Alley Theatre Season

Charles Dickens, the prominent author of the annual Alley Theatre play, A Christmas Carol, wrote a variety of colorful characters in his works. Especially in one of his literary masterpieces The Personal History of David Copperfield, a novel of which is also considered autobiographical. Most recently, specifically 2019, it has been turned into a movie written and directed by Armando Iannucci. In this page, I decided to include quotes from the 2019 comedy-drama film because I find it the most amusing movie, I have seen this year. Laughter, as they say, is the best medicine. If you’ve already seen the film, then you know what I’m talking about. If you have yet to see the movie, I have to tell you, that Ben Wishaw as the Charles Dickens villainous character Uriah Heep is one of the most hilarious inventions ever created. If you want to laugh, I urge you to see this delightful movie.

“It was a joke. I’m sorry, it was a joke. I’ve been attempting to learn gentleman’s humor from a book.” – Uriah Heep in the 2019 movie The Personal History of David Copperfield.

72 miles. It's the distance between Tucson, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico - and the distance between a recently deported mother and her American-born husband and children. 72 Miles to Go ..... follows one family over a decade as they grow up, fall in love, fight in wars, and fight for each other. This play by Hilary Bettis (The Americans), returns to the Alley following development in the 2019 Alley All New Festival and its world premiere off-Broadway.

Chris Hutchison's variety of masks (with Elizabeth Bunch)

James Black's variety of masks

Paul Hope's variety of masks (with Chris Hutchison)

Shawn Hamilton as Reverend Martin Luther King and Paul Hope as Juddge Howard Smith

“Master Copperfield, no sooner are we reunited, then we must part again. Like the Bible story. I’m sure there must be a bible story about that.” -- Mrs. Micawbre in the 2019 movie The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Quite true, there seem to be a bible story about everything. For instance, the Bible contains a variety of patron saints for every calamity, cause or creed. As they say, these saints in heaven will perform miracles for you, if you pray for the specific patron saint assigned to that particular department. For instance, in the Catholic faith, if a friend or a relative has been diagnosed with breast cancer, one prays to Saint Agatha, the patron saint of this particular disease. The patron saint for general cancer patients is Saint Peregrine. Another example, Saint Anthony de Padua is the patron saint of lost things. Which means, if you lost a wedding ring, and couldn’t find it anywhere around the house, you can pray to Saint Anthony and he will help you find it.

Saint Thomas of Aquinas is the patron saint for Education. That is probably why there are a number of universities named after Saint Thomas. Or if one lives in a country with a Spanish influence, such as the Philippines, there are establishments named Universidad de Santo Tomas. Saint Christopher is a patron saint for traveling. And yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Saint Nicklaus is the patron saint for gift-giving. Saint Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint for prisoners, having died in prison himself. He is also the patron saint for recovering drug addicts, journalists, political prisoners and amateur radio operators.

“Might I be so bold, Master Copperfield, as to ask you to come to tea with me and mother? I understand Master Copperfield, I understand. It’s not my place to invite the likes of you to tea.” – Uriah Heep in the 2019 movie The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Alley Theatre's variety of masks: James Black, Elizabeth Bunch and Melissa Pritchett

WORLD PREMIERE COMEDY

HIGH SCHOOL PLAY: A NOSTALGIA FEST

BY VICHET CHUM

Directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene

The Alley's Hubbard Theatre

January 21 - February 13, 2022

It's senior year in Carrollton, Texas and Riverside High School's competitive theatre troupe is climbing back to the top from last year's unprecedented loss. Dara is trying to rally his teammates, while new kid Paul disrupts Dara's complete understanding of himself and his small town suburban life. When coaches Dirkson and Blow make a bold choice for the one-act play competition and the community takes issue, friends and rivals duke it out and find themselves in this uniquely Texan and thoroughly universal coming of age comedy by Texan playwright Vichet Chum, directed by Houston native Tiffany Nichole Greene. Developed in the 2020 Alley All New Festival.

“They live with us now. I hear their snores like lovelorn toads calling across the swamp.” – Agnes Wickfield in the 2019 movie The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Personally, I’d like to do a shout out to Saint Jude, the patron saint of lost causes. I have prayed to him in the past and he answered my prayers with a positive outcome. It has been said, that when that happens, one has to publicly express one’s gratitude. At the time this occurred, which was several years ago, I didn’t understand why I had to publicly acknowledge Saint Jude for the miracle he performed for me. When I pray my rosary, it’s an internal, private, silent act of contrition. Why do I have to thank him publicly? Why do I have to advertise it like a TV commercial? Lately, I’ve been praying to Saint Jude a lot. With friends and relatives affected by the Corona virus, cancer, stroke, heart attacks, paralysis and other ailments, the patron saint of lost causes seems to be right department to direct my prayers to.

“Shall I make us a bowl of punch? We need a lemon. Miss Trotwood, you look like you're sucking one.” – Uriah Heep in the 2019 movie The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Nowadays, I’m beginning to understand why I have to honor Saint Jude with an act of public acknowledgement. I believe that the purpose of openly expressing gratitude to Saint Jude is to promote his services to other living souls who happen to need a solution for their own unfortunate hopeless circumstance. Some people need to know who to turn to in times of dire need and utter helplessness. Also, he is not to be confused with Judas Iscariot, that backstabbing apostle. It’s not unlike a Yelp review. It’s to let other people know, that if they need to ask for assistance, Saint Jude will listen and will be there to help.

Which makes me wonder, is there a patron saint assigned for pedophile priests? I know, some people will probably crucify me for putting the words ‘patron saint’ and ‘pedophile priests’ in the same sentence. But then again, it wasn’t I who committed the crime. I’m just some writer, expressing my thoughts on paper. Or rather, typing words on a keyboard. Publicly revealing my thoughts on a desktop. Just thinking loud enough for all the world wide web to hear. I did not do the dirty deed.

I have often speculated how these pedophiles were able to get away with their crimes undetected by the authorities. Maybe it was the practice of Omerta that resulted in the continued success of their pedophilia. You know, that code of silence utilized by the most secret of organizations. The hushed practice by that underground crime syndicate. Whose acts of corruption, wrong doing and law breaking are so severe, their name is almost unmentionable, (of which begins with the capital letter M and ends with the letter A). Omerta is how they got away with it. By using Omerta as common practice, you can get away with it too. Successfully and for several years. Over and over again. Unnoticed by the government and overlooked by the community. Concurrent to the criminal’s insidious actions, maybe Father Geoghan’s supervisors did not bother to conduct the essential psychological background checks before they granted him the official uniform to wear.

I mean, what could possibly be worse than a pedophile Catholic priest? Maybe, an incestuous pedophile. Those people who bear children, just so they can rape them. Yes, Virginia, there is evil everywhere. Not just in the Catholic Church.

But then all will be forgiven in the end. At least, that’s what my preacher tells me. The Church is very forgiving. But I digress.

“Do you mock me?” – Uriah Heep in the 2019 movie The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Bettye Fitzpatrick in A Christmas Carol 2008 production. She passed away in 2011 at 79 years old.

“I do. I put it to you that for your own pecuniary aggrandizement, you falsified documents in order to mystify an individual whom I will designate in code as Mister W.” – Mr. Micawber in the 2019 movie The Personal History of David Copperfield