There are no shortage of Dickensian options for D.C. theatergoers, from the traditional Ford’s production to the indulgent Arena Staging, set in 1941. The innovative RussianGeorgian-influenced dance-inspired theater company Synetic has thrown its hat into the ring, and the results are worth seeing, if not as unique as one might expect. Given its history of wildly divergent takes on popular classics, it’s a bit of a surprise that this Christmas Carol, in many ways, is…

Victory — not the concept, but the statue at State Place and 17th Street NW — is the Ghost of Christmas Past. Freedom — the Eastward-facing statue atop the Capitol Dome; not that thing that The Terrorists hate us for — is the Ghost of Christmas Present. And the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come arrives draped in the inky robes of Grief. This stunt-casting of local landmarks as Charles Dickens’ familiar trio of…

> > Totally uninformed theory: Wonderland robbery actually masterminded by the mild-mannered members of Norfolk & Western? Just putting it out there… > > Xmas In Washington play to feature Marion Shepilov Barry playing a heroic angel who sings “Stormy Weather” (WTFx10?!?) and comes to the rescue of Katrina evacuees separated from their children. Gloria Hightower says Barry’s star turn comes from a desire to make the character “realistic”–which can only mean the following…