For a lot of performing arts organizations, the holiday season is when the cash cow gets milked for all it’s worth. Obviously this year it’s different. (If you’ve been in some sort of Rip Van Winkle scenario for the past nine months, congratulations. You might want to see if you can go back there for another six or so.)
The narrator-star of this show is Aunt Trudy (N. LaQuis Harkins), a recently widowed woman with no children of her own. An early shot of the mantelpiece in her house sets the tone: sympathy cards and holiday greetings sit in uneasy juxtaposition.
The story also contains several not-so-subtle nods to contemporary visions of social justice. Bob Cratchit (spoiler alert!) goes from put-upon office temp to the owner of Scrooge’s establishment by the end of the 60-minute show. (That the Cratchits are a Black family adds to the sense that Scrooge’s redemption arc isn’t just about himself, but about an entire social structure badly in need of addressing long-neglected injustices.)
Handbag has staged live shows with Jones’s Rip in the past, including 2010’s Halloween-themed The Rip Nelson Holiday Spooktacular and 2016’s Christmas incarnation. For this hell-in-a-handcart year, they’ve set the action in Rip’s ICU ward, where he’s recovering from COVID-19 and haunted by the notion that Ryan Seacrest will beat him to the seasonal celebrity buffet.
Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol, through 12/31: Wed 10 AM, Thu 7 PM, Fri 7 and 9 PM, Sat 3 and 7 PM, Sun 3 and 6 PM (all times CST). After 12/20, recorded version available for viewing anytime with purchase til 12/31, manualcinema.com, $15-$50.The Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special, through 1/17: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 7:30 and 9:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, handbagproductions.org, $25.
