INDIANAPOLIS — Southern, gospel-flavored bluegrass music and a good helping of physical comedy combine to create a perfect, family-friendly evening in Beef & Boards’ latest production, “Sanders Family Christmas.”
Set on Christmas Eve 1941, the play brings the audience into the action playing the role of a church congregation at Mount Pleasant Baptist in some unspecified mountain town during the dead of winter.
The hopelessly underachieving Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe presides over the affair as the singing Sanders family comes to town for a night of Christmas carols, gospel toe-tappers and “witnessin’.”
“Sanders Family Christmas” is the sequel to the first Sanders family saga, “Smoke on the Mountain.”
Although “Sanders Family Christmas” is technically a play, guests are treated to a concert as seemingly every third sentence is followed by a short but lively bluegrass hymn.
The story follows the Sanders as they fiddle and sing on the eve before Dennis Sanders (played by Andrew M. Ross) leaves to join the war effort.
Although much of the play is a comedy, Director Jeff Stockberger achieves some truly poignant moments as Vera Sanders (played by Lynne Perkins) prepares to send her son Dennis off to battle.
Just before the play becomes a bit melodramatic, Vera and Dennis’ two weeping sisters quickly return to their comedic roles and storm off the stage in fits of hilarious hysteria at the thought of their only boy going off to war.
At the top of the play, most of the jokes were predictable and a bit lame. The most obvious example is that of the role of June Sanders (Sarah Hund), the elder Sanders sister who wasn’t blessed with a voice like her kin.
“I don’t sing, I sign,” she tells the congregation, holding her hands up in clumsy American Sign Language. The only problem, she admits, is that she’s yet to perform at a place where any deaf people are in the congregation.
She fills the rest of the play attempting to bang away at secondary instruments like the tambourine, as the rest of her family masterfully fiddles and strums guitars. The underdog’s exaggerated faces and clumsy approach to signing seems a bit obvious and less than funny initially. But as the play goes on, June becomes lovable, and her failed attempts at being a great performer become comical.
So it goes with most of the jokes in “Sanders Family Christmas.”
There’s certainly no comedic genius behind the script, but the jokes begin to break you down, and eventually, laughter is filling the theater.
You laugh, not because the jokes are original or especially funny, but because you know they’re coming, and when they arrive, it’s like a Pavlovian response. You’ve been conditioned to laugh.
The most impressive aspect of the play is the actors’ performances. Delivering lines and singing professionally while plucking a bass or running a bow across a violin flawlessly is no easy feat.
While this play is a great family experience, it is reserved for those who have some appreciation for bluegrass and gospel music.
Those who do not enjoy the music genre will eventually become bored with the performance and its nonstop flood of Jesus-lovin’, Bible-thumpin’ tunes.
There are 31 songs performed throughout the play, including a few Christmas favorites.
Yes, it’s a bit odd to watch a play set at Christmastime in the middle of July, but the Sanders family is odd, so it fits.
Who will like this? Those who attend church, prefer jokes without any cynicism or vulgarity, and listen to gospel music for fun.
Who won’t like this? Those who prefer their jokes dark, their music edgy and their plays dramatic.
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If you go
“Sanders Family Christmas”
Where: Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 N. Michigan Road, Indianapolis
When: Matinee and evening shows through Aug. 22
Tickets: $34 to $57 and include Chef Odell Ward’s specially prepared buffet, fruit and salad bar, unlimited coffee, tea and lemonade. Discount for children and groups of 20 or more.
Info: www.beefandboards.com or (317) 872-9664
Home News (ADS ONLY)
July 30, 2009
In Review: “Sanders Family” a great family pick
Christian values dominate holiday musical
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