A KIDMAN CAROL at Alleyway Serves Oscar-Worthy Holiday Humor as Cate Blanchett Gets the Scrooge Treatment

THE BASICS:  A KIDMAN CAROL: A GAY DEMENTIA ON AUSTRALIAN DAMES, by Kevin Zak. 12/13-12/21 (8 shows only) Wed-Sat 7:30, Sun 2:00. Presented as part of the “Alleyworks Development Series by the Alleyway Theatre at “1 Curtain Up Alley” (along the north wall of Shea’s) (716) 852-2600 alleyway.com

RUNTIME: About 80 minutes, no intermission

THUMBNAIL SKETCH: While across the lobby at the main Alleyway Theatre they’re presenting the traditional Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL (where Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future), in the smaller Alleyway Cabaret there’s a brand new play putting an Academy Awards spin on the familiar story.  Instead of the ghost of Jacob Marley (Scrooge’s business partner) whose “chain was forged in life,” Cate Blanchett is visited by the spirit of Katherine Hepburn, who won the most (4) Best Actress Oscars ever.  But Hepburn shows up with other lesser awards, including “People’s Choice” prompting a quick diss about letting “the people” decide anything.  When actress Cate Blanchett (6 nominations, 2 wins) says “Tár Humbug!” to all things Oscars, she’s visited by, as Hepburn foretold, three spirits of fellow Australian movie star Nicole Kidman who shows Cate visions of Academy Awards shows past, present, and future.  Can Cate learn the meaning of the season in time for the Oscars broadcast?

THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION:  “New plays are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”  And with this new play, at least in the current presentation, we get a winner.  Yes!  The lead role is played, in drag, by Los Angeles-based actor Jason Michael Snow, who, unfortunately, is heading back home after the very short (only 8 performances) run of A KIDMAN CAROL.  The energy, the facial expressions, the ad libs and improv moments, are all impressive.  And are all in service of this play by his friend, Buffalo’s Kevin Zak, whose disclaimer (on the playbill) opens with “This play is a bit off the rails.”  

From what I gathered at the stage door meet and greet, Zak and Snow, who share a particular brand of crazy, started cooking this up during the pandemic and it’s been slowly percolating (perfecting?) over the years.  But when Alleyway Artistic Director Chris Handley showed Zak the play poster, it suddenly became real, and, according to Zak in his on-stage greeting, the actors and crew really put this together in only 8 days.  Impressive.

So before anything else, I want to give a huge shout-out to the behind-the-scenes crew who brought their magic wands: Production Designer Emma Schimminger, who used the small stage more effectively than I’ve ever seen.  Wow.  But it wouldn’t have worked without Stage Manager K Gorny’s props and sound cues right on the money, and (how did she do that in 8 days?) costumes by Ann R. Emo.  Usually, I’m not a fan of playwrights directing their own plays (theater is a collaborative art form and is best with, well, collaboration) but here I got the impression that, because of the short rehearsal period, Zak (playwright and director) collaborated with his actors a lot!

And what a crew!  Shannon Mullen plays Nicole Kidman; Billy Griffin, Jr. is Katherine Hepburn and many other utility roles; Madeline Rehm plays Blanchett’s long-suffering assistant “Terese” (or is it “Tiramisu” or “Terracotta” and many other utility roles; and Buffalo’s funniest (dry humor department) Jeremy Kreuzer plays “Todd” and many other utility roles.  Those of you who saw the very in-demand Kreuzer in SHIPWRECKED at Road Less Traveled, not to mention KRAGTAR at Alleyway, know how quickly he can slip into any character.

Nothing is sacred in this play so when you go (and you’d better hurry because the final performance is next Saturday night) get ready for a wild ride with dozens of what the playwright in his disclaimer calls “deep cut” Hollywood, cultural, and gay references.  I know that I missed a lot (things happen fast!) but I also know that I laughed out loud a lot.  A lot.  This is not a night to be clutching your pearls.  But neither is it raunchy nor inappropriate for most audiences.  And that’s so Buffalo!  

Also “so Buffalo” was LA’s Jason Michael Snow’s reaction when I apologized that our local weather isn’t exactly Southern California and he said that he loves it here in Buffalo and has had a great time walking around soaking up the culture.  And you’ll have a great time seeing A KIDMAN CAROL: A GAY DEMENTIA ON AUSTRALIAN DAMES.

For more on the play and the playwright Kevin Zak, listen to a recent interview by Buffalo Rising’s Daniel Lendzian.

BACKGROUND ON BLANCHETT’S OSCAR HISTORY:

“Getting” all the jokes depends on how much you know, but In total, Blanchett has received 8 Academy Award nominations and won 2 of them placing her among the most nominated actresses in Oscar history. Most recently, her portrayal of the fictional conductor Lydia Tár in “Tár” earned her widespread critical acclaim and her eighth Oscar nomination, though she didn’t win that year (the award went to Michelle Yeoh for “Everything Everywhere All at Once”). For those who want to know, here are Cate Blanchett’s Oscars nominations and wins:
Photos by Sarah Potter

   NOMINATED: Best Actress – “Elizabeth” (1998) as Queen Elizabeth I (lost to Gwyneth Paltrow for “Shakespeare in Love”)

   WON: Best Supporting Actress – “The Aviator” (2004) for her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn

   NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actress – “Notes on a Scandal” (2006) as Sheba Hart (lost to Rachel Weisz for “The Constant Gardener”)

   NOMINATED: Best Actress – “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2007) as Queen Elizabeth I (lost to Marion Cotillard for “La Vie en Rose”)

   NOMINATED: Best Actress – “I’m Not There” (2007) as one of six characters representing Bob Dylan (lost to Jude Quinn also for “I’m Not There”)

   Although she didn’t win either, it was a remarkable achievement to be nominated for two Oscars in the same year!

   WON: Best Actress – “Blue Jasmine” (2013) for her role as Jasmine French

   NOMINATED: Best Actress – “Carol” (2015) as Carol Aird (lost to Brie Larson for “Room”)

   NOMINATED: Best Actress – “Tár” (2022) as Lydia Tár (lost to Michelle Yeoh for “Everything Everywhere All at Once”)