PLAY TWEAKS MOGUL OF CHRISTMAS PAST.Byline: Julio Martinez Julio Martinez is the weekly host of KPFK Radio’s Arts in Review, is a theatre critic for Daily Variety and Features Editor of Latin Heat Magazine. His articles have appeared in Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage West, L.A. Correspondent THE STAR-CROSSED exploits of L.A.'s legendary water czar William Mulholland William Mulholland (September 11 1855 – July 22 1935) was a water-services engineer in Southern California, United States. He was born in Belfast, Ireland (now Northern Ireland) and emigrated to New York City in the 1870s with his brother Hugh Mulholland and traveled are given a jaundiced jaun·diced adj. 1. Affected with jaundice. 2. Yellow or yellowish. 3. Affected by or exhibiting envy, prejudice, or hostility. jaundiced Adjective 1. , one-sided perusal in this sprightly spright·ly adj. spright·li·er, spright·li·est Full of spirit and vitality; lively; brisk. adv. In a lively, animated manner. spright revival of Theatre of NOTE's musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' ``A Christmas Carol.'' Whether Mulholland was a villain or a savior in the water wars that eventually led to the tragic collapse of the St. Francis Dam The St. Francis Dam was a concrete gravity-arch dam, designed to create a reservoir as part of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. The dam was located 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Los Angeles, California, near the city of Santa Clarita. in 1928 has been the subject of much speculation. Written by Bill Robens, staged by Kiff Scholl and featuring an energetic 19-member ensemble, ``A Mulholland Christmas Carol'' imaginatively speculates on real-life history, forcing an aging Mulholland (played by Greg Wall) to relive the shady events that brought water to arid Los Angeles. Aided by a four-member instrumental ensemble, led by music director/keyboardist Bill Newlin and featuring author/musician Robens on guitar, the production brings all the movers and shakers of the tale to comical life. Making impressive use of Theatre of NOTE's limited stage area, director Scholl seamlessly insinuates his large ensemble through Robens' simple but melodious songs, arranged by Newlin and choreographed by Leanne Fonteyn, that highlight Mulholland's visitations by the three specters. The ensemble exhibits more enthusiasm than true vocal or terpsichorean prowess, but that only serves to enhance the production's irreverent, tongue-in-cheek view of history. A MULHOLLAND CHRISTMAS CAROL - Three stars Where: Theatre of NOTE, 1517 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. When: 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday; through Dec. 20. Tickets: $15. Call (323) 856-8611. In a nutshell: The true-life shenanigans shenanigans Noun, pl Informal 1. mischief or nonsense 2. trickery or deception [origin unknown] of L.A. water baron William Mulholland fit quite nicely into Dickens' immortal tale. |
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