by Shirley Lorraine
Holiday Serenity Around a Campfire
Rubicon Theatre’s Cowboy Lullaby Offers a Unique Holiday Experience
The Rubicon Theatre Company offers something different this holiday season with the world premiere of Cowboy Lullaby, a theatrical concert. Written by Rubicon Co-Founder and Artistic Director James O’Neill and Tony nominated Dan Wheetman, Lullaby brings the laid-back songs and stories of the West to the stage, performed by an exceptional, multi-talented cast.
The performance is a loving tribute to western heritage, encompassing many familiar tunes and strong, clear vocals throughout. A storyline featuring Cowboy Joe is told through song and story, expertly woven like a warm winter blanket.
Are you feeling a bit of holiday stress? Come sit around the campfire with Wheetman, his son Trevor Wheetman, Sylvie Davidson, David P. Jackson and Bill Flores to be enveloped by a feeling of serenity, warmth and calm. You will marvel, as I did, at the clarity, the haunting beauty of the vocals and the mesmerizing moon as it travels through the night sky above them.
Bill Flores, a Ventura County native, is exceptional on the steel guitar and other instruments, blending with the guitars, mandolin, bass and percussions introduced by the other performers. David P. Jackson handles the bigger-than-he-is bass expertly. Sylvie, Trevor and Dan offer multiple musical options. Watching each of them seamlessly glide from one instrument to another is poetry in itself.
I was thouroughly captivated by this collaboration and found myself shedding mental and physical stress as I allowed the music and talent to wash over me. Western music is not your typical holiday concert fodder but one as stirring as a clear California night sky.
Western music is quite different from country music so don’t be confused. These lyrics are about people, the land around us, the simplicity of life. You won’t lose your dog, your pick-up or your achy-breaky heart here.
The audience is invited to join in many songs. Remember the theme songs from such classics as Bonanza, Rawhide, Davy Crockett? After all, aren’t a big part of most holidays about memories? You may find yourself at least humming along to the well-known themes.
Songs by Sons of the Pioneers, John Denver, Patsy Montana, Bob Dylan and even the Beatles are featured. Some fine yodeling is displayed by Sylvie Davidson and Dan Wheetman.
Do you like to be up close and personal with theatrical experiences? An opportunity exists to be on stage with this talented group. For an additional donation, you and one or two others may actually be seated on stage. Talk about beign immersed in a performance! Contact the box office for additional information.
Cowboy Lullaby continues through December 22. Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. with talk-backs after the 7 p.m. show. Thursday and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 pm and 7 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Lots of opportunity to catch this special show before Christmas. Family friendly. www.rubicontheatre.org or 805-667-2900.
