I have moved our OTC "ideas" into this thread. Due to the way the forum merge feature works, some of the posts have been re-arranged in order of the chronological age on the forums. Sorry for the confusion.
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I agree that the tree could be a lot better though... It was cool for the first year, but it's already been surpassed by a long shot so most people aren't impressed any more. It's not as timeless of a design as the previous iteration. Incorporating the area into the display was a good improvement though. The technology, or at least the logistics tech behind it all has made some significant strides in a short period of time. The big flashing blocky-look is getting dated fast. I think the old tree was more timeless, so maybe they can go back to something like that with more advanced lighting within the next few years.
I think tree is older than 3 or 4 years....( time moves along so fast anymore)
IF they could just change up music and light patterns.... the tree would be fine IMHO.... (after all it is all computer controlled now anyway. Right?)
I've never been impressed with something that resembles the shape of a tree, but in no way really looks like one. I know my opinion doesn't hold much, but what I'd like to see is a very big artificial tree that looks like a real tree and has a really nice LED light show. I think it's pretty amazing what some of the new LED lights can do on Ferris Wheels....now just use that same technology and put it on a 70' Christmas Tree.
Jay
The tree has gotten so hum drum for us that we do not even venture up to see the ceremony anymore. I really hope they work on something else soon. But, it still seems to draw a big crowd so the PTB might see this as a excuse to keep everything as is. I would also like to see new and different shows added for Christmas, the ones we have now are getting long in the tooth. Off topic I know.
We have been doing some discussion on the trip review thread so decided to start this one up new..
We talked about the Tree.. new in 2007. what do you think about it?
What about the new Parade? thoughts? opinions? Pictures anyone?
What about the fact the food vendors close at 7:30?
What about the shows? time for new ones? keep them? add some?
personally I like the show selection we have now, yes The Christmas Carol is an "old" production, but it is done so well and the stage is done in excellent form, I like it.. I can watch it a couple of times in 1 year and enjoy it... As well as the new "its a wonderful Life"... it is well done, and the actors do a good job. The Live Nativity is a great event.. So I am not sure what "new" show would need to be added.....
Maybe bring "Tinker" back!! ;)
I caught the saloon show with Shave, and it is an all NEW show. The middle had some chaos in it, but over all refreshing :D
What kind of new show? Let's use the Riverside Playhouse/Courthouse again with the great old music of the Ozarks revue like the shows they did in the past. They did some great shows in that theater, but they don't seem to care that even exists now. With that, I can't say it enough, please bring another show in the summer, as well! For the Glory, Headin' West, and others were the standard for the City not so long ago, and now we get...Pure Heart, Sons of the Silver Dollar, and Cajun Connection. We used to get all of that AND a well-produced show to boot. Cartoon characters? Please! Unique and quality are the names of the game.
Had not heard the saloon show is a new one yet.. I will put it on the "have to see" list for sunday....
OTC SHOWS
-Dickens: I am ready for the show to get a reboot and be refreshed. I don't want the show to go away, but I think some new songs, new staging/props/effects would be good for it. It is still a great production - but I can literally quote and sing the entire production.
-Wonderful Life: It is probably the "tightest" it has been with this year's cast. I was very impressed with the show and will definitely make a point to see it again on my next visit
-Fa-la-la-la-Follies: All NEW show. This is probably one of the best, if not the best, of the Christmas Saloon Shows in the last 10 years. Pretty much all new material. Some great gags and audience participation. A Must See
-Living Nativity: I am ready for a new show here. I want the Living Nativity to still have a presence in the park, but they have been doing this same musical rendition since they went away from the "in the round" format in Heritage Hall.
-Parade: I like the new floats, but the soundtrack leaves me very underwhelmed. The parade feels more sterile too - almost too commercialized.
-Tree: I like the music - but I think it is time to upgrade the pattern work. I don't see why the light show is restricted to square patterns. I am sure they are more than capable of doing imagery on the tree or even mapping. I think it is time to go the next step -- shoot they could even do mapping on the area buildings.
