I think Paula Vogel is a genius. I love her plays, though the only one I've ever seen staged is How I Learned to Drive (which I saw four times). Her work's elegance and emotional resonance just speaks to me. They all read beautifully. So when I saw that New York Theatre Workshop would be presenting her play A Civil War Christmas, I was thrilled. When a handsome generous pal invited me to go with him as his guest? I was even more thrilled! :) We went to an early preview, so I'll only give a few thoughts.
Here's one thought - the show is fricking brilliant!!! I loved every.single.minute of it. It takes place in December, 1864, and follows several stories as we get closer to Christmas. We meet real people, like Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, and also some fictional characters who interact with them. Using period-appropriate holiday songs, Vogel delves deeply into the prevailing mood in Washington at the time, and how the spirit of the holidays can bring everyone together. It's really beautiful - I teared up several times throughout, which I always enjoy. Hearing the lyrics of beloved holiday songs in these different stories just made them even more timeless. Seriously. Hearing the trio of Ulysses Grant, Abraham Lincoln and Robert E Lee sing different verses of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" was beyond moving in surprising ways.
The acting was first-rate across the board. A cast of eleven plays at least 30 characters (including a charismatic horse), each drawn with few strokes, yet still very individual. They're all wonderful actors and singers, using very little in the way of props or costumes to create real people, whether historically 'real' or not. Several of them played instruments, too, to accompany the songs. There was a banjo and a guitar, and I believe Andrew Resnick was the accompanist who played piano (and other instruments). In the script, and in the music, there was humor and pathos, love and hate, red and green (and blue and grey), beautifully stiched together in an American tapestry.
Tina Landau's direction is amazing, as are the set/costume/light/sound designs. And the musical arrangements by Daryl Waters are gorgeous. New York Theatre Workshop is a small space, but it seemed so big and rich and utilized to its fullest. I hope hope hope I can go back and see the show again. I also hope it can become a holiday tradition. I do adore A Christmas Carol, but it is nice to have an American story to enjoy as well. Full disclosure, not everyone seemed to enjoy the show as much as I did. A group behind us left at intermission and the group in front of us started talking about how unsuccessful the production was right after the curtain call (have they never heard of the five block rule, for pete's sake?!?!). So...take that as you will. But I HIGHLY recommend everyone go see this wonderful production.
Just a brief mention of my post-show snacks - we went to Noho Star and I had a delicious ginger lime margarita, vegetable dumplings, and then I ordered an indian pudding for dessert (the photo isn't good, unfortunately). It just seemed so...appropriate. Yum yummy too! So thumbs up on Noho Star. I need to go there more often. :) 
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