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I got the above, a few days ago, in an e-mail. It was sad & distressing. After a 7- or 8-year break, I did go to the ‘Christmas Revels‘ by ‘Revels North’ in 2023. I, as I had done for a few years in the past, went to BOTH ‘Revels North’ & ‘Revels Cambridge‘.
Revels North, way back, c. 1998, was how I got into Revels — now a cherished, much longed for annual ritual. They used to do GRAND show.
This is a shame.
Revels Cambridge is THRIVING. They are just selling $300 tickets for a PUB event! As you might know I, a few weeks ago, attended their Spring Equinox event. That was good.
I feel bad for Revels North. They are in bad shape.
I hope they can get out of the ‘hole’ they are in. The Christmas Revels is the SHOWCASE for any Revels outfit. IF you don’t stage that, you will have trouble attracting attention.
But, I wish Revels North all the very best. I might even contact ‘Alex’ (who I know) & have a chat.
Click image to access the YouTube video or use EMBED below.
YouTube put up this video as a RECOMMENDATION for me, this morning — given that I invariably watch ALL the ‘Revels‘ videos that they recommend. I am a sucker for Revels and YouTube panders to this affliction.
The SARI look was UNMISTAKABLE. Indian. I had never seen or heard of an Indian-themed Christmas Revels. But it is BRILLIANT. They should do another.
This was from 1997. That was the YEAR BEFORE I went to my first Revels — with ‘Revels North‘ in ‘Dartmouth‘. It would be another 17-years before I started going to Cambridge. So, this was before my time with Revels.
Great to see the GREAT ‘David Coffin‘ as a dashing young man. I got to meet him, in person, in December. This was great. Made my day. Check it out.
I have always maintained that ALL ‘Revels‘, by definition, are GOOD (& yesterday’s Revels in Cambridge was probably the 25th I have attended between Cambridge & ‘Revels North‘ (and this was my 2nd Revels of the year)).
So, it was GOOD. Of that there can never be any doubt or debate.
So, when I ‘review’ a Revel, all I am still always in the SPECTRUM of the GOOD. So, yes, we have GOOD, better, best, memorable, exceptional, outstanding, gob-smacking etc.
Yesterday’s show, the last of 2023, in my reckoning was middle-of-the GOOD spectrum. Better than just plain good, but not as good as some of the past ones at Cambridge (and the ‘Venetian’ & ‘Arcadian’ readily spring to mind).
“The Feast of Fools” was very powerful & compelling on the acting/performance & stagecraft/prop departments. Tour de force. But, in my opinion, it was a tad light on the MUSICAL front. Yes, of course, there was plenty of music, song & dance — but there was NOTHING totally captivating.
Yes, there was a delectable ‘Peasant Dance‘, with gypsy music, but it was all instrument.
The incomparable M.C. & maestro ‘David Coffin‘ did NOT appear to play as bigger role as he normally does. That might be the crux of it.
I got to meet & shake hands with David BEFORE the show. WOW! First time I actually got to meet him. I had (through some contacts I have in the ‘Front Office’) managed to get a copy of my ‘Christmas Quiz‘ book delivered to him. He came upstairs looking to see who sent it down. He had it in his hand. So, I knew he was looking for I. That was SPECIAL.
Though it contained all the mandatory Revels ‘elements’ we did NOT have a SWORD DANCE this year. Instead we had a STICK dance. Not the same. I love the Cambridge sword dances.
The King had enormous presence & bearing. Quite the guy. But …
C’est la vie. It was still GOOD. Better than good, just not way up there. SMILE.
Click to ENLARGE. Click here to BUY TICKETS.Click to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE.
Tickets went on sale today. I was waiting. I pounced.
This year I wanted to be on the aisle. Last year I had trouble getting out for the ALL IMPORTANT ‘Lord of the Dance‘ parade. By being on the aisle I will NOT have any problems this year. Still, FRONT ROW — upper balcony. Best view of the entire stage.
There was no Christmas Revels in 2020 & the performance I had tickets to in 2021, also got cancelled because of COVID. So, I missed Revels in 2020 & 2021 due to COVID (one way or another). But, prior to that, at least for 7 years running I have sat in one of those seats AA 7 or AA 8. I make sure I am one of the first to hit the box office just to bag those seats.
So, I have got mine. I hope this year’s performance does NOT get cancelled. Fingers crossed. I have missed Revels. That is what I missed the most in 2020! Way back, like in April I was already worrying that Revels would get cancelled. It was like so much else.
Well, here is to Revels (CAMBRIDGE) 2023. Looking forward to it.
There are some great items. My favorite is the “Walk-On in Sussex Mummers Carol during Midwinter Revels 2023” (below). I knew that it will go for big bucks & I appear to have got that right. I am sure it will end up going upwards of $800.
It is a GREAT CAUSE too. So, I wanted to make sure I brought it to your attention. Please check it out. You will enjoy browsing through the 4 online pages.
Click to ENLARGE. View from my seat, BEFORE the show. (I ADHERE to the rules.)
I already RAVED enough about this in my Dec. 29, 2022 post (i.e., the day after I attended). So, I won’t reiterate all of that again, bar saying it was outstandingly good.
This short (i.e., 1.23 min) video produced by them does a very nice job of capturing the highlights. I have watched it many, many times already & I will confess I love ‘The Sussex Mummers Carol‘ (the last song they performed) — which is used as the soundtrack.
This show, with its ‘Ellis Island’ theme was the MOST topical & POLITICAL Revels I ever remember seeing & I have seen more than 25 Revels going back at least 25 years.
This show addressed: immigration, (new) immigration laws, Jewish assimilation, Mexican appreciation AND the ‘unintended consequences of giving power to a person who lacks a conscious’!
‘Cambridge Revels’, the mothership of Revels, just puts so much thought, planning, production & planning into it, each year. They are, & they know it, a class a part.
There is Revels & then there is ‘Cambridge Revels’.
The 2022 production, the “Tales from Ellis Island“, — which I was privileged to see yesterday (i.e., December 28) was no exception. It was brilliant. Immaculately produced. Wow. And the talent.
Prior to the show, an 80-year old usher, an ex-linguistic professor, who had been involved with ‘Cambridge Revels’ since 1978, happened to tell me that ‘they’ felt a moral obligation to convey a message of ‘social responsibility’ in addition to entertaining the audience. And WOW did they do that with this performance!
This show, with its ‘Ellis Island’ theme was the MOST topical & POLITICAL Revels I ever remember seeing & I have seen more than 25 Revels going back at least 25 years.
This show addressed: immigration, (new) immigration laws, Jewish assimilation, Mexican appreciation AND the ‘unintended consequences of giving power to a person who lacks a conscious’!
Wow. It was bit like a segment from the ‘January 6 Hearings‘.
Good job that there are no Republicans within a 50-mile radius of Cambridge.
It was all very well done. Bravo.
Nearly all the performers, on stage, wore masks.
Keeping COVID under check was still a big challenge. I appreciate. Having performers in masks was a downer. But, they did good.
The Sword Dance that involved some sword SKIPPING was outstanding.
The ‘Horn Dance’ & “Mummer’s Play” was a bit subdued. I suspect they have had issues getting folks given COVID.
But, in the end, it was a RESOUNDING SUCCESS. Kudos & Bravo.
