by Anura Guruge
on December 29, 2022
All ‘Revels‘, by definition, are GOOD. That is a given.
‘Cambridge Revels‘, by definition, are ALWAYS BRILLIANT.
‘Cambridge Revels’, the mothership of Revels, just puts so much thought, planning, production & planning into it, each year. They are, & they know it, a class a part.
There is Revels & then there is ‘Cambridge Revels’.
The 2022 production, the “Tales from Ellis Island“, — which I was privileged to see yesterday (i.e., December 28) was no exception. It was brilliant. Immaculately produced. Wow. And the talent.
Prior to the show, an 80-year old usher, an ex-linguistic professor, who had been involved with ‘Cambridge Revels’ since 1978, happened to tell me that ‘they’ felt a moral obligation to convey a message of ‘social responsibility’ in addition to entertaining the audience. And WOW did they do that with this performance!
This show, with its ‘Ellis Island’ theme was the MOST topical & POLITICAL Revels I ever remember seeing & I have seen more than 25 Revels going back at least 25 years.
This show addressed: immigration, (new) immigration laws, Jewish assimilation, Mexican appreciation AND the ‘unintended consequences of giving power to a person who lacks a conscious’!
Wow. It was bit like a segment from the ‘January 6 Hearings‘.
Good job that there are no Republicans within a 50-mile radius of Cambridge.
It was all very well done. Bravo.
Nearly all the performers, on stage, wore masks.
Keeping COVID under check was still a big challenge. I appreciate. Having performers in masks was a downer. But, they did good.
The Sword Dance that involved some sword SKIPPING was outstanding.
The ‘Horn Dance’ & “Mummer’s Play” was a bit subdued. I suspect they have had issues getting folks given COVID.
But, in the end, it was a RESOUNDING SUCCESS. Kudos & Bravo.
I loved it.
