Checked out Dell’Arte’s 27th annual holiday play last night. Full review in the next Eye (that’s the Tuesday, Nov. 27 issue). In the meantime, if you’re thinking of catching it tonight in Blue Lake or tomorrow at the Van Duzer, here’s notes from last night:

(amazing that I can read them, scrawled mostly in the dark as they were)
DELL’ARTE
Carlo is packed
How many plays have I seen at Dell’Arte?
Set looks great – cockeyed with platforms of varying levels, books and pipes, a trunk, a crate, a dangling carrot
MICHAEL FIELDS
7,000 people will see for free
from Cave Junction to Laytonville
PLAY
strange and surreal opening
8 characters
excellent flashback
wonderful cartoonish faces
laughing children audience
banker in trunk!
physical comedy brilliant

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Again, here’s the details:
FREE PERFORMANCES:
Fri. & Sat., November 23, 24 – Dell’Arte’s Carlo Theatre, Blue Lake, 7:30pm
Sunday, November 25 – Van Duzer Theatre. HSU, Arcata, 7:30pm
Tuesday, November 27 – McKinleyville High School Aud., 7:30pm
Friday, November 30 – Trinity Valley School, Willow Creek, 7:00pm
Saturday, December 1 – Lorna Bryne School, Cave Junction, OR, 7:00pm
Sunday, December 2 – Crescent City Cultural Center, Crescent City, 7:00pm
Monday, December 3 – Orick Elementary School, Orick, 6:00pm
Wednesday, December 5 – Arkley Center for the Arts, Eureka, 7:30pm
Saturday, December 8 – Fortuna River Lodge, Fortuna, 7:30pm
Sunday, Dec. 9 – Mattole Community Center, Petrolia, 3:00pm

ENCORE PERFORMANCES:
Tickets: $5-$8
Thur-Sun, December 13 -16 – Dell’Arte’s Carlo Theatre, Blue Lake, 7:30pm