iTunes Exclusive Episode A Christmas Carol 2017

The
Greetings, Empire member and or members.
If you are hearing the sound of my voice, it means the following conditions have been met.
At least once in your life you have checked out the Clubhouse Podcast live every Sunday
night, seven Eastern for Pacific, your one stop shop for all things pop culture.
It also means you check us out on your favorite podcast app because it is time for iTunes
exclusive number 333, the triple tray, as the kids like to say.
I don't think they actually do, but let me go with it.
My name is Rob, I'm the executive producer of the Clubhouse Podcast and I am wearing
my second Christmas shirt of the day because I only get to wear them certain time here
so I'm going to wear them all at some point.
I've got my ugly Christmas weather packed away in the suitcase for my trip and then I got
my Nakatomi Plaza Christmas party shirt in the wings as well.
I love Christmas shirts.
What can I say?
But I'm not alone for this particular episode because if we were, it'd be really short
because we're going to talk about something today that I was not a party too.
So I'm going to rely on two of the other people in this studio for that.
First of all, in the co-host chair, is the lady of the house and a young lady who knows
a lot about her past, her present and her future.
She is general, welcome friend.
Evening everyone.
And to her left is the official fact checker of this show and a man that just wants you
to put a little love in your heart.
You may know him as fond, don't go, but as mama name him, don't for it.
I'm going to call him don for it.
Welcome sir.
I love you, no heart.
You asked me out.
Who sings that?
Me and someone else.
Let them.
They do better.
And make sure you talk into the microphone please.
I want to scream outside.
I didn't want to yell to the mic.
But yeah, I'm serious.
There we go.
I didn't want to yell to the mic.
I even gave him a lesson before.
I know.
I know you did.
I try.
Whenever we do one of these things, it is to review something.
This is no exception.
We're headed to the stage for the third year in a row.
We have been honored by the people at the Wiley Theater Center that we can be a part
of their annual production of a Christmas Carol.
And I'm going to be asking the questions because even though it is our third time being
a party to it, I could not be at this one.
And I'm very upset because I love this story and I love what the Wiley does with it.
For us to start this whole thing, though, we got thank Kaylee and everybody at the Wiley
and the Dow Stater Center for the invite.
Such a fan of those guys.
They give us a chance to go to press nights so we can talk about their productions with
you.
I'm just glad we had representation there.
If you need this story, explain to you first of all, welcome back from the cave.
Basically, here's what you need to know in case you don't.
And if you don't, I'm not going to judge you outwardly.
Ebenezer Scrooge is a very, very shrewd business person.
And I say person because in the last year's production, the lead was played by a female.
Every year, the Wiley kind of does something different with it.
And so Scrooge has people that work for him and Scrooge is not very nice to the employees.
And then in one night, he is visited by the ghost he or she visited by the ghost of their
former partner who tells them that they will be visited before the morning comes by three
different ghosts.
One to tell Scrooge about Christmas past, one to tell Scrooge about Christmas present,
one to tell Scrooge about their future, spoiler alert, he turns around.
All right, so I guess my first question, and Don is going to be directed at you because
you've now been at all three of these.
Was there anything different this year?
Yes, because each year, it's a little bit different, right?
This one, if you go to my written review at www.theclubhousepodcast.com, that's our website.
What I put on, this is your more of the traditional story as you know it, the production
as you know it.
The mom and pops back from the old times because two years ago, we had it where we had
an ethnic person playing Scrooge.
It was a multi-racial cast.
And then we had the lady who was flying through the ceiling, the ghost of Christmas present.
Remember she had, she was up in the air.
Remember that?
I don't remember.
I thought that was future though.
Was it present?
No, that was a present.
And then you look at last year where we had a female Scrooge.
We did?
So this year, it was very, very good by the way.
Incredible.
So they had little twists and stuff like that in the last couple of years since we saw
that.
This one would be, again, like you said, your mom and pops, regular, how you remember it.
Now the traditional telling of the story.
Yes, traditional.
Okay, fair enough.
