A Parody in a Pear Tree TheatreWorks New Milford Opens the Outrageously Funny ‘Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge’ on December 5

NEW MILFORD, CONN. (November 24, 2008) – For the holiday season, TheatreWorks New Milford is proud to announce the debut of Christopher Durang’s hilarious holiday parody of “A Christmas Carol,” MRS. BOB CRATCHIT’S WILD CHRISTMAS BINGE, on December 5, for a four-week run.

Durang, author of such cutting-edge comedies as “Beyond Therapy” and “Sister Mary Ignatius,” focuses on one of Dickens’ most insignificant characters — poor Bob Cratchit’s wife. One day she flips, takes to drink, and tries to throw herself off a bridge, running headlong into the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, as well as the curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge. But this time around something is wrong with the Ghosts’ mystic powers, putting Scrooge and Mrs. Bob on a hilarious collision course with other Christmas classics such as “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Gift of the Magi,” and many more.

“This play is out and outright silly in the funniest way possible,” said Director Beth Bonnabeau-Harding of New Milford. “Durang turned every syrupy tale he could think of on its ear, be it holiday-oriented or not, classic or contemporary, to create an absolutely outrageous situation that you have to check your brain at the door to enjoy.”

“The show really is a crazy crowd-pleaser for both young and old,” said Producer and President of TheatreWorks, Richard Pettibone. “Younger audience members will love the physical, slapstick comedy; more mature audiences will appreciate the skewering of so many of the Holiday’s ‘sacred cows.’”

MRS. BOB CRATCHIT’S WILD CHRISTMAS BINGE features some of the area’s finest actors: John Taylor (Sherman); Susan Abrams (Warren); Regan Flynn (Prospect); Jim Lones (Oxford); Viv Berger (Southbury); Regina Sweeney (Mahopac, NY); Glenn Couture (Ansonia); M.J. Hartell and Tracy Hurd (both Brookfield); and Lainey Ford, Lori Larson and Ken Greiter (both New Milford).

The production crew includes Technical Director, Scott Wyshynski (Washington); Stage Manager, Lainey Ford (New Milford); and Set Designer, Glenn R. Couture (Ansonia).

MRS. BOB CRATCHIT was commissioned by the City Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and premiered there on November 7, 2002. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called the play “a rollicking parody…splendid.”

MRS. BOB CRATCHIT’S WILD CHRISTMAS BINGE runs December 5,6 12,13,14 19,20,21, and 31. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, with 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinees on December 14 and 21. Tickets for all shows are $20.00 for reserved seating. PLEASE NOTE: THE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 AND SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 SHOWS ARE SOLD OUT.

On New Year’s Eve, December 31, at 8:00 p.m. there will be one gala fundraising performance with hors d’oeuvres and an open bar of wine, beer, and soft drinks. Tickets for this event are $50.

On Thursday, December 4, senior citizens are invited to a free dress rehearsal at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, December 11 at 8:00 p.m. is TheatreWorks’ Pay-What-You-Want night. At this performance, you name the price for your ticket. Reservations can be made online at WWW.THEATEWORKS.US or by calling the box office at (860) 350-6863.

TheatreWorks is an award-winning, regional theatre company located on 5 Brookside Avenue, just off Route 202 (next to the CVS), in New Milford, Conn.