-Cajun Christmas: I'm not a fan of their normal show, so not sure why I would like the Christmas edition. I think it would be cool to do a "World Fest" style Christmas here. Who wouldn't like to hear Steel Drum renditions of Christmas Carols? Mariachi bands playing Feliz Navidad and the like?
-Frosty: It's horrible, but the kids like it. I guess it can stay.
Swoosh- great list... you covered most of it.!
The tree- I agree it is time to take it to the next level. The newer technology out there could make this a total immersion event. Now it is just ho hum.
Dickens- not a good judge here because I am simply tired of this story in any shape or form. Seen it in to many forms over the years. I could care less if I ever see another rendition of Dickens. Write a new original show and get rid of it.
Wonderful life- this one still has some time left. Still a good show
Saloon show- have not seen this years version. Glad to hear that there is a new show.
Cajun connection- have never seen the Christmas version.
Nativity- change it up some, but it will always be a part of the season.
Parade - I will wait to see what this years version is like. I was getting tired of the old one though.
We do not eat at the park, but it seems like they are losing a lot of opportunity if they close that early.
I know a lot of people come for just the lights, but I find the park lacking in things to do at Christmas time. I really wish that there were more indoor dark rides that could operate in any weather.
It appears that I'm in the minority. I still love the tree and the lighting.
OH! don't get me wrong, I still like the tree, and I watch the lighting ceremony...
BUT after 6 or 7 years of the same songs and lighting sequence, it would be nice to fire up the puter, load up new songs and reprogram the lights...
QuoteBUT after 6 or 7 years of the same songs and lighting sequence, it would be nice to fire up the puter, load up new songs and reprogram the lights...
At least.....
I would imagine that new more intricate patterns on the tree would require a physical upgrade compared to just computer programming. The lights are on the tree in blocks. Just like pixels on a TV, each pixel (or block) can be lit individually. I'm not sure that anything smaller than the squares on the tree could be lit to a pattern without upgrading the tree to much smaller squares.
Regarding the timing of food vendors closing, I bought dinner at 8:15 Saturday night and the lady said they could make anything on the menu for me. I was at Hatfields tater patch.
All good comments!
TREE: I thought I was tired of the tree, also. But, I didn't get to see it last year, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it this year.
PARADE: I liked the parade more than I thought I would. Rudolph in the car didn't impress me, but I really like the additional floats and the tall walking candy canes, ornaments, etc. It added a missing bit of humor to it.
SHOWS: Swoosh, thanks for the update on the saloon show. I'll check it out Thanksgiving. I was getting tired of Dicken's until I saw A Christmas Carol at the Fox Theater a couple years ago. We were so bored, we walked out before the ending. AND, I didn't like It's A Wonderful Life at all the first time I saw it, BUT, I saw it this year and loved it! Maybe I wasn't in the mood the first time, or they made some changes, but the Hubs liked it, also.
LIGHTS: Are there fewer lights this year? The entrance trees has only white lights. I loved the colors they had in previous years. And, are there fewer lights in the Grand Expo area? There didn't seem to be as many during the 5K, or were they just not turned on?
The only area with fewer lights this year is down by the construction site for obvious reasons. In fact there are areas with more lights than normal.
Quote from: Bogart on November 12, 2014, 10:06:19 AM
I would imagine that new more intricate patterns on the tree would require a physical upgrade compared to just computer programming. The lights are on the tree in blocks. Just like pixels on a TV, each pixel (or block) can be lit individually. I'm not sure that anything smaller than the squares on the tree could be lit to a pattern without upgrading the tree to much smaller squares.
It's a grid. They could easily go more complex.
It's been noted that the new LED's that are slowly being rolled out across the parks (both SDC and DW) are noticeably less warm and while apparently being brighter at the light point, somehow don't cast light as far. Hopefully some new techniques will roll out to correct this over the coming years as lights continue to get replaced, but it's just something we'll have to live with. The park isn't really doing anything differently. There's also some issue sourcing certain colors of lights, which seems to be a national issue. I don't know if it's a manufacturing thing related to the LED's or what, but it's hard to come by certain colors of lights. That's one reason why there are more random neon colors in certain places and less of the "classic" color patterns.
I would not mind seeing Rudolph done as a major production next Christmas.
