We had a longstanding family understanding that nobody could sing (or hum or whistle or play) Christmas songs around the house except in the period between Thanksgiving Eve and the Ides of January. This was intended to preserve the unique seasonality of the music – and excuse us from overindulging in it for seven weeks a year. It’s like abstaining 45 weeks to rationalize a year-end binge.
A couple of weeks ago, the new piano teacher assigned our younger daughters to each learn one holiday tune really well, which has motivated them to more eagerly practice their lessons – but unceremoniously scrapped a family tradition.
All that is to grudgingly admit that it’s that time of year again. And amid the holiday traditions comes refreshing variety, including a new production featuring Milwaukee’s own John McGivern.
“A Kodachrome Christmas” makes its Milwaukee premiere Wednesday, Nov. 16 and runs through New Year’s Eve at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.
From the web: “Enter the colorful world of cable access TV hostess Earlene Hoople, the self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Rural Media,’ as she tapes her last Christmas Special in front of a live audience. A hilarious and heartwarming holiday romp from writer/director Pat Hazell of ‘The Wonder Bread Years.’”
McGivern, who plays Earlene Hoople, also starred in “The Wonder Bread Years” at the Marcus Center three years ago.
“A Kodachrome Christmas” tickets run $38-$42. And its title has for now mercifully displaced the Christmas tunes in my head with an old song from Paul Simon.