By Kennedy Purcey
staff writer
Christmas: the time when families gather and celebrate what it means to be Christian during the holidays. Coney Island Christmas, the fall play that was put on by our very own Northview High School theater department this past weekend, however, captures a Jewish family's delight and misery in the year 1935 when their daughter, Shirley Abramowitz, is cast as Jesus Christ in her school’s Christmas play.
The story begins in present day California. Shirley, who is now much older, played by Yesenia Cotto, narrates an unforgettable tale to her great granddaughter. Alexandra Martin played twelve-year-old Shirley who wants nothing more than to play Jesus Christ in her school’s production. Her drama and music teachers, Mr. Hilton and Ms. Glace, played by Eliot King and Savannah Scheid respectively, beg Shirley to agree to the play. Her mother on the other hand believes that it’s an abomination. Mrs. Abramowitz is a devoted Jewish mother who is fearful of losing her daughter to another way of life. Despite the resistance, Shirley assures her family that she is the only one capable of playing Jesus Christ. The play follows a lesson of joy and hardship within the Abramowitz family.
Phoebe Dawson, who played Mrs. Clara Abramowitz, said that she loves Northview’s Theater Department because the people who are involved are open and nonjudgmental. “Every person is looked as just that: a person. They aren’t looked at as gay, or spaz, or stupid, or fat, et cetera,” Dawson said. Everyone in the department has grown into a family over the years and they’re accepting of anyone who walks through the doors, she stated. The actors of Coney Island Christmas had all age groups chorusing in laughter. The production was also family friendly; a little something for everyone. “People should come see Coney Island Christmas to see how being different doesn’t matter,” Dawson said. The play showed people that if you have hardships within your family, things will get better.
Phoebe Dawson, who played Mrs. Clara Abramowitz, said that she loves Northview’s Theater Department because the people who are involved are open and nonjudgmental. “Every person is looked as just that: a person. They aren’t looked at as gay, or spaz, or stupid, or fat, et cetera,” Dawson said. Everyone in the department has grown into a family over the years and they’re accepting of anyone who walks through the doors, she stated. The actors of Coney Island Christmas had all age groups chorusing in laughter. The production was also family friendly; a little something for everyone. “People should come see Coney Island Christmas to see how being different doesn’t matter,” Dawson said. The play showed people that if you have hardships within your family, things will get better.
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