted for the stage by Nick Izzo of Palatine, who also
directed the play for the first two years.
"Nick was one of my former students at Fremd High School," said Greene. "He's
worked with Theatre Nebula through high school and college. He has been in
Chicago for a couple of years as an actor, director and quite a prolific
playwright."
The director's reins were turned over to Kristin Ann Foley of Hoffman Estates,
who knows the show quite well. She appeared in in the ensemble cast for "Santa
Claus" the last two years.
Jonathan Legat of Des Plaines returns as Claus.
"We did the 'Santa Claus' play the last two years with six actors playing all
the characters," said Greene. "Some of the ensemble were playing eight or more
characters and it got a bit crazy for costume changes, so we are up to eight
cast members this year and we have some children in it."
The child actors, Palatine brothers Justin
and Adam Brauer , each starred in
recent Theatre Nebula productions of "Over The Tavern" and "Today You Are A
Fountain Pen."
In addition to Rachel Rosellini from Palatine as Fairy Queen Zurline and
Christopher T. Pantelis of Palatine as the Master Woodsman, the ensemble cast
features Elodie Senetra from Palatine, Melanie Stanton from Mt. Prospect and
Brendan Foley of Hoffman Estates.
"Each year we try to expand on the sets, the costumes and the lighting," said
Greene. "It is a very unique telling of the story of Santa Claus based on the
L. Frank Baum book, and he is a bit out there."
