A deeper look into Christmas Cards

My fellow readers (and new comers):

I am sorry I have left you all in the dark, waiting for the next installment of the Chatham Theater blog. I could say it is because I have been caught up with the holiday season, and work, and stage-managing at the theater, but they are excuses.

This blog entry holds a special place in my heart. Not only is it about one of my favorite people, but it’s about a show I worked on that surprised me how much I would miss it and about writing for theater, which I haven’t been able to do recently. This blog is about Glen Post and the process of creating the stories in this past holiday show, Christmas Cards.

1. Were you approached by Leslie (the producer) about doing some scenes for a Christmas sketch? Or was it something you brought to her? How did she know you might be into something like that?

John (the director) and I went for drinks one night to chat about a bunch of stuff, including some voice over work that he was giving me some advice about. He mentioned that he and Leslie had talked about the theatre being dark during the holidays and that it was “too bad”. We batted around some ideas, but he said that what they really wanted to do was something along the lines of an old time “Christmas Special;” those shows had some sketches in them. I said I’d be happy to write some stuff around different themes… From there I asked for a little guidance and the response was, “just write and we’ll see what develops…”

2. There were some very diverse scenes throughout the night. How many were created and thought of before you were asked about the show and how many came after the fact?

All of the ideas came up subsequent to the discussion on writing some scripts. Two ideas came from a co-worker who came in one day and said, “You know, you should do a play on…” and they were great seed ideas. The pieces I wrote were not really what he had described, but the concept was firmly planted based on his ideas. It was funny for me to be thinking Winter and Christmas during August. It was all my brain did for a month or so whether I was driving or sitting at the MAC.

3. How many re-writes had to happen before you felt the scripts were ready?

Only a couple came out of the brain without a rewrite. “The Haunting of Tannenbaum” and “At 8 years Old” were the hardest to write, but (they were) my favorite concepts – I think because they were more “theatre” than “sketch” (I don’t know if that makes sense, but it does to me). I was reworking those scenes right up until we opened, and John’s input was vital as the director finding a vision for the pieces. Tannenbaum was his fave piece, 8 Years Old was mine.

4. How long did it take you to write a scene (from start to finish?)

About an hour. Sometimes less, sometimes more. It (was) quite dependent upon how developed the characters were in my head. I don’t write plot as much as character. The plot is just kind of what happens when they get in a room together. So much of the writing happens when you are not actually writing – lines develop, characters take shape, storylines get clear…

5. Was the show everything you wanted it to be? Maybe more? 🙂

I was completely blown away (with) the finished product. Leslie saw to caring for details that never even occurred to me and the cast found the characters and made some of them better than I had even written them. I was especially happy with the String of Pearls scenes between Joelle and Scott who played an older lady with a wrapping table set up at the mall and the young man who comes to her hoping to have his gifts wrapped, but instead learns how to show his wife how much he loves her. Joe’s multi-media clips blew my doors off.

6. Are there talks about doing another holiday themed show?

There are. We have talked around Valentine’s Day and Halloween and even a Christmas Cards, two…

7. These scenes could easily be done anywhere. Do you think you will publish them for other groups to perform?

I’d really like to.

8. Almost every night was sold out!! Could a revival be in the works at some point?

The Chatham Players are very committed to the Christmas Carol show which they do every year (rightfully so; it is delightful) I’m hopeful that in another Christmas season in years to come, we will have the chance to pull out Pearl, Ali Baba, Old Man Winter, the cats, Gringo and Todd and give them another run to bring a smile and warm a few hearts…

Thanks Glen for taking the time to talk about this wonderful production!

And everyone: comment below your thoughts about Christmas Cards! We’d love to hear from you!