New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) hosted a showing of one of the most popular Christmas movies of all time, “Home Alone,” with NJSO playing live. New Jersey Youth Chorus provided vocal support for scenes where live singing occurred and the entire event was a magical afternoon for kids from 6 to 86 in attendance on December 6 at New Brunswick’s State Theatre!
“Home Alone” has become the highest-grossing live action comedy of all time in the United States since its release in 1990, according to Wikipedia. It enjoyed four sequels and it all began with Macaulay Culkin’s portrayal of eight-year-old Kevin McCallister’s successful defense of his home against would-be burglars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.
Constantine Kitsopoulos was at the helm with Brennan Sweet as Concertmaster for the performance. This performance included an intermission and the pre-concert highlight was the annual NJSO toy collection benefitting Toys for Tots. The box in the lobby was generously filled by youngsters who want other children to know the joy of the holiday season, even as they experienced the joy of giving to others.
I haven’t seen this film in a while and, even while I was enjoying seeing phones with cords and 1990s fashions, I had forgotten how poignant the film is. Those of us who experience Christmas through the eyes of our friends’ children have some idea of their native wisdom, and scenes where Catherine O’Hara, as Kevin’s mother, is moving mountains to get home to her son and where Culkin’s Kevin counsels the old man, whom the other kids don’t understand, to reach out to his son, required a hankie, for me. Both were excellent reminders that all of the Winter holidays that we celebrate come back to being with those we love, whether our families of birth or the families we make.
Remember this season that most people have enough “stuff.” Give the gift of live performance for the holidays. NJSO has its Winter Festival coming up, so complete your holiday shopping now at www.njsymphony.org.