And there were some definite parts of the tradition that I was really excited to see
like the fact that they use Fezzywig as the ghost of Christmas past.
Okay.
So I've seen different versions where he's representing Gluttony or that he's representing
other things.
But to see it be Fezzywig, again, actually was a nice twist.
And he was...
Isn't that what got Charlie in trouble in Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory?
The Fezzywig lifting drinks?
You know, it was the...
Never mind.
It was the Fezzylifting drinks moving out.
It was the Fezzylifting drink.
Okay.
Fezzywig is the man he worked for originally.
Oh, okay.
I'm with you now.
Sorry.
Fezzywig is a Fezzywig.
I can't even never say it right.
But he was the man he worked for originally when he was a younger man getting into business
that he looked up to and admired and wanted to be like originally.
Okay.
Fair enough.
And I have to give it out.
We won played Scrooge.
Bradleyland.
Yeah.
Bradleyland.
Yeah.
Buddy from Friday Night Lights.
The show on NBC.
Oh, really?
Yes.
I did not know that.
I was a fan of Friday Night Lights.
Which I was.
They had the television series.
The television series.
Yeah.
The television series.
I was on NBC for about what, five, six, seven years ago.
Um, it actually was on the last two seasons, I think, went straight to Direct TV.
It was.
It started on NBC, but then it moved to Direct TV.
Yeah.
But I mean, if you were a fan of that show, the guy who always, I remember his buddy.
Okay.
You know, JK Simms.
I was called Burm.
Schillinger.
That's you do.
Yeah.
Leo and he had that look, the Fezzyg.
He had the talking.
He was your traditional Ebenezer scrooge that you would remember and you would kind of,
you know, think of when you've picked from in your mind.
Now, Don, when you wouldn't saw this because you, again, you've been there all three years
that we've been a part of this deal, was the basic set still the same?
This one, you could say that where they had those things in the mid, it was one center
stage with that backdrop of the wall, which didn't really change just the lighting and
stuff like that.
Right.
And whatever on the outside, you can see it backwards like you're looking inside.
They had those mechanical things in the stage that would stay there like those pipes.
Right.
Big looking pipes.
I do.
That was the set.
Only thing they really changed was adding props and like if they're at the dinner table,
they brought in some plates and stuff like that during the show of like the gross of Christmas
past, the big, you know, work party, they rolled into a couple trees.
So it wasn't really in these trees.
Christmas trees.
It was just the same set, stayed the same except the props that they brought in.
The props made the different location to location.
Okay.
When you're at Bob Cratchett's house with tiny Tim and all them, they, they're sitting
at the table.
All they did was put some plates out on that round thing, which is actually, they kind
of did that a little ways last year.
Yeah.
But you could say that, but it was still fairly minimalist and it's transition from,
from scene to scene.
It was nice to see how they had it where they could, there was like a cubby that they
lifted a part of the stage up and they reached in and they pulled out what they needed.
Or they brought it onto stage with them and then passed it off or put it away.
Which is the tradition of the show here.
And the bed is actually raised up.
So it's part of the flat, but it's the same way.
But there's also a raised area if he's in his business, making down on his employees
that he stays on the lift and it raises him at the same time.
So structurally pretty, pretty, that's kind of what they've done every year.
Okay.
And for those of you that don't know, this was General's first year joining us for this.
So she's seeing it for the first time where it's an interesting contrast and comparison
of someone seeing this production for the first time versus someone who's seen it now
multiple times.
Right.
At least this facility is my first time.
Right.
The way the Wiley does it.
Yeah.
Because every year they do this and every year there's charity involved and they have
everybody.
Yeah.
They do this every year.
They want to say, we're definitely in double digits the number of years they've done this
for sure.
Yeah.
They mentioned it.
Yeah.
And every performance at the end, you're able to give a contribution.
It's the North Texas feedback.
Yeah.
But they do.
Yeah.
And it's not an obligation, but it is an option.
So did you feel like you said it was just your, the traditional telling.
