Czech Marionettes in “A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa”

For the delight of audiences aged 5 to 105, Theater for the New City presents Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre in “A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa,” adapted and directed by Vit Horejs.

This toy-puppet theater extravaganza is a new take on Charles Dickens’ classic with a few twists and digressions. Into the familiar story is woven a surprising and delightful blend of English, Jewish, African, American and Czech winter rituals and customs, all performed by over three dozen marionettes ranging in size from four to twenty-four inches as well as found objects and toys. Vit Horejs operates the whole cast of puppets, backed up by an “a capella monumentale” choir of Katarina Vizina and Valois Mickens. The piece is still set in Old London, but with Czech accents.

Cast includes over 30 puppets by Milos Kasal including a quartet of Rockettes in Slovak, Moravian and Ruthenian folk costumes.