Quote from: Swoosh on November 12, 2014, 12:31:41 PM
Quote from: Bogart on November 12, 2014, 10:06:19 AM
I would imagine that new more intricate patterns on the tree would require a physical upgrade compared to just computer programming. The lights are on the tree in blocks. Just like pixels on a TV, each pixel (or block) can be lit individually. I'm not sure that anything smaller than the squares on the tree could be lit to a pattern without upgrading the tree to much smaller squares.
It's a grid. They could easily go more complex.
I understand it's a grid. My point is you can't reprogram a 720p flat screen to display 4k video just by rewriting the code. The grid on the tv is not small enough or compact enough to do it.
Of course I don't know anything about the actual tech involved with the tree so I'm just expressing thoughts based on what I've seen. I hope than can do more complex lighting.
On topic by 50% I went to get the ornament the night I was there at the park and check on the new passes possibly order them. In the schoolhouse there were 3 ladies behind the counter. 1 was doing nothing at her register but paperwork and the other 2 were slowly processing passes. I stood there for 25 min and was 3 people back in line when I got there. The end result was frustration and lost interest in the situation and I walked. I would hardly think I am the only one that isn't interested in using more than 30 min of my evening at the park waiting to get a free ornament and simultaneously shelling out $200 for next years passes. I expect better service than this at SDC. This needs to be sped up. I did not understand why they were asking every question for every person and these people appeared to be current pass holders. Why the system would not allow them to scan the bar and then confirm that no info had changed. Instead apparently they have to confirm each bit of info for each pass purchased. Very slow, I lost interest, if they are going to give away ornaments don't make me wait in line for 30 min to get one. Do this at 2 or 3 park locations.
FYI -- I didn't say ALL food vendors closed at 7:30 on Sunday night but there are ones that were closed -- Jim Owen Fish Camp, Riverside Rib House, Elmer's Frankfurters, the refreshment stand by the Opera House that sells the big cookies, many other stands in the back section of the park.
If the park closes at 9 or later, why can't there be a show or 2 that starts at 7:30? Doesn't have to be one of the hour long productions. Talked to one woman who had attended the last Cajun Connection show of the day. She was in a motorized scooter. She wasn't exactly sure what to do while the rest of her family was off riding the rides.
There are areas besides the construction zone that do seem darker than in previous years. Maybe it is my faulty memory but I thought there used to be more trees that had lights.
I do think the ornament/season pass process could be improved.
Quote from: mhguy77 on November 13, 2014, 07:55:55 AM
On topic by 50% I went to get the ornament the night I was there at the park and check on the new passes possibly order them. In the schoolhouse there were 3 ladies behind the counter. 1 was doing nothing at her register but paperwork and the other 2 were slowly processing passes. I stood there for 25 min and was 3 people back in line when I got there. The end result was frustration and lost interest in the situation and I walked. I would hardly think I am the only one that isn't interested in using more than 30 min of my evening at the park waiting to get a free ornament and simultaneously shelling out $200 for next years passes. I expect better service than this at SDC. This needs to be sped up. I did not understand why they were asking every question for every person and these people appeared to be current pass holders. Why the system would not allow them to scan the bar and then confirm that no info had changed. Instead apparently they have to confirm each bit of info for each pass purchased. Very slow, I lost interest, if they are going to give away ornaments don't make me wait in line for 30 min to get one. Do this at 2 or 3 park locations.
We had the same experience the past two years (haven't been down yet this OTC). At the very least they could do one line for just ornaments. I feel like I'm wasting my night by standing in line for 30 minutes or more just for a free ornament.
Homestead Pickers have a show around 8-8:15 PM.. I think it's the latest one in the park.
Quote from: Ozarks Gal on November 13, 2014, 08:29:18 AM
Quote from: mhguy77 on November 13, 2014, 07:55:55 AM
On topic by 50% I went to get the ornament the night I was there at the park and check on the new passes possibly order them. In the schoolhouse there were 3 ladies behind the counter. 1 was doing nothing at her register but paperwork and the other 2 were slowly processing passes. I stood there for 25 min and was 3 people back in line when I got there. The end result was frustration and lost interest in the situation and I walked. I would hardly think I am the only one that isn't interested in using more than 30 min of my evening at the park waiting to get a free ornament and simultaneously shelling out $200 for next years passes. I expect better service than this at SDC. This needs to be sped up. I did not understand why they were asking every question for every person and these people appeared to be current pass holders. Why the system would not allow them to scan the bar and then confirm that no info had changed. Instead apparently they have to confirm each bit of info for each pass purchased. Very slow, I lost interest, if they are going to give away ornaments don't make me wait in line for 30 min to get one. Do this at 2 or 3 park locations.
