2 Short Stories for the Holidays: "Farm Boy" and "A Christmas Carol"

Michael Morpurgo is one of the UK's best loved storytellers. He is the former Children's Laureate, an OBE. Many of his books have been adapted for the stage, most recently "Farm Boy."

"Farm Boy," at 59E59 Theaters as part of Brits Off Broadway, through January 1st, intertwines the story told in the Tony winning "War Horse" in which Albert goes to France to retrieve his horse Joey from the front with the story of Albert's son, now "Grandfather" (John Walters) and great-grandson, (Richard Pryal).

Photo by Carol Rosegg From L to R:Richard Pryall (Grandson) and John Walters (Grandfather) i

In "Farm Boy," we learn that when Albert came back from WWI, everyone in the village called him Corporal. We pick up the tale with the boy from the city visiting his grandfather on the family farm.

Photo by Carol Rosegg :Richard Pryall (Grandson) and the tractor i

When the Grandfather was just a boy, his father, "Corporal," still plowed the fields with Joey and another horse until...he won the tractor.

In Daniel Buckroyd's adaptation of "Farm Boy," the tale is told mostly as a story, with Grandfather and Grandson taking turns in the telling.

"Farm Boy" runs for just about one easy-going hour.

Find out more about Brits Off Broadway, and "Farm Boy" at www.59e59.org or at www.BritsOffBroadway.com
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You'll Find More Traditional Holiday Story Telling in "A Christmas Carol"

Bah, Humbug! Here's to the Holiday Spirit. Scrooge was content to dismiss the holidays and carry on as if Christmas was just an ordinary day. He is all business and no pleasure until the spirits of the season reveal to him the error of his ways.

Charles Dickens (Jimmy Kieffer) visits Canal Park Playhouse to spin the famous Christmas yarn. The ghosts of Christmases past and future accompany him on his way.

The program will run through December 24th and you may find a complete schedule at www.canalparkplayhouse.com