{"id":5059673,"date":"2023-11-28T11:23:15","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T16:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctlatinonews.com\/?p=5059673"},"modified":"2023-11-28T11:23:15","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T16:23:15","slug":"christmas-on-the-rocks-returns-with-a-new-spin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/ctln\/2023\/11\/28\/christmas-on-the-rocks-returns-with-a-new-spin\/","title":{"rendered":"“Christmas On The Rocks” Returns With a New Spin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

HARTFORD\u2014TheaterWorks Hartford\u2019s annual Christmas On The Rocks<\/em> returns for its 11th anniversary this winter with a brand new story that expands this offbeat collection of retold holiday tales, starring Harry Bouvy, Jen Cody, and Richard Kline\u2014making his TheaterWorks Hartford debut as the \u201cbartender\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developed and directed by Producing Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero, this Connecticut holiday tradition of twisted Christmas tales premiers on November 29 and runs through December 23. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Richard Kline, known as \u2018Larry\u2019 on the classic sitcom Three\u2019s Company<\/em>, was in The Barrington Stage Co production of Cabaret <\/em>this past summer. Photo courtesy of TheaterWorks Hartford.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI grew up watching Three\u2019s Company<\/em>, so it\u2019s especially great to have Richard \u2018behind the bar\u2019 this year!\u201d Ruggiero said in a press release. \u201cHis work on the series, as well as in many sitcoms that defined my childhood, shows he has the craft and sense of humor to bring something new and exciting to the role.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christmas On The Rocks<\/em> is a collaboration of seven playwrights\u2014Judy Gold, Jeffrey Hatcher, Jenn Harris, Jacques Lamarre, Edwin S\u00e1nchez, and Matthew Wilkas. The holiday parody follows a bartender at a local dive bar working on Christmas Eve. He\u2019s surprised by a busy night when a series of unexpected guests walk in: children from our favorite Christmas specials and movies now all grown up.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barbie\u2019s \u201c<\/strong>Midge\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Joins This Year\u2019s Performance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Award-winning Playwright Edwin S\u00e1nchez<\/a> co-wrote the performance\u2019s latest addition, \u201cA Smidge of Midge\u201d, with Jacques Lamarre for this winter\u2019s show, inviting another nostalgic character to this eccentric holiday reunion. S\u00e1nchez and Lamarre give a new perspective on the controversy that has followed Barbie\u2019s best friend, Midge. She was discontinued after Mattel created a version of the doll that was pregnant, which angered parents who said that the doll was promoting teen pregnancy and was a \u201cbad role model\u201d, S\u00e1nchez explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe bring in Midge, who\u2019s pregnant, and she\u2019s been disinvited to the Barbie Holiday Spectacular but she\u2019s still the most optimistic doll on the planet,\u201d S\u00e1nchez said in a phone call. \u201cIt\u2019s her having the baby, finally having something of her own, because everything belongs to Barbie and Barbie World. So, it\u2019s how Midge finally has the baby and finally has something that is uniquely hers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Holiday Performance of Comedic Relief and Nostalgic Solace<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

S\u00e1nchez also wrote one of the original playlets\u2014\u201cStill Nuts About Him\u201d\u2014in Christmas On The Rocks<\/em>. The scene follows the Nutcracker\u2019s grown-up Clara as she reaches her breaking point one Christmas Eve as she processes the harsh realities of aging and heartache over her marriage with the Nutcracker. Much of S\u00e1nchez\u2019s work\u2014like La Bella Familia<\/em>, which won the 2011 National Latino Playwriting Award\u2014explores dark and emotional themes within complex characters, and Clara is no exception. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy plays are usually on the darker side. Even the Nutcracker one has its darkness to it, for all the humor, it has darkness. We\u2019re trying to take short Christmas stories and sort of spin them on their head. The characters are funny but they\u2019re depressed too. So, it\u2019s trying to find a balance between the two things,\u201d S\u00e1nchez said. \u201cI still managed to keep me in there. I mean, Clara, it\u2019s lighthearted and\u2026it\u2019s funny but it is a woman going through a nervous breakdown.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Christmas On The Rocks<\/em> looks to provide audience members comedic relief and nostalgic solace during the holiday season, S\u00e1nchez explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe scenes are very funny and there\u2019s still heart at the end of it. For all the humor, there was heart, but it\u2019s not your typical Christmas play. That\u2019s for sure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about the performance and purchase tickets at twhartford.org<\/a> or by calling 860-527-7838. The show runs for 100 minutes with no intermission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Publisher\u2019s Notes:<\/em><\/strong> CT Latino News is proud to partner with TheaterWorks Hartford<\/a> in supporting the state\u2019s Arts and Culture. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HARTFORD\u2014TheaterWorks Hartford\u2019s annual Christmas On The Rocks returns for its 11th anniversary this winter with a brand new story that 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Hartford\u2019s annual Christmas On The Rocks returns for its 11th anniversary this winter with a brand new story that […]","authors":[{"term_id":208,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"ct-latino-news","display_name":"CT Latino 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