We had the same experience the past two years (haven't been down yet this OTC). At the very least they could do one line for just ornaments. I feel like I'm wasting my night by standing in line for 30 minutes or more just for a free ornament.
They should be able to just mail the ornament to those who qualify. The system should be able to notify them who is entitled to the ornaments. So , as for the on topic 50 %. I really think they are using a very old and cumbersome ticketing system. This summer while purchasing a $30.00 Thursday pass I watched how many screens the lady had to go through just in order to process a ticket I had already bought at Country Mart. Maybe a new software program would speed up the process. As for me I will buy my passes online and save the time.
If you've ever had to wait for your Santa photos, you know the waits there are pretty serious, as well.
Quote from: cheesehead57 on November 13, 2014, 09:23:24 AM
Homestead Pickers have a show around 8-8:15 PM.. I think it's the latest one in the park.
Unfortunately, the space is small where they perform.
there always seems to be a "full house", when they are playing.....
Quote from: sanddunerider on November 14, 2014, 02:11:11 PM
there always seems to be a "full house", when they are playing.....
The problem with the Homestead Pickers is no one ever leaves. There are visitors that just stay in the cabin for hours which means no one can get in, even between sets. Hubs and I have personally stood outside for 45 min. trying to get in, and only one of us finally made it. We had a guy actually blocking the door once as we tried to open it. I mean the guy was aggressive! We pushed on the outside to get in, and he body slammed it back shut. I was caught in the middle! And, it hurt!
The popularity of the pickers tells me maybe they ought to bring in more acts like them! Remember Jan and John? Swing and Turn Jubilee? River Rats? Norm and Norm? James Garett?
I agree with you Junior too. More acts like the Pickers are needed. And you need to get to their shows 20-30 minutes before they start. We never have any problems seeing them.
Not to be repetitive, but...
Quote from: History Buff on November 11, 2014, 05:54:31 PM
What kind of new show? Let's use the Riverside Playhouse/Courthouse again with the great old music of the Ozarks revue like the shows they did in the past. They did some great shows in that theater, but they don't seem to care that the venue even exists now.
Quote from: History Buff on November 15, 2014, 10:05:49 AM
Not to be repetitive, but...
Quote from: History Buff on November 11, 2014, 05:54:31 PM
What kind of new show? Let's use the Riverside Playhouse/Courthouse again with the great old music of the Ozarks revue like the shows they did in the past. They did some great shows in that theater, but they don't seem to care that the venue even exists now.
Riverside Playhouse is being used for the Living Nativity. Not sure why another group cannot appear between performances of the Living Nativity. Or why another group can't share the Dockside Theater or the Boatworks Theater. Why couldn't the Homestead Pickers perform in one of those locations?
^The homestead pickers don't seem to want to move away from the homestead. I mean, it's part of their name and identity, so I guess I can see it, but I wouldn't mind one show a day in riverside to make them easier to access. If you don't get to the homestead early, you often can't even get in for a show.
There are indeed plenty of bluegrass musicians who'd love to stop in on weekends at the city to perform there too. I know plenty of people who'd love that.
The Homestead is the Homestead Pickers venue. For then to do one show a day somewhere else would involve hauling a lot of instruments around and in this changeable weather would take a lot more tuning than to just keep in the cabin. It would be nice to have a larger place for them. A thought was to set up in the barn like they used to when there were barn dances, but the disabilities act wouldn't allow it like it is now and to comply would have to tear down the barn. We can't have that. Too many of the Park's mainstays are already disappearing.
I miss The Cleverlys.
