A Child's Christmas in Wales

One Christmas was so much like another, in those years around the sea-town corner now and out of all sound except the distant speaking of the voices I sometimes hear a moment before sleep, that I can never remember whether it snowed for six days and six nights when I was twelve or whether it snowed for twelve days and twelve nights when I was six.

That's the opening of Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales, which is as entertaining and effervescent now as at its inception as a radio play back in 1955.

Yesterday I saw a new version of the play at the Footlight Theatre, with Clarence Felder as Thomas and musical interludes from three chamber musicians: Regina H. Helcher on flute, Timothy O'Malley on cello and the incredinly talented Nonoko Okado on violin.

They're all from Charleston House Concerts, and this was a rare example of a three-company production between CHC, Actors' Theatre of SC and The Footlight Players.

With lots of humor, instrumental versions of popular Christmas carols and a tight running time (just under an hour), the show reminded me of Thomas' genius with his rich descriptions of family traditions and snow-bound Welsh winters. It runs until Sunday, so get those tickets while they're hot.

Pictured: CHC cellist Timothy O'Malley, Clarence Felder and some kid with a Christmas present stuck to his chest.