The ways to celebrate the Christmas season are numerous. You can choose a performance to attend from a list that seems to grow annually:

Vocal Events

• A Sing Along Messiah for those who enjoy participatory activity. A Google search yielded one in LaGrange, another in Oak Park, yet another in Arlington Heights, not to mention Elgin and Aurora. In fact, there are so many competing sing-along-messiah's in the northeastern Illinois region that Classical Music Chicago no longer offers its version of the event, which they started in 1976.
• Ditto for Amahl and the Night Visitors, Gian Carlo Menotti's version of the Magi, following the Star in the East, in search of The King of the Jews, ending not with the discovery of the Messiah, but with a lame shepherd boy miraculously regaining his mobility after offering to present his crutch, the only thing he has to offer, to the child at Bethlehem. The Kings invite Amahl to accompany them on their journey. (His mom said, "OK. You can go. But be a good boy.") I dwell upon this a bit too long in the present context, but it is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. A quick Google reveals performances in Park Ridge, Oak Park, The Chicago Public Library (this one directed by Francis Menotti, the composer's son), not to mention WFMT Radio's annual broadcast of the Opus. ChatGPT sums up the opera nicely:

The key to the miracle is Amahl's selfless offering of his crutch—symbolizing his trust, generosity, and open heart. Menotti’s opera beautifully ties this act of love to divine grace, emphasizing themes of compassion, faith, and the transformative power of giving.

Theater

Of course, there are theater performances as well.

• The Goodman's adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, is a well-known Chicago event.
• For a number of years The Santaland Diaries played at various venues around Chicago. This humorous glimpse into the life of an "elf" at a Macy's Department Store Santa was a favorite of many. For some reason this David Sedaris gem is not presented, at least not in Chicago, that I was able to determine.
• But weep not, if your cup of tea is holiday humor, because playing at Theater Wit on Belmont is Who's Holiday, featuring Veronica Garza as Cindy-Lou Who. This is defnitely adult entertainment (children's tickets are $500 to make that perfectly clear) where we spend the holiday with Cindy-Lou:

Remember little Cindy-Lou Who who was not more than two.
What became of that tot, after that Grinch and what-not?
Come join us for this grown-up Who's holiday fete!
Leave your kids at home (that's the safest bet.)
And try to catch up with Cindy-Lou Who's life,
She's seen some things due to her own grinch-y strife.
But nothing can dampen the holiday cheer:
Not vodka, not Rudolph, not even flat beer.
With a song in her heart, and a pipe full of weed
She'll celebrate trailer park living at need
Her wisdom dispensed with a shot and a leer.
For this is a holiday tale of such vision...
With smoking and drinking and gossip ...
...and prison.

Ballet

If ballet is your idea of holiday entertainment there are a number of performances of Tchaikovski's Nutcracker to tempt your need for beautiful, graceful women and handsome, athletic men. Probably the best known is the annual Joffrey presentation of this work, which probably is instrumental in funding the company's operations for the rest of the year. They currently present a woke version of the original story. I attended one of the first performances and was not impressed by the DEI emphasis. After all, the original ballet was based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffman, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.

Hoffmann’s story is rich with Gothic undertones, psychological depth, and a sense of the eerie and mysterious.—ChatGPT

Alexandre Dumas père (The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo) simplified the plot and created a lighter, less ominous version of the story. It was the Dumas version that was used by Marius Petipa of Russian Ballet fame when he commissioned Tchaikovsky to write the score.

Dumas had sufficient African ancestry to qualify as a man of color, while Tchaikovsky was homosexual. One might imagine that that kind of diversity would satisfy anybody interested in inclusive artistic creation, but apparently not. I find the current incarnation of the Joffrey Nutcracker woefully short of the artistic excellence achieved by the original. Not even the on-stage Klezmer band makes any sense for this particular story. Again I quote ChatGPT:

In short, The Nutcracker ballet softened Hoffmann’s eerie story into a charming fairy tale, pairing whimsical scenes with Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score to create one of the most beloved ballets of all time.

ChatGPT probably hasn't attended a recent Joffrey performance of The Nutcracker.

Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs A Christmas Carol Again

Most of us are probably familiar with the Dickens story of redemption and transformation, as Ebenezer Scrooge confronts is own past and destiny, realizing at last there is more to living than the accumulation of wealth. But what about the literary genius behind this beloved tale that we never tire of repeating every December holiday season? In a unique presentation that brings the famous author to life, Blake Montgomery becomes Charles Dickens, and brings A Christmas Carol to life right there in our presence, as he explains the characters, describes the scenes he saw as he penned the story, and in short Blake Montgomery joins the elite group of great story-tellers we're likely to see no more than a few times during a lifetime.

I saw the premier productions of this show, ten years ago. Then, Montgomery's attentions were directed toward other projects, until at last he now brings Charles Dickens back to life for the enjoyment and fascination of us all. For this special event, I decided to become as Victorian as I could, given what might be hanging in my closet. I donned a costume frock coat, grabbed a top hat and walking stick, and headed out to the performance at The Den, located in Wicker Park, one of the venerable old neighborhoods of Chicago. It was a fitting location for the performance; the rain and mist drizzled all night long. What could be more fitting for a trip to hear London's great author?

The Performance

I stopped at the bar for a gin and tonic prior to the performance. The bar is one of those massive old carved masterpieces that grace many old Chicago saloons and gin mills; the bartender told me that the prevailing story of that particular bar was that the owner of The Den discovered it in Los Angeles and purchased it, shipped it back to Chicago, and installed it, giving it new life as an alcoholic watering hole. The bar has "Chicago" all over it, strongly resembling many of the bars you'll encounter in the old German establishments in the city. How it made its way to Los Angeles, where one is more likely to encounter the glitz of Hollywood and the artistic sensibilities of the Southwestern US, is unknown.