Gotta give a big thumbs up to SDC for using McHaffie's Homestead to showcase the traditional Ozarks stuff...the pickers, Aunt Judy, the animals out back, along with the school house Case steam engine, and church. In my day on park, these were static attractions, not much was done with them. Now this is a living history area. I think they ought to do more with Birdle's Cabin. More traditional music would be nice. However, this area of the park reminds me of early cable TV. Used to be each cable system offered public access, but no more. Times changed. I think you better enjoy the traditional stuff while it lasts, there may come a day when the rest of the crafts are replaced with a rollercoaster. Hope not.
Junior too....I agree with you. We have to cherish what is left of the whole Homestead area including Birdles cabin. Most of the people that go to the park aren't even aware of the story of Birdle or her cabin. Maybe Aunt Judy or Frisco Jack ought to retell the story of Birdle and also about the McHaffie cabin again.
I was told by an administrative employee that the cabin and that part of history is being emphasized in the educational program when students are brought on field trips.
If they wanted to have a show in another theater on park it would not require them to move anything but themselves. Get them another set of instruments and park them in whatever theater they wanted to play in. The sound system and everything else that is needed in a theater setting could be set up in advance.
Or have a back porch stage like at Dollywood where their Pickers perform. It is basically like Boatworks
It would be hard to have every instrument that the Pickers use ,that they have personalized doubled for a different show. Maybe some performers do that, but not them.They all have many instruments, but only use certain ones for their shows.
I know this thread hasn't been posted on in a month now, but OTC 2014 is still going, and I've been away for a while, so I wanted to put some input in regarding the Christmas tree...
I totally agree that it needs updating. It's been around enough years that Christmas light technology has advanced so much that now it just looks old.
I'm going to post some links to personal Christmas displays from the last year or so, to show just how behind SDC's tree is now, and to point out what can be done nowadays by just a handful of people (and sometimes just one!)!
Now, this first one is produced by a team of people, hired by Fred Loya for this year's display, which won him a trophy from the Great Christmas Light Fight. Look at what someone from the general public can do with a team of engineers, etc!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rctTGYPwkkQ
This 2014 display, uploaded just one month ago, shows just how detailed lights can get; they have an actual picture of Elsa going across the tree!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BbOf-WhXxk
This one, done by the same guy in 2013, is a great show of all the amazing colors that can be customized on a single tree:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmzsxokAQ9U
Here's a house display from 2013 featuring my all-time favorite Disney music, "Reflections of Earth" from Epcot's Illuminations fireworks show; this video is a great example of how to integrate "pixel" lighting with "normal" lights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQHT80kMbzo
Not a Christmas-y song, but this 2012 synchronization is AMAZING. The display was done by a single person, and there are some amazing examples of "video" displayed with the LEDs on the roof:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2e1w3gPkms
Finally, here's a wonderful "pixel tree" from 2012:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxlEI66CuBc
Just a side note...the tree on the square had all new decorations installed this year...
I like the tree. If they change it, I hope it doesn't go too "all techy". It may take away some of the charm.
I don't think you can really get too much more "techy" than the tree already is. It just needs updated light controls so that the light shows can have more customization to it; that's what I was really aiming for in my last post. During the day, you can hardly tell there are lights on the tree unless you get close to it, so it looks fine by day. It just needs less blocky lighting for the shows.
I think if they could make the the lighting package do patterns that make it look like an actual Christmas tree being decorated during the music. Also being able to make pictures and so on -- I think they call it "mapping". I think it would be neat to put photos of people that visited that day on there during a song. Stuff like that.
I don't know if they still do it, but Disney World used to use their projection mapping on Cinderella Castle to put people's pics up from that day during their pre-show for Wishes; it was SO cool. I'd love to see something like that on the tree!
Quote from: Joy on December 21, 2014, 10:40:13 PM
I don't know if they still do it, but Disney World used to use their projection mapping on Cinderella Castle to put people's pics up from that day during their pre-show for Wishes; it was SO cool. I'd love to see something like that on the tree!
Exactly what I was thinking they should do. I think Disney is still doing this. Also, I think the music soundtrack on the tree is really sounding bad.
Sounding bad as in needs new songs or the audio output isn't sounding good?
