A LIVE 'WHITE CHRISTMAS' THAT'S WORTH DREAMING OF.Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic WITH NEW MUSICALS springing from old movies by the bushelful, it's hardly a revelation that some enterprising producers took a look at the 1954 Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney chestnut, ``White Christmas A white Christmas, to most people in the Northern Hemisphere, refers to snowy weather on Christmas Day. This phenomenon is far more common in some countries than in others. ,'' and thought, ``Aha! A 'Nutcracker/Carol' holiday alternative. Break out the red dresses, the faux snow, the Irving Berlin Noun 1. Irving Berlin - United States songwriter (born in Russia) who wrote more than 1500 songs and several musical comedies (1888-1989) Israel Baline, Berlin songbook and let's put on a show!'' Cynicism aside, ``White Christmas'' is indeed quite a lot of fun. Directed with an old-fashioned brio by Broadway vet Walter Bobbie Walter Bobbie (born on 18 November 1945 in Scranton, Pennsylvania) is a dancer, choreographer, director and occasional actor. He attended The Catholic University of America (CUA), at around the same time as Oscar winning actress Susan Sarandon. (the man behind ``Chicago'') and choreographed by Randy Skinner (``42nd Street''), ``White Christmas'' glides into the Pantages with several things working in its favor. There's a quartet of smiling leads who, darn it, you just want to fall in love with each other; an enormous tap-happy chorus; and a score replete with can't-miss numbers. Fluffy this show is, but every bit of the season. By the time ``White Christmas'' has reached its halfway point, we have been treated - and I do mean treated - to renditions of ``Let Yourself Go,'' ``Snow,'' ``Let Me Sing and I'm Happy,'' ``Count Your Blessings'' and ``Blue Skies,'' several of them staged as big, splashy splash·y adj. splash·i·er, splash·i·est 1. Making or likely to make splashes. 2. Covered with splashes of color. 3. Showy; ostentatious. See Synonyms at showy. production numbers. Meanwhile, playwrights David Ives David Ives (born 1950) is a contemporary American playwright. His plays are often, but not always, one act; and often, but not always, comedies. They are notable for their verbal dexterity, theatrical invention, and quirky humor. and Paul Blake Paul Blake is the current Chairman of the British Basketball League, succeeding Vince Macaulay-Razaq in 2006, as well as working as the current Managing Director of the Newcastle Eagles basketball franchise. He attended Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne. (adapting the original film script film script n → guión m film script n → copione m ) have left us with the following cliffhangers: Will good-hearted Gen. Waverly lose his Vermont inn to hungry bankers? Will song-and-dance man Bob Wallace Bob Wallace (May 29, 1949 - September 20, 2002), was the ninth Microsoft employee, inventor of the term shareware, creator of the word processing program PC-Write, founder of the software company Quicksoft and an "online drug guru" who devoted much time and money into the research and song-and-dance gal Betty Haynes plow through their misunderstandings and just admit they're perfect for each other? And, perhaps most importantly, after hitting a balmy 79 degrees just a few days ago, will it snow in time for Christmas? OK, maybe ``cliffhangers'' is too strong a word. The show isn't called ``A Snow Free Christmas.'' In the rather silly excuse for a plot, vaudevillians Wallace (played by Brian d'Arcy James Brian d'Arcy James is an American actor and musician. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, James graduated from Northwestern University's School of Theater. He received a Tony Award nomination in 2002 for his portrayal of Sidney Falco in Sweet Smell of Success ) and Phil Davis (Jeffrey Denman), 10 years out of the Army, recruit the Haynes sisters Judy (Meredith Patterson) and Betty (Anastasia Barzee) for the act and somehow get tricked into coming up to Vermont. Turns out the foundering inn belongs to their beloved Gen. Henry Waverly (David Ogden Stiers David Ogden Stiers (born October 31, 1942) is an American character actor, voice actor and musician, most noted for his role in the television sitcom M*A*S*H, and the science fiction drama The Dead Zone. ) who, in addition to much debt, is carrying a busybody bus·y·bod·y n. pl. bus·y·bod·ies A person who meddles or pries into the affairs of others. busybody Noun pl -bodies a meddlesome, prying, or officious person concierge (Ruth Williamson) and a precocious granddaughter (Danielle Milano). Accordingly, the boys and their sister act decide to bring the general's company up to the inn and, yes, put on a show, thereby bringing in much-needed crowds and revenue. Many of ``White Christmas' '' performance numbers we see are actually rehearsals of the Davis-Wallace performance. And they're a kick. Denman and Patterson (the company's strongest dancers) tap themselves nearly into oblivion during ``I Love a Piano.'' Barzee and James, sweet and soulful as the pair with an actual obstacle to overcome, harmonize tenderly on ``Count Your Blessings,'' ``Love and the Weather'' and ``How Deep Is the Ocean.'' It falls to James (in the Crosby role) to carry the Fosse-esque ``Blue Skies,'' a cleverly staged number that has many of the principal characters chasing each other on and off the stage, weaving their way among dancers. Waverly may profess not to know much about show biz, but Stiers gives him a gravitas grav·i·tas n. 1. Substance; weightiness: a frivolous biography that lacks the gravitas of its subject. 2. that is, thankfully, not at odds with the play's general fizz. On the technical end, there is a lot of colorful and versatile scenery (designed by Anna Louizos) for production numbers. The ladies probably have nearly a dozen costume changes, and whether supplying performance wear, snow duds or evening finery, Carrie Robbins gives everybody the requisite yuletide sparkle. Berlin's songs, so memorable yet rarely so well displayed, are a package of gems. By the time we finally get to the song ``White Christmas,'' it's almost a bonus addition rather than any kind of culmination. (Berlin originally wrote it not for ``White Christmas,'' but for the 1942 film ``Holiday Inn.'') Premiering last year in the San Francisco Bay Area “Bay Area” redirects here. For other uses, see Bay Area (disambiguation). The San Francisco Bay Area, colloquially known as the Bay Area or The Bay , the staged ``White Christmas'' spreads to three cities this year and, with any luck, even more next year. If Bobbie, who oversaw the creation of three productions simultaneously, can re-create this caliber of work for every future incarnation, here's betting that ``White Christmas'' will become a winter perennial, 79-degree temperatures or otherwise. Evan Henerson, (818) 713-3651 evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com WHITE CHRISTMAS - Three and one half stars Where: Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday; through Jan. 1. Tickets: $25 to $87. Call (213) 480-3232. In a nutshell: Even though you know what's coming, you'll smile through the entire festive proceedings. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Song-and-dance men played by Jeffrey Denman, left, and Brian d'Arcy James put on a show to save a financially failing Vermont inn in ``White Christmas.'' |
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