By Mariah Bowles
On the snowy evening of December 21, BYU Radio’s program “The Apple Seed” and local theatre group The Acting Company, based in Provo, joined together to produce December Stories, a collection of holiday short story classics. This delightful radio show centers around the stories “The Girl Who Trod on a Loaf” by Hans Christian Andersen, “Christmas Every Day” by William Dean Howells, and “The Rich Woman and the Poor Woman,” which is taken from the collection “Christmas Tales from Flanders.”
As if the intimate studio environment and strong voice acting performances aren’t enough, the show is also graced with the musical talent of BYU jazz piano professor Kurt Reeder. Although the live performance recording with a small studio audience was a one-time event, those interested in enjoying the show will soon be able to find the recording on BYU Radio’s website. As a Front Row Reviewer who enjoyed the cozy and intimate studio setting and saw the performance live, I can guarantee that it is one you will not want to miss!
“The Girl Who Trod on a Loaf” tells the story of a selfish, haughty girl by the name of Inga who runs into some unexpected trouble as a result of her misdeeds. However, the story is not without a message of redemption, forgiveness, and love. “The Rich Woman and the Poor Woman” speaks of the blessings of charity and the retribution that comes for those who seek only their own self-interest. Finally, “Christmas Every Day” is a hilarious and pointed remark on how it is the change of season and the passage of relatively uneventful days that make our special moments more meaningful. All of these stories are time-tested classics, and this production gives audiences the opportunity to enjoy them in a new and exciting way.
The environment in which the performance took place added to the overall warmth and joy that was present in the production. The studio was polished in appearance, while the warm lighting and hardwood floors had a comforting appeal. Host Sam Payne, along with The Acting Company director Suzanne Christensen, sat in simple black chairs in front of the studio audience. Actors Noah Kershisnik, Leah Kershisnik, and Stacy Wilk sat next to them, and all had their microphones and script stands ready. The piano that came to life at Reeder’s touch was nestled in behind them. I felt privileged to be a part of the small group of people who made up the studio audience; there were no more than ten of us. The performance took place in The Apple Seed Studio at the BYU Broadcasting Building, and I had no trouble finding parking or locating the venue.
The performances given by Payne, Christensen, Wilk, and the Kershiniks are precise and expressive. It was engaging to watch and hear them share the stories as a synchronized whole. In “The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf” specifically, the use of adding and removing different voices is a dynamic tool. For example, one actor starts sharing a certain event in the story. Then, one by one, the others join in until all actors are speaking together. This creates a great emotional and acoustic build that adds to the rise and fall of action in the story.
Another fun element that stood out to me was the utilization of Foley sound effects. These are used primarily in the story “The Rich Woman and the Poor Woman,” and they make for an engaging change of pace in the performance. Sounds include the jingling of sleigh bells, footsteps, scissors cutting, and a baby crying (this last one is my personal favorite.) Although there is one malfunction with the Foley tool used to create the creaking door sound effect, all of the other effects are precise and well-timed. Noah Kershisnik is the sole Foley artist for this piece, and it was fun to watch him reach for the various tools for each effect and execute them in a prepared manner. The facial expressions and body movements he made as he created the sound effects in-studio also contributed to the story for the studio audience.
The dead-pan humor utilized in “Christmas Every Day” was one of the most enjoyable parts of the evening. Radio and online listeners will find it refreshing to hear the performers deliver hilarious lines without forcing them or trying to make them funny. Instead, the actors rely on the comedy inherent in the script and jump into the lines with full purpose and seriousness. It’s also entertaining to hear the frustration and bewilderment in their narration and character voices as they lay out the difficulties that occur when a certain holiday keeps coming every day of the year.
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As far as the performers themselves, each contributes to the show in a unique way. Payne is a warm and welcoming host, and his vocal quality is easy and pleasant to listen to. Christensen not only contributes as a dynamic vocal performer but also as a voice of authority when she shares information about the history behind the ideas in the stories. Leah Kershisnik does the voice work for a lot of the characters who are young girls in the stories, and her attitude and vocal choices are very fitting. Wilk is among the most grounded in the group, and her performance comes from a very genuine place; it is not affected or put on at all. As mentioned above, Noah Kershisnik does a great job with sound effects, and his vocal acting and overall expression are very engaging as well. There are a few slip-ups as far as late pick-ups on synchronized lines, and one section that had to be repeated. However, the performers informed the studio audience during the short intermissions between sections of the show that the mistakes could be edited out. Thus for everyone listening to the recording, they likely won’t be evident.
Costumes (if you can call them that in a radio show) were simple and professional looking. All performers were dressed in neutral colors, mainly black and white, and their clothing was exactly suited for the vibe of the performance. Reeder, who was a little more casual, seemed a little out of place in his blue T-shirt. Again though, considering that this is a sound recording that people will be listening to, I see this as a very minor issue.
All wardrobe details aside, the music performed by Reeder is lovely. The classics “O Christmas Tree” and “Winter Wonderland” are familiar and yet exciting with the addition of jazz syncopation and flow. The most engaging piece, in my opinion, is the final one that Reeder plays, “Away in a Manger.” This piece is played with a gentleness that sets it apart from the others, and it really ushered in a sense of peace in the room. Overall, the choice of jazz piano adds to the classiness inherent in the performance.
I really enjoyed December Stories and found it to be exactly what I needed on a snowy winter night. The utilization of classic tales, the polished atmosphere, and the humor created by the actors was a lovely gift. It was like curling up with a blanket and a warm mug of hot chocolate. Furthermore, I feel that it was a good choice for the community in which it will be enjoyed. For all looking to feel a nostalgia that hearkens back to the early days of Christmas or anyone just wanting to enjoy a pleasant laugh, December Stories is for you. Be sure to check The Apple Seed section of the BYU Radio website over the next few days for a recording.
The Apple Seed and The Acting Company present December Stories
BYU Broadcasting, 701 E University Pkwy, Provo, UT 84602
December 21, 7:30 PM
Free Admission
866-662-9888
The Apple Seed on Facebook
The Acting Company on Facebook
December Stories 2017 Facebook event
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