Have they ever used any Mannheim Steamroller or Trans-Siberian Orchestra for the tree? Most of what they use comes from David Foster and Boston Pops, right? Does it maybe just cost too much to license out Mannheim or TSO music? 'Cause, man, I'd love to see some Mannheim or TSO used.
Quote from: Joy on December 22, 2014, 10:24:00 PM
Sounding bad as in needs new songs or the audio output isn't sounding good?
Have they ever used any Mannheim Steamroller or Trans-Siberian Orchestra for the tree? Most of what they use comes from David Foster and Boston Pops, right? Does it maybe just cost too much to license out Mannheim or TSO music? 'Cause, man, I'd love to see some Mannheim or TSO used.
To me it sounded like something recorded in the 40's . Real crackly ( if thats a word) and tinny sounding.
A TSO soundtrack on a new tree would be awesome.
I am a huge Mannheim Steamroller and TSO fan, but I LOVE David Foster's version of Carol of the Bells more than any other I have ever heard. The SDC Tree was the 1st time I ever heard that version, and for a while I thought they composed it themselves because I had such a hard time finding it anywhere else. What I liked about the old/original tree were the candles and how they were lit to the beat of Carol of the Bells.
If/when SDC does do a new tree, I'd like to see them incorporate the candles from the original tree, or something similar. I wouldn't mind new songs, but Carol of the Bells has to stay.
Quote from: Runner1960 on December 23, 2014, 07:37:33 AM
Quote from: Joy on December 22, 2014, 10:24:00 PM
Sounding bad as in needs new songs or the audio output isn't sounding good?
Have they ever used any Mannheim Steamroller or Trans-Siberian Orchestra for the tree? Most of what they use comes from David Foster and Boston Pops, right? Does it maybe just cost too much to license out Mannheim or TSO music? 'Cause, man, I'd love to see some Mannheim or TSO used.
To me it sounded like something recorded in the 40's . Real crackly ( if thats a word) and tinny sounding.
A TSO soundtrack on a new tree would be awesome.
Now that I think about it more, what I was hearing was probably more of a speaker problem than a soundtrack problem. With today's digital soundtracks they really never go bad. I still feel the tree needs a complete overhaul. It is past its prime. And the Pickers hate it, just ask them ;D
Open flames in the entire area would be awesome. Consider the cressets at Williamsburg.
(http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/~/media/images/cw/holiday/600x400/cresset-lighting.ashx)
Quote from: Runner1960 on December 22, 2014, 01:53:23 PM
Quote from: Joy on December 21, 2014, 10:40:13 PM
I don't know if they still do it, but Disney World used to use their projection mapping on Cinderella Castle to put people's pics up from that day during their pre-show for Wishes; it was SO cool. I'd love to see something like that on the tree!
Exactly what I was thinking they should do. I think Disney is still doing this. Also, I think the music soundtrack on the tree is really sounding bad.
Somehow I don't think this would work out well on the tree. It's nice to just look at the tree as it's going through it's regular light cycle outside of the shows. Maybe they could do this on another christmas-themed structure nearby though...
After watching the tree again with my family a few weeks ago, I found that it still had a great effect. When you imagine back on it it's always less impressive than in person. If I were to mess with it now I'd really just want to get rid of the moving box segments since they never seem to look right and I'd make the tree another two stories taller or so.
To be totally honest I would just rather see a real tree brought in from somewhere. Decorated very nice and a nightly lighting ceremony that is not so loud and in your face like the one is now. Something like the white House does for a tree.
Leave the main tree and have the live tree lighting somewhere away from the main square. Perhaps in the area between the waterfall and powderkeg. In the old 'land of forgotten crafts' area. That would be epic
We just managed to make it to the city for a few hours yesterday, so, while it's fresh in my mind, I'll comment. BUT: I warn you--my commeants will be contrary ;D Pleae don't sic the Baldnobbers on me! YMMV!
Tree: UGLY--like Ralphie B. It looks nothing like any tree I've ever seen. I loathe LED lighting--grates on my nerves like fingernails on the chalkboard in the schoolhouse. They are garish and obnoxious, cold but feverish. I refuse to watch the tree show and avoid the square if possible during OTC. The MUSIC is OK, but I don't have to be near the tree-thing to hear it. Give me a real tree--or even a decent artificial one--with real lights, and I'll be mesmorized.
