Perhaps Peter Rothstein's documentary musical "All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914" will become a perennial part of the holiday season at Asolo Repertory Theatre. It certainly makes a powerfully welcome and moving return at The Ringling's Historic Asolo Theater. Rothstein pieced together nearly three dozen patriotic and holiday songs, which are mixed in with comments from dozens of British, Scottish, Irish, French and German soldiers that give us a sense of their experiences on the front lines in World War I and the events that led to an unexpected truce on Christmas Eve. Soldiers emerged from their trenches, exchanged cigarettes and chocolates, and joined together in Christmas carols in a variety of languages. They became human, not faceless enemies. How do you fight your friends when the realities of war return?
It's a powerful show built around gorgeous a capella singing in multi-part harmonies arranged by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach. "All is Calm" became an annual production when Rothstein was leading Theatre Latte Da, where the show was first produced in 2007. Some of the cast members have been performing the show for years, and most of this year's company return from last year. It's a terrific holiday treat.
Photos by Adrian Van Stee
Here's the review I wrote last year for the Herald-Tribune.
