I was thrilled to attend a matinee performance of The Christmas Revels at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre today.  Although I lived in Boston for eight years during the 80s and worked at Harvard University for three of those years, this was my first Revels.  I sat in the orchestra section, next to the lighting control board and fairly near the stage, on those classic wooden seats, though I might have been able to see more if I had chosen a seat on the mezzanine level.  No matter — the space feels intimate and the acoustics are excellent.

As this is the 45th year that Revels has been in existence, it has its own history, which you can read about on their website.  The organization is best known for producing the Christmas Revels:

As in the very first year, all productions include traditional and ritual dances, processionals, carols and drama. Certain touchstone elements remain the same from year to year, but the settings, place and time change annually encompassing an ever-broadening range of cultures.

This year the theme was Christmas in Wales, which everyone agrees was an inspired choice, as Wales is an ancient nation, with a long tradition of poetry and dance.  The Welsh people love their traditional hymns and carols, their folk songs, their dances, their games and theatricals.  In the program, Artistic Director Paddy Swanson praises Musical Director George Emlen and Co-Author Susan Cooper for weaving these elements into an amazing tapestry of songs and stories.  The cast this afternoon included Master of Ceremonies David Coffin, professional players Cristi Catt, Emma Crane Jaster, Noni Lewis, and Billy Meleady, in addition to the Cardigan Chorus, the Caerphilly Children, the Towyn Teens, the Castell Emlyn Band, the Pinewoods Morris Men, and the Cambridge Symphonic Brass Ensemble.

Part 1 of the program included traditional Welsh melodies, hymns, poetry, dances, a children’s nonsense song, carols, and of course audience participation in three “All Sing” numbers.  After a short intermission, Part 2 included more carols, dances, folk songs, riddles, a play, more poetry, and we in the audience, together with the cast, again sang three numbers: a hymn, a round, and the Sussex Mummers’ Carol.

I must say that I would be hard-pressed to pick any favorites.  I did enjoy the dancing, especially the sword dance and the Morris dance which used the Shaker melody “Simple Gifts”; the Welsh red dragon battling the English white dragon was quite entertaining; and the dramatization of the myth of Taliesin was particularly fascinating (I found this synopsis from the BBC).  I suppose my favorite songs were the ones I knew best: Dona Nobis Pacem (“God Grant Us Peace”) and Llwyn Onn, which I learned in childhood as “The Ash Grove.”

My older niece sang in the chorus, so after the performance, the two of us made our way through the rainy but mild afternoon to the trendy Harvard Square Clover restaurant for a late lunch.  The food was delicious, and it was good to sit and relax and talk with her about the show.