Parade: Zero interest. It is at best an inconvenience when you need to get around the city, and it seems to draw out the worst in people protecting their standing/sitting spots from anybody who might poach them--but all *I* want to do is get through to go somwhere else! Have yet to see one of the parades. I have fond memories of Rudolf's show, and I still try to watch it every year, but I am not the intended audience, so I won't say anything more.
Train: Love Grandpa. I think the conductors should stop the ads during the Christmas runs and add another song or two to sing, especially at least one carol.
Frontier Follies: Haven't seen any of the previous ones but was delighted by this one, especially the shift from the Grinch-ish show to Linus telling Charlie Brown the Real Meaning of Christmas. Great audience participation.
Dickens: A very well done production that could be improved by correcting the silly reversal of the Ghosts of Past and Present. I don't mind the Carol-Kane-esque schtick so much, but put the right ghost with the right name. Believe it or not, the symbolism IS important. Scrooge does a great job of making clear the "Bah! Humbug," is NOT a single phrase but nearly unrelated words. One interesting point: my younger son was put off by the use of a song from The Polar Express. Thinking about it, I think they might try to replace it with the song from Mr. MaGoo's Chsristmas Carol.
Wonderful Life: Didn't make it to see it this year, but did last year. I was left lukewarm by it, but I can't really think of any changes to improve it.
Live Nativity: Again, didn't get there this year, and I am sorry about that. Can't recommend anything because of the miss.
I hope no one is offended by some of my harsh comments, and I fully realize that *I* am not a good judge of what will bring folks to SDC today. OTC does a wonderful job of not only valuing Christmas but doing so for the right reasons, and I can live with what I perceived to be flaws for that reason.
Palallin...
as far as the tree and parade goes.... LOL...
DONT hold back!!
Tell us what you really think!!!!
I think that's an honest review. I'm OK with the tree, though if it works correctly and includes the entire square as it was designed to. I would like it to include the entire square and perhaps even encourage interaction in some way. My 11-year-old daughter still dances like no one is watching. She cares more about seeing the tree than anything else in the park. Anything to make it more gooder will certainly be welcome.
You are the first to mention the change in the spirits for the Dickens show. I have recently discovered that reversal.
The first ghost would be difficult to enact on the stage:
QuoteIt was a strange figure -- like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and being diminished to a child's proportions. Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it, and the tenderest bloom was on the skin. The arms were very long and muscular; the hands the same, as if its hold were of uncommon strength. Its legs and feet, most delicately formed, were, like those upper members, bare. It wore a tunic of the purest white and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful. It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand; and, in singular contradiction of that wintry emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer flowers. But the strangest thing about it was, that from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by which all this was visible; and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm.
Even this, though, when Scrooge looked at it with increasing steadiness, was not its strangest quality. For as its belt sparkled and glittered now in one part and now in another, and what was light one instant, at another time was dark, so the figure itself fluctuated in its distinctness: being now a thing with one arm, now with one leg, now with twenty legs, now a pair of legs without a head, now a head without a body: of which dissolving parts, no outline would be visible in the dense gloom wherein they melted away. And in the very wonder of this, it would be itself again; distinct and clear as ever.
The second ghost:
QuoteIt was clothed in one simple green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free: free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust.
I don't see how the symbolism matters to everyman. Unless one does a deep study, the imagery is just descriptive and doesn't have to be symbolic, but I do like a show that respects the original text and the author, so for that a major rewrite would be required. The show is a long one and really demands the humor of the second ghost at that point.
I would rather adopt a rewrite in the Christmas Yet to Be scene. While the music is beautiful and the singing is superb, it sounds, looks, and feels too Catholic to my liking. I think they would do well to make it appeal more to general Christianity.
As for
Wonderful Life, nothing can replace the movie. This show does not have the same feel as the Christmas Carol (since WL is set in a period
after the parks theme. Again, it is a long show for a theme park, but at the same time, that's nice since it keeps us out of the weather.
