By Mary Boyle

Wisconsin-based actor, playwright, director, and author, James DeVita, is quite well-known in the theatre community; a core company member and literary manager at American Players Theater in Spring Green, he has been seen on stages all over Wisconsin, and his work has been performed on them, as well.  Though his theatre education is what brought him to Wisconsin, DeVita grew up in a large Irish fishing family in North Babylon on Long Island, and it is his family and hometown that has inspired his latest play, Christmas in Babylon.

Terry McShane (Tom Klubertanz) and his wife, Denise (Mary MacDonald Kerr), are typical Babylonians: working-class Irish with enough wit and sarcasm to make up for the lack of money and social graces.  A happily married couple, their greatest worry is their twenty something daughter, Abby (Sara Zientek), who just moved back home and can't seem to find her path; well ... that was their greatest worry, until Terry received an email from his ex-fiance, Kathleen O'Rourke (Laura Gray), who he hasn't heard from in over 25 years.  Now a successful Life Coach and the author of several self-help books, Kathleen is in town for a speaking engagement and to spend the holidays with her daughter, Kelly (Eva Nimmer), but she also arrives to reveal a secret that will rock the McShane's world.

Reading the description, the play sounds like a drama, and certainly DeVita is known for more serious works and classical theatre, but this play is very much a comedy, and a brilliant one, at that.  Working with his friend and longtime collaborator, C. Michael Wright, who is the Producing Artistic Director of Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, as well as the director of the play, the duo have managed to tell a story that is relatable to everyone, that contains sentiments that we all need to hear, and that is actually laugh-out-loud funny from start to finish. 

"The thing I love about the piece in particular is that it’s funny, but it also deals with a lot of issues we deal with today, like forgiveness and acceptance, and the fact that we’re all part of a larger family," said Wright. 

"In this play," DeVita explained, "Terry’s being challenged to think differently. And he resists it for a long time, or dismisses it, or makes fun of it, or this and that.  I think the world today is being challenged to think differently about everything, and it’s a lot for some people; it gets overwhelming. But, if you can allow yourself to think differently about something, you might be able to accept it.  It’d be a great world if we could all figure out how to do that. Myself included."

What makes Babylon work is the realness of the characters, who could not have been cast any better.  Despite their Long Island accents, you will recognize yourself and people you know in these people; their struggles are our struggles and, because they are so familiar, watching the play feels like reconnecting with old friends; combine that with the intimacy of the Broadway Theatre Center's black box Studio Theatre and incredibly engaging writing, and the time passes quite pleasantly and almost too quickly.  When all is said and done, Babylon is not the dramatic redemption of A Christmas Carol, nor the magical fantasy of The Nutcracker, yet it leaves you with a magical redemption; a simple, yet profound, peacefulness, like a quiet winter night by the fire.  This is a thoroughly modern holiday tale that has all the wisdom and heart of a classic.

CHRISTMAS IN BABYLON runs Nov. 21 to Dec. 23 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre, located at 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. For tickets, call 414.291.7800 or visit milwaukeechambertheatre.com.


About Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee's third largest non-musical theatre company, has long been recognized as producing first-rate, thought-provoking drama and a major contributor to the rich cultural and economic life of the community. One of the city's oldest,  professional theatre companies, MCT was co-founded in 1975 by two local actors, Montgomery Davis and Ruth Schudson, who envisioned a space where audiences could open their minds to new theatrical ideas and Milwaukee's theatre professionals could broaden their skills and apply their craft.  C. Michael Wright, a local director and actor, was appointed as the company's second artistic director in September of 2005 and, under his leadership, MCT has produced smaller, more intimate productions that feature emerging local talent,  expanding its programming in order to develop new voices, such as the annual Young Playwrights Series and the Montgomery Davis Play Development Series, honoring the company's founding artistic director. 

By Mary Boyle

In Tandem Theatre Company has developed a reputation for irreverent alternative holiday shows, and this year is no exception.  Do the holiday classics make you ill?  Are you looking for a grown up night out that doesn't include any solemn holiday spirit?  If National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is more your speed than It's A Wonderful Life, then Merry Chris-Mess is the holiday show for you!

Written by Anthony Wood, of Cudahy Caroler Christmas fame, with additional material by Lee Becker and Sean McKenna, Merry Chris-Mess is one act of silly songs and skits and one act of an It's A Wonderful Life parody called "It's a Life," interspersed with carols rewritten with south side flare by the Cudahy Carolers, including a little gem called, "O Come Let's Do A Fish Fry."  Nothing pertaining to Christmas is sacred: there's a dirty Santa, greedy elves, and toy commercials that go horribly wrong, but "It's A Life" is where the show really derails Christmas into the gutter.  Zach Thomas Woods is a brilliant Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, if Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey was a very crass and angry man.  Chris Flieller as Mr. Potter is just as crotchety as the Mr. Potter in the classic film, but with a massive flatulence problem.  You get the idea.

Directed by Jane Flieller, with music direction by Josh Robinson, Merry Chris-Mess features a very talented cast of 8, including the aforementioned Chris Flieller and Zach Thomas Woods, as well as Sean Duncan, Anna Otto, Liz Shipe, Gage Patterson, Emmitt Morgans, and Jocelyn Ridgely.  The Tenth Street Theatre is a really casual, relaxed venue, and audience members can take their drinks in the theatre to enjoy during the show, which adds to the fun, but this is definitely an adult show and not ideal for anyone who is easily offended by bad language or raunchy comedy  That being said, as long as you know what you're getting yourself into, you'll likely have a good time and plenty of laughs.

Merry Chris-Mess runs through January 6th at the Tenth Street Theatre, located at 628 N. 10th St. in Milwaukee.  Tickets are available by calling the Tenth Street Theatre Box Office at (414) 271-1371 or online at http://www.intandemtheatre.org.  Join In Tandem for a special New Year's Eve show, including a champagne toast, reception, and "fireworks."

​About In Tandem Theatre
In Tandem Theatre, a 501(c)3 nonprofit theatre located in Milwaukee, was founded in 1998 by Chris and Jane Flieller with the commitment to produce exciting, innovative and professional live theatre by presenting creative and eclectic programming that enlightens, inspires, provokes, and entertains a diverse audience in an intimate atmosphere. Its name, In Tandem Theatre, reflects the connection between audience and actor, the audience and the written word – an intimate experience obtained when live audiences are engaged in strong storytelling.  In Tandem Theatre is committed to creating innovative, exciting live theatre designed to inspire, enlighten, provoke and entertain a diverse audience through comedy, drama, musicals, classics and new works.