The House is opened, and we enter, to be greeted by Charles Dickens, carrying a huge jar of candy canes offering each patron who enters a candy cane and greeting them in a hearty manner. We have already begun to meet Mr. Dickens, and he hasn't even started talking about his famous tale.

But this is not the youthful Charles Dickens we are meeting. The youthful Dickens was a handsome young man, almost beautiful, as evidenced by these early drawings and paintings of him.

The Dickens we are hearing and seeing is a mature Dickens, a successful author, widely acclaimed and admired on both sides of the Atlantic. Montgomery has done more than just memorize some lines and wear a Victorian style cutaway; he has become Charles Dickens, who proceeds to initially protest having to bring A Christmas Carol to life for the one-hundred seventy-first time, but who eventually, if begrudgingly, begins telling the tale once again, to the delight and contentment of the assembled audience.

Montgomery does more than just tell us a story; he performs the story, describing in great detail the characters, the settings, their emotions, often becoming individual characters themselves, and sometimes offering an aside or insight into Christmas and it's significance—almost as if he were breaking the fourth wall; except in this performance, there is no fourth wall, or if there is a fourth wall, it is well outside of the performance space; we are all part of the world of Charles Dickens now. We know Ebenezer Scrooge personally; we are saddened by Tiny Tim's handicap; we are admiring of Bob Cratchet's courage and dedication to his family; and finally, we are gladdened to learn that even the miserly old Scrooge is not beyond redemption.

We feel all this and more, as Montgomery skillfully opens the world of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchet, Marley, The Three Ghosts and all the rest to our widening eyes. And we breathe a sigh of relief when we discover that it is not too late for Scrooge to mend his ways, and become the "good old boy" we always suspected he could become.

It's a fantastical journey, leaving us emotionally satisfied albeit somewhat exhausted from the journey through the life of Scrooge and ultimate epiphany. This has been story-telling at its finest; something very few actors can achieve and even fewer with the skill and insights brought to the performance by Blake Montgomery.

Postscript

Dickens died in 1870 at the age of 58, a relatively young age even for the late 19th century. He is buried in the Poets Corner of Westminster Abbey, England. More information about this brilliant and fascinating author can be had at Wikipedia: Charles Dickens

If prompted, ChatGPT will provide a list of four biographies for those interested in pursuing Dickens with greater depth and understanding.

There are no autobiographies written by Charles Dickens himself, but there are excellent biographies of Dickens, along with some autobiographical works and letters he wrote that provide insight into his life.

1. Biographies of Charles Dickens

Here are some of the most notable biographies of Dickens:

• "Dickens: A Biography" by Peter Ackroyd

  • A comprehensive and widely acclaimed biography. Ackroyd explores Dickens's life in great detail, from his childhood struggles to his extraordinary career and personal life.
  • It vividly captures Dickens's personality, creative genius, and the darker aspects of his character.

• "Charles Dickens: A Life" by Claire Tomalin

  • A modern and accessible biography praised for its narrative flair and thorough research.
  • Tomalin provides an engaging account of Dickens's life, including his early hardships, literary triumphs, and personal relationships.

• "The Life of Charles Dickens" by John Forster

  • This was the first major biography of Dickens, written by his close friend and confidant, John Forster.
  • It was published shortly after Dickens's death and draws heavily on personal conversations and letters.
  • Forster’s work remains an essential source for understanding Dickens's life, though it has a Victorian bias and omits some details of his private affairs.

• "Charles Dickens: His Tragedy and Triumph" by Edgar Johnson

  • A definitive two-volume biography that explores Dickens's life, work, and historical context in depth.
  • It is scholarly but readable, making it one of the most detailed studies of Dickens available.

2. Dickens’s Own Autobiographical Works

While Dickens did not write a formal autobiography, he revealed much about his life through the following:

• "David Copperfield"

  • This novel is considered semi-autobiographical and one of Dickens's most personal works.
  • It reflects his childhood experiences, including his time working in a blacking factory after his family fell into debt, mirroring David’s struggles in the book.

• "The Uncommercial Traveller"

  • A collection of essays written by Dickens that include reflections on his travels, observations, and experiences, many of which are rooted in his own life.

• "Letters of Charles Dickens" (Edited by his daughter and sister-in-law)

  • A vast collection of his letters, which provides a window into his thoughts, relationships, and career.
  • The letters are candid and reveal Dickens's humor, passions, and challenges.

3. Modern Alternatives and Companion Reads

If you're looking for a fresh perspective or an engaging overview:

• "Becoming Dickens: The Invention of a Novelist" by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst

  • Focuses on the early part of Dickens’s life and how his formative years shaped his path to becoming a writer.

• "Charles Dickens: A Critical Study" by G.K. Chesterton

  • Chesterton’s book is less a biography and more a critical examination of Dickens’s works and their themes.

• "Charles Dickens: A Life Defined by Writing" by Michael Slater

  • A detailed examination of Dickens's writing career and the interplay between his personal and professional life.

Where to Start?

• For a thorough, modern biography: Claire Tomalin's Charles Dickens: A Life.
• For an insider’s look: John Forster's The Life of Charles Dickens.
• For Dickens in his own words: David Copperfield and his Letters.

Let me know if you’d like more details about any of these!