I missed the last time‘Revels’ (Cambridge) featured some Indian dancing. I do get to see a fair amount of Indian dancing in New Hampshire, but I just have a feel that there will be a different je ne sais quoi in a Revels setting with ‘David Coffin‘ clapping off-stage.
I am HOPING that I can go. I haven’t got tickets yet, but I will as soon as I have a better idea as to what my week looks like.
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.
I am glad I went. I went to my first ‘Revels North’ midwinter Revels, at ‘The Hop’, in Dartmouth, in 1998 or 1999. I then went yearly, without fail till 2015. By then I had also started going to Revels in Cambridge. YES, TWO REVELS EACH YEAR. That will also be the case this year. I already have MY front-row balcony seat in Cambridge. {SMILE}
But, I wanted to see the ‘new’, Revels North — having gone to one of their events in the Summer. I particularly wanted to see their Artistic Director (fellow Brit) ‘Alex Cummings‘ strut his stuff. I was not disappointed. Instead, I was rewarded. He & ‘Laura Swift’, the Dance Director & violin maestro, made the show special.
Alex Cummings is {nearly} as good as legendary, 40-year Cambridge Revels veteran ‘David Coffin‘! I had to add that “{nearly}” because I am sure that if I didn’t, ‘Thor’, the Protector of Revels, will strike me down with his hammer. Last year I thought that ‘Ricardo Holguin‘ would be a good replacement for David — if & when he ever retires. Now … we have Alex!
This was a Highlights Reel with all the sure-fire Revels essentials showcased. It worked. It was fun. Glad I went.