How does that compare to the other, the, the differences they've done the last couple
of years for you done?
It's trying to compare apples and oranges.
That's fair.
Both enjoyable.
Yeah.
It depends on what you want or what you like because if you like the traditional, here
you go.
This is what you remember.
Your mom and pops.
This is the year to go.
There are no real specialties, no variances, nothing like that.
So in a way, I liked it.
But in the past years, I also, in a way, liked how they had those different changes.
And of course, they had a little snow at the end coming out.
So there's a,
You know I'm a big fan of.
Yeah.
So it was faith for first snowfall.
Yeah.
Exactly.
By technical definition.
Yes.
Yes.
By literal definition.
It's coming in a couple of weeks.
Well, yeah, but this is, you know, just the preemptive, like, yes, her first experience
was something of a snow-esque presentation.
If you should have heard of her leaving in the parking lot.
What was she singing?
Oh, I'm dreaming of white Christmas.
She loved it.
But good.
Yeah, it was great.
But this, this is your traditional story, no, no variances.
Now I did like those variances.
And I, one thing I kind of noticed compared to the last year or other productions, this
is a straight production.
It's only about 90 minutes with no intermission.
No intermission.
This is straight.
This is kind of a fast production.
It moved.
It moved.
They did not really extend any scenes, adding the extra songs.
It's about two hours.
There is music in this.
I'm not used to music being in this show.
So that was in addition to someone who's not used, I mean, I'm used to seeing the true
Mrs. Dickens book.
This is what we perform.
So having that added, it was nice and very talented.
From the standpoint of the room, because if you've ever been to the Wiley Theater, the
Wiley uses every square inch of that room, just because you're sitting in the audience
does not mean you're not part of the stage.
As we saw earlier this year, when you and I wouldn't saw hair, or as they tend to do in
almost every production, we see it the Wiley.
So my question is, because they've done this as well with past productions of a Christmas
Carol, where there's people coming in from the audience, so they still utilized all
that space like that.
They do.
And this was set up like a traditional with the stage and the U-shaped seating on the
multi-tieres.
The sad thing is, is there's a point where one of the ghosts is talking, and she's up
on the second or third level, but I'm on that first level, so I can't see.
We had no clue what was going on, because all we could hear was some talking.
Okay.
So that, but yeah, they came in and out and people are walking in front of us, you know,
cast.
Okay.
So it's just like they've done that.
Yes.
So there's a lot of staples that we get every year with this, but it's each year they
do a little bit of variance.
Like this one was your, your basic mom and pops is the best way to describe it.
How would you feel this compares to like if you had to rank them against the other two?
I know, you said apples and oranges earlier, but do you feel you enjoyed this more?
Do you feel you enjoyed it about about the same?
Do you feel you enjoyed it any less?
Me personally, it's my least of the three, but still a great production.
Yes.
Yes.
It's one of those questions.
I found it made me answer the question and I had to rank them.
Yes.
Okay.
That's fair.
That's fair.
But I mean, Bradley, when playing the Ebenezer was perfect for the spot.
Right.
The cast, there's a lot of cast members that have multiple roles, you know, so, but the cast
is good overall.
It was kind of a, you know, breath fresh air just to get that regular Christmas curls.
Do you remember it from like TV watching it on TV, seeing it live?
So it's, but if I see this every, the same thing next year, I'd be more disappointed because
I like those variances.
All right.
Now, Jen, from your standpoint, how did you feel this being your first time seeing it
in this setting?
I really enjoyed it.
I mean, and let's be honest, we're having a very fall to maybe spring type weather here
in Texas.
Well, because, well, yeah, remember when it doesn't start to the 21st, so we got time.
Well, but I'm just saying it's in the 70s.
It's warmer than it normally is at this time.
Normally, maybe a light sweater is needed at this time of year.
So it doesn't feel very cold or Christmassy yet.
That's fair.
So getting to see that, which is a very Christmas, strong Christmas memory for me, it really
did help get me into the spirit of, you know, kindness toward, you know, what is it?
