Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge
at Irvine High School

Reviewed on December 4, 2014

Alexis MacAdam
San Juan Hills High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Irvine High brings hilarity to the classics with "Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge"

Bringing the ultimate twist to beloved holiday stories, "Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge" spoofs many well-known characters and storylines. With irrational characters amongst a sensible background, Irvine High School delivers this merrily disheveled comedy with ease.

Setting the tone of this quick-paced and farcical toned play is Zena Khesbak as The Ghost. Khesbak gives a constantly enjoyable performance with her overly physical and comedic gestures and facial expressions. Her constant engagement when not in the spotlight is also commendable. Nathan Brown as Ebenezer Scrooge compliments Khesbak's wild movements with his pessimistic frowning face and excellent comedic timing.

Perhaps the foil of the piece is Mrs. Bob Cratchit, portrayed by Sarah Kessler. Kessler's dry and condescending sense of humor starkly contrasts the optimism of her family. Her endearing husband, Bob Cratchit, is portrayed by Preston Fox. Fox's puppy-like obedience to his boss, Scrooge, and distinctive physical choices make the husband and wife a hilarious contradicting duo.

As Tiny Tim and his sister Little Nell, Patrick Murphy and Jeri Beaulac are the fragile objects of much of Mrs. Bob Cratchit's criticisms. Both Murphy and Beaulac lower their heads in cowardice every time their mother yells condescending words towards them, which assists in the hilarity behind the absurdity.

The entire ensemble does an admirable job at maintaining motivation throughout the production. While articulation and pace of speech encounter minor setbacks, each member of the cast demonstrates stage presence and commitment to the piece.

Assistant Stage Managers Joshua Hoover and Hava Sarpas are lead by Stage Manager Eric DePalma to produce fluidly executed set transitions that allow the production to move flawlessly from scene to scene. Further enhancing the chaotic nature of the play, Taylor Mayer and Brianna Acuna's costume design features a mix of time period and modern pieces that accentuate the characters' disarrayed nature. With glittering makeup by Maya Brembilla, Zena Khesbak is easily distinguishable as a supernatural being.

Accompanied by an excellent understanding of the comedic style of the play, Irvine High produces a uniquely entertaining production of "Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge".

Sarah Pierce
Orange Lutheran High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

"Laughing All the Way" at Irvine High School's Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of the most popular, traditional stories of the holiday season, but what happens when this classic tale is turned entirely upside down?

Tony award-winning playwright Christopher Durang's twisted parody of A Christmas Carol, Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge, follows the classic character of disgruntled and materialistic Ebenezer Scrooge and the minor, sweet character of Mrs. Bob Cratchit. However, in this version, Mrs. Bob Cratchit is a dry-witted, irritable leading lady, driven to suicidal thoughts by her life in 1840s London.

Irvine High School rings in the Christmas holiday with a delightful and humorous production. The technical aspects completed by students, including props, set painting, makeup, and stage management work together cohesively and contribute to the overall success of the show.

The Ghost (Zena Khesbak) struggles to fulfill her otherworldly duties of taking Scrooge on his life-changing journey while commanding the stage as the narrator of the story with her extravagant gestures and lively charisma. Khesbak exhibits excellent comedic timing throughout her transformations between the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.

Nathan Brown is a standout as Ebenezer Scrooge, fully committed to his grouchy character. Brown delivers the iconic "Bah humbug!" with gusto and demonstrates Scrooge's transformation at the end of the show. However, in this piece, his transformation is accepting his cynical, greedy nature.

Also eventually accepting their cynical nature is Mrs. Bob Cratchit. Sarah Kessler amuses as the grumbling, sassy mother. Kessler has a great sense of dry humor and comedic timing. Kessler constantly denounces the Cratchit family. Preston Fox delights as the overly optimistic head of the household Bob Cratchit. Fox's pep and warmth serve as a humorous contrast to Kessler's condescension and sarcasm. Fox maintains his character and his enthusiasm throughout the show.

The entire Cratchit family works well together as a small ensemble. All of the members, including Tiny Tim (Patrick Murphy) and Little Nell (Jeri Beaulac), have strong individual characters.

The ensemble displays the overly energetic, stereotypical Christmas spirit that adds humor to Scrooge and Mrs. Bob Cratchit's disdain for the season. The ensemble's liveliness is infectious and all members have an understanding of Durang's humor.

Overall, Irvine High School's production of Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge is a "holly, jolly" good time.

Kiersten Rummell
Orange Lutheran High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas at Irvine High School


With crazy characters and comedic moments that draw you in, Irvine High School brings the work of Christopher Durang to a whole new level in their creative adaptation of Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge.

In this slapstick spin-off show, the classic story of Ebeneezer Scrooge is retold with many new characters including the wild and entertaining Cratchit family.

Irvine High School's production is anchored by the excellent performances brought forth by the 28-person cast. Every student, whether behind the scenes or in the spotlight, brilliantly contributes to the success of the show and helps convey the comedic story that is Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge.

Many of Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge's characters are brought to life through the hard work and talent of the dedicated cast and crew. Zena Khesbak as "The Ghost" proves a crowd-pleaser through her fun flare and entertaining animation. Her performance displays her amazing acting ability, versatility, comedic genius, and strong stage presence. Other standout performer's include Sarah Kessler as "Mrs. Bob Cratchit" for her solid acting ability, witty banter and comedic timing, Preston Fox as "Mr. Bob Cratchit" for his committed, jolly presence and excellent comedic timing, and Nathan Brown as "Ebeneezer Scrooge" for his excellent comedic timing that won't leave you saying "bah humbug."

The whole cast exhibits genuine commitment to their roles through their high-energy scenes and riveting performances. Although diction is sometimes unclear, the casts' acting and notable devotion to their roles override. Some standout supporting actors include Zoya Ansari as "Monica" for her bold character choices and commitment to her role, Patrick Murphy as "Tiny Tim" for his genuine acting ability and Marjorie Mueller as "Nice Mrs. Bob Cratchit/Hedvig/Serena" for her charming presence and commendable versatility.

Time-period authentic sets, dazzling make-up, effective props, and fluid stage management are just some of the many technical aspects, created by students, which heighten the level of success for their production. Eric Palmer's stage management team produced seamless and exciting scene changes with colorful lighting queues reflecting Ebeneezer Scrooge and the Ghost's switches between the past, present, and future. In addition, Kaj Seaney provided wonderful props that added to each scene ranging from Scrooge's elegant upholstered chair to the Cratchit's comical Christmas tree covered in hangers and chains.

Irvine High School's version of Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge is an entertaining, heart-warming experience that truly captivates all audiences.