We only saw the last of the parade, but I can't imagine it cost what they claim. If so, I may be in the wrong business. The City is not made for a parade, and it does shut much of the operations down when it comes through. That's true of any parade, of course, but it really can trap a person in a very small space if one does not plan ahead.
Looking at the LED lights in our neighborhood, I concur about them leaving me cold. The colors seem metallic and uninviting to me.
Well, your daughter, bless her!, is the intended audience, so more power to her and to them! At least, it's not a "Holiday Tree" or a "Winter Tree" or some such contrived name. I can forgive it a lot of flaws for that reason--but I don't have to watch ;)
You know, I hadn't given much thought to that Yet to Come scene, but you make a fair point. The McGoo version returns tot he song I suggested earlier for that part, and that might recommend it even more.
Again: I know that *I* am not a fair judge-in fact, I may be completely by myself. I can live with that. But continued KUDOS to the city for making OTC about the heart of Christmas rather than just Rudolf, Frosty, and $$$$.
Quote from: DollarCityBoy on December 23, 2014, 08:32:01 AM
I am a huge Mannheim Steamroller and TSO fan, but I LOVE David Foster's version of Carol of the Bells more than any other I have ever heard. The SDC Tree was the 1st time I ever heard that version, and for a while I thought they composed it themselves because I had such a hard time finding it anywhere else. What I liked about the old/original tree were the candles and how they were lit to the beat of Carol of the Bells.
If/when SDC does do a new tree, I'd like to see them incorporate the candles from the original tree, or something similar. I wouldn't mind new songs, but Carol of the Bells has to stay.
Oh, I totally agree. DEFINITELY need to keep Foster's Carol of the Bells. It's my favorite non-techno version of the song!
Quote from: shavethewhales on December 23, 2014, 07:40:36 PM
If I were to mess with it now I'd really just want to get rid of the moving box segments since they never seem to look right and I'd make the tree another two stories taller or so.
Yup. The boxy segments are my main quibble with the tree. I think the tree would look so much better with a bit of an upgrade to give them more control over the movement of the lights; as I pointed out in my earlier posts, there's really no reason why they can't have non-boxy synchronization on the tree.
And yeah, make the tree bigger and maybe bring back a version of the really cool angels on the balcony that the old tree used to have.
Speaking of.... I don't know if I just have bad memory and am mashing things together or what, but I swear I remember the Vienna Boy's Choir singing IN the tree, on the balconies, in place of the lighted angels. Is my brain just mushing together the choir performing near the tree and the tree itself, or what?
Is the current tree the same size as the previous one?
The last time the Boys Choir was at SDC they performed in Heritage Hall.
I remember seeing the boys choir perform on the gazebo stage on Main Street. I seem to remember a living Christmas tree maybe in the Meeting Hall...I know the Haygoods or Duttons performed a Christmas show there at one time, perhaps the late 90s.
Something else occurs to me about A Christmas Carol: They are missing a trick using the music they use during the dance at Fezziwig's: that dance featured a fiddler, one who "knew his business." Surely the show could find a fiddler or two in the Ozarks who fits that description . . . .
NOT a criticism, just a suggestion!
Quote from: History Buff on December 27, 2014, 07:06:56 PM
I would rather adopt a rewrite in the Christmas Yet to Be scene. While the music is beautiful and the singing is superb, it sounds, looks, and feels too Catholic to my liking. I think they would do well to make it appeal more to general Christianity.
Two things. What about the yet to be scene is "too Catholic", and 2) What is wrong with something being Catholic?
By that I simply meant that Ave Maria is profoundly Catholic in it sentiment and does not portray "protestants". The latter generally does not have the same opinion of Mary as intercessor. While I think the tunes of Ave Maria and Little Altar Boy are beautiful, and while I believe David and Rachel do an astounding job of singing them, they could be replaced with other songs that would appeal more fully to Christianity in general and not simply to Catholic beliefs. That being said, I also have no problem with a scene in a play being specific. Undoubtedly, setting (time and place) of Dickens' story lends itself to the songs that are performed at SDC.
Without getting into a religious discussion or debate, this explanation should be sufficient for the thread.
They use to have a champaion fiddler with the cajun connection who sells real estate around branson now