You don't have to get a well towards men.
Good well towards men.
You know, God bless us all one at all.
God bless us all, yeah.
So it kind of reinspired that going into this season versus, you know, Grinch that I kind
of can be sometimes at Christmas.
I can't be because it's Christmas time.
Some paper time here.
All right.
So we're ready to get to the final analysis.
Yep.
All right.
The way we do the final analysis on the show, we're not going to give you thumbs up, thumbs
down.
We're not going to ring a bell and make sure an angel gets their wings because that's a completely
different thing than this.
Here's what we're going to do.
We're going to ask up to two questions.
Question number one is, would these kids see this again?
If the answers know we're done here, but if the answer is yes, then our follow-up question
is going to be, how far are they willing to go to see it?
And since this is a stage production, this is a little different.
We can't really kind of rank it like we normally do for film.
For this, it's going to be where do you want to sit?
Because the closer you sit to the stage, the more money you're willing to commit to
this.
And Jen, I'm actually going to start with you because this is your first time going
through this particular presentation, if you will.
Would you see this again?
Yes.
Where do you want to sit?
So there's a center section facing the stage, not the floor level, but the one up near
the soundboard.
Just behind the aisle that you walk across.
No, it's actually a little bit higher than that.
A little bit higher than that.
There's the sound.
And when you look at the image online on the website, there's a soundboard there.
So near that is pretty much going to be good seats.
And the low price is $20, the high price is $99 for the whole venue.
All right.
Don, would you see this again?
Yeah, definitely.
Where are you sitting on this one?
This one I'd still loved it, but it was your normal one.
I'm going to give it the second balcony.
Okay.
Yeah.
Second balcony on this one.
You have about a bit higher of a view?
Yeah.
And the thing is, it's a tradition, like you were seeing at the end of the show, when you're
talking about the food bank, how a lot of people make this, it's usually tradition to
go to the show.
It's still a traditional thing to go, go, take the family, it's still a great show.
I still enjoyed it.
It is the Wiley Theater's 2017 production of a Christmas Carol.
For my asshole thing, we got to thank Kayleigh again and everybody at Dallas at the Wiley
Theater and Dallas Theater Center.
They are so wonderful to us and we cannot thank them enough for everything they do for
us.
We have so much fun when we get to do stuff like this and we're just happy that not only
we get to be a party to it, but that we get to share it with the Empire and help them
spend their entertainment dollars the best way they possibly can.
Let's do the plugs.
Visit our website, the aforementioned www.theclubhousepodcast.com.
Find out everything you need to know and stuff you're probably not, but we're still going
to tell you anyway, because that's how we roll.
Follow us on social media, Twitter is at ClubhouseShow, everything else is the Clubhouse podcast,
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You can follow me on social media, everything is yes, that Rob Irvin that has spelled
E-R-V-I-N.
I know we're co-hosts for this show is Chad Womack.
You can follow him at ChadNPG69.
I'm Jen Roam home on Instagram and I'm at Fawn Dongo on Twitter with two A's at
the beginning, three O's at the end, and I'll say email me at Don at theclubhousepodcast.com.
Email Don for information on how we can come do a live show for you.
We love doing live shows and hanging out with the Empire.
You can email me questions, comments, concerns, somebody to go pound sand.
I am Rob at theclubhousepodcast.com.
Chad is Chad at theclubhousepodcast.com.
Charlotte Parker is on Pinterest because we are morally obligated to say that.
Jules Womack is hanging out with Chad because that's what they do.
The fabulous Faith Ford will be waiting for a husband a little bit longer because we
have to do our normal show after we do this show.
Our normal show is every Sunday night, seven Easter and four Pacific, your one stop shop
for all things pop culture or just keep subscribed on your favorite podcast app and you get all
the cool stuff like this.
So until next time, for Don, for Jen Roam, for the Empire, I'm Rob, Clubhouse is closed,
come on, you can find a place for Brittany Palmer.
I don't know how often I have to tell you, actually, I'm going to tell you every time
because that's what I do.