'CAROL'S DREAM' CONJURES CHRISTMAS MAGIC (DANCE REVIEW)

Children have no difficulty believing magical things happen at Christmas. With spirited dance, colorful costumes and engaging music and drama, "Carol's Dream" charmingly recreates that atmosphere of wonder and enchantment for viewers of any age.

Two performances of Cape Girardeau native Dana Goodin Vanoni's theatrical dance based on Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" were presented for area schoolchildren Thursday at Academic Auditorium.

"Carol's Dream" will be performed for the public at 7:30 tonight, at 7 Saturday night and again at 2 p.m. Sunday at Academic Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door. The shows will benefit the Community Counseling Foundation.

"Carol's Dream" is a dancing "Christmas Carol" with some twists. It begins in modern times, introducing the dancers in a set piece of shoppers and children bustling about. Goodin Vanoni dances in the second scene, as a woman decorating a beautiful Christmas tree with her father (Judge William Rader). When she falls asleep reading "A Christmas Carol," the magical developments begin.

Narrators Mary-Ann Maloney and Dave Courvoisier, anchors for KFVS-TV, expertly give voices to the changing cast of characters, including Ebeneezer Scrooge (Mike Beecher), a wretched man who "never thawed one degree at Christmas."

From the opening "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" to the final, haunting "Silent Night," "Carol's Dream" is infused with sterling music, much of it creatively arranged and performed by Chip Davis of the band Mannheim Steamroller. In one scene, dancers in Victorian garb skate, in another a wall of seemingly disembodied phantoms appears to haunt Scrooge, who finally confronts his harsh future and learns that mankind should have been his business.

Four members of Goodin Vanoni's dance company, the Dance Theatre Ensemble of Varese, Italy, bring the production seasoned dancing, especially during a scene called the Phantom Ballet. The approximately 50 non-professional dancers from the area range from college students to 8-year-olds. Whether dancing together or in tandems, they are winning.

Especially appealing are Jennifer Kaelin, Amy Mangieri and Ashley Rust as the healthy children in blue who accompany Dave Reinheimer as the Ghost of Christmas Present.

Reinheimer, who teaches English at Southeast, dances robustly, and Brandon C. Hahs is a strong presence in the non-dancing role of Marley. Champ Friend also gives an assured portrayal as Scrooge's nephew, Fred.

Michela Carbone and Angelo Sinicco Scali, two of the Italian dancers, create a stir and one of the performance's moments of wonder when they magically appear as the spirits Ignorance and Want, who are seeking out Tiny Tim (Jared Ritter).

In the final touching scene, Goodin Vanoni dances with her niece, Danielle Gross, as the performance's final twist is revealed.

Goodin Vanoni has given both the young dancers and audiences a Christmas experience to remember.

Congratulations and thanks also are due Vickie Courvoisier, Cindy Wyatt, JoAnn Ruess, Kindal Blattner and Kara Hammes for teaching the dancers and actors so well before Goodin Vanoni came from Italy to polish the production.

They have blessed us, every one.