Singing Stratford Players rehearse for their holiday show “Cheers, a Warm and Humorous Look at Christmas.” From left are Chic Fojtik, Allison Fedrick, Barbara Rayliss, Christopher Morse and Derrik Lewis. Photo by Marsha Kennedy
Singing Stratford Players rehearse for their holiday show “Cheers, a Warm and Humorous Look at Christmas.” From left are Chic Fojtik, Allison Fedrick, Barbara Rayliss, Christopher Morse and Derrik Lewis. Photo by Marsha Kennedy

Idyllwild’s resident Shakespeare and classics company, Stratford Players, stage “Cheers, a Warm and Humorous Look at Christmas,” a holiday diversion that aims to brighten spirits during this holiday season.

Featured players include Allison Fedrick, Barbara Rayliss, Chic Fojtek, Christopher Morse, Derrik Lewis, Doug Austin, Dick English, Harriet Briant and Kerry Abrams in a production of readings, songs, poems and musings designed to reflect the spirit of Christmas in Idyllwild.

“We wanted to create a show that was warm and humorous,” said Stratford Artistic Director Marsha Kennedy. “We received personal permission from several professional writers to let us include their work, including two by Dave Barry, both of them absolutely hilarious.

“We searched for some reflective pieces as well, including Christmas Day diaries from a man on the Lewis and Clark expedition and from a woman who spent Christmas day at a soldiers’ hospital in World War I France.”

Kennedy opined that no Christmas production is complete without music and “Cheers” will feature Rayliss and Lewis in a duet of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and the men in the cast will have a go at “The Boar’s Head Carol.”

Tickets are $12 for the production which takes place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27, Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4, at the First Church of Christ Scientist in Idyllwild. Tickets are available at Stratford online, www.stratfordplayers.com, and at the door.

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