'Wooden Snowflakes': A Rare and Wonderful Tale

Catherine Bush's "Wooden Snowflakes," playing at Studio Roanoke in the City Market area, is just about the perfect theater experience for Christmas, "The Nutcracker," "The Little Match Girl" and "The Homecoming" notwithstanding.

This one is a love story, a story of belief and hope and grief and devastation and redemption powerfully directed by veteran Charlie Boswell and acted by Stevie Holcomb and Joel Gruver. Miss Holcomb is especially powerful as Eve Lawson, the woman whose automobile accident lands her in the home of a man in a Santa suit, who carves figures and snowflakes for a living, awaiting a wrecker. Simon Peter Whitaker actually believes in Santa ... and in God. And he loves Christmas.

The conversation that weaves us through the plot is adult, intelligent and believable. At times it is difficult and at other times touching to the point of tears.

I saw it tonight, walking to the theater in the snow and the entire evening bordered on magic, especially when the lights faded on the second act of the small, nearly empty theater and the intimacy of the experience reached its peak.

This was sparkling theater, the kind that keeps people like me going back again and again. "The Wooden Snowflake" runs through Dec. 12 and tickets are $20 at the door and $15 in advance. You can order tickets tickets here. Don't miss this one. It's rare. Be sure to order snow ahead of time.