The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

presents

Irving Berlin's

WHITE CHRISTMAS

THE MUSICAL

November 15 - 21, 2010

Music and Lyrics by Irving Berliin

Book by David Ives and Paul Blake

Musical Director John Visser

Choreographer Randy Skinner

Director Norb Joerder

Reviewed by Donna Bailey-Thompson

This is a happy show, simplistic to the max, and refreshingly so. Irving Berlin’s clear, direct lyrics swirled, fine voices sang them, and catchy rhythms seduced feet born to dance, to dance. I don’t remember seeing as many smiles on audience faces as they left a theater and with this show, they stepped from 1954 back into the reality of a 2010 misty night. Suddenly, they became aware that also falling were snowflakes, kindness of a Bushnell snow machine spreading holiday nostalgia from its perch somewhere on the roof.

The musical begins with two GIs singing (and hoofin’) “Happy Holiday” and “White Christmas” hoping to cheer the troops who are stuck in battle-scarred Europe on Christmas Eve, 1944. By the next scene, it’s ten years later, 1954, at The Ed Sullivan Show, and to a reprise of “Happy Holiday” and a swingin’ “Let Yourself Go.” The dancing chorus does just that – a tap routine and costumes of pink and pale apple green (think bathroom tiles that scream Fifties). Later, as a “throw away” line, a dancer in a street dress straightens her seams. (For those who weren’t born then, silk or nylon stockings had seams that had a way of shifting off center. A common question in powder rooms was, “Are my seams straight?”)

There’s enough of a story line to keep the musical numbers from whirling off into space – with the audience chasing them: the dancing earned enthusiastic applause, and again at the curtain calls

If you’ve seen the movie, then you know the plot: crooner Bob (John Scherer, he with a big voice) and his skirt-chasing partner Phil (Denis Lambert, light and fast on his dancing feet) fall in like with a sister act – Betty Haynes (Amy Bodner, with a big voice of her own) and Judy (Shannon M. O’Bryan, who can do it all). They head for Vermont – the guys to help cheer up their popular retired General (Erck Devine), the girls to fulfill a gig at the General’s inn. With Christmas only days away, sentimentality is the flavor of the season.

A welcome change of focus is the inn’s outspoken manager – Martha – vivacious Ruth Williamson, reminiscent of the great Charlotte Greenwood, but with a voice that almost shatters glass. There’s also a cute little girl, Susan, played Tuesday night by Gianna LePera, age 11 (alternate nights by Mary Peeples, also 11). These girls have the poise and the pipes to land many more roles.

The first act ends with a production dance number that moves away from hokey in favor of introducing rhythm and style that are timeless, written by Irving Berlin while in a sophisticated mood -- “Blue Skies”. The backdrop is a blue sky (surprise) with stylized horizontal clouds. In the foreground is the dancing chorus featuring Bob singing the lyrics – and dancing too. Everyone is dressed in all-white suits accented by bright yellow shirts. The girls’ boy shorts show off their shapely legs that are brushed with sparkle dust. Literally capping their classic costumes are white bowlers set at a jaunty angle. Randy Skinner’s choreography is refreshing and emotionally satisfying and Costume Designer Carrie Robbins captures the 1950's kaleidoscope of fashion.

And what a treat that the second act begins where the first left off – only this time the dancers wear tap shoes and variations of black and white, just like a piano's keys. To the swinging novelty tune, “I Love A Piano,” Phil and Judy (who had progressed from being in like to being in love) and the chorus (who approved) gets everybody loving a piano. For good measure, a miniature white grand piano was at stage center and the dancers were everywhere, shifting their tapping focus as swiftly and smoothly as a school of fish switch their swimming patterns. According to Judy’s beaming face, she was one with the dance, ecstatically happy, doing what she loves. Mz Shannon M. O’Bryan’s twinkle toes and smiling eyes are worth keeping tabs on.

Betty, who had jumped to the wrong conclusions about Bob, quits the inn in favor of an offer to go single in the Big Apple. All gussied up in a black gown and long white gloves at a swanky nightclub (the program called it The Regency Room), the New York City skyline silhouetted beyond a huge window, she sings her heart out, “Love You Didn’t Do Right By Me” while across the room, at a table for one, Bob examines his feelings for Betty and croons, “How Deep is the Ocean,” one of Berlin’s great ballads. Neither Betty’s torchy lament nor Bob’s awakening to his loving feelings gets them together – not yet, not that anyone is hanging in suspense. This is a 1954 musical: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. A few scenes later, when “How Deep is the Ocean” is reprised, Betty and Bob’s voices meld and we know they are becoming a couple.

Even the General and Martha need to be paired off but according to Martha, “We fight all the time and never have sex, so people think we are married.” That’s not a typical 1954 line for a family show.

The ending seems to come too soon, too abruptly, with the full company singing “White Christmas,” and then there’s a real gift: the stage opens up and the full cast sings, “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” and that’s fortunate because snowflakes are falling and so is the temperature, and pixie dust seems to be everywhere. and somewhere a little lame boy is saying, “God bless us, everyone!”

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TICKETS

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS is part of The Hartford Financial Services Group Broadway Series. Ticket prices begin at $17 and are on sale at The Bushnell Box Office, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, online at www.bushnell.org or by calling (860) 987-5900. Discounts for groups of 10 or more are available by calling (860) 987-5959.

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THE CAST

 

Starring as crooner Bob Wallace is John Scherer.  He most recently appeared on Broadway in Lovemusik, directed by the legendary Harold Prince. He also worked with Mr. Prince in 3hree at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles. He starred in the Broadway and film versions of Andrew Lloyd Webber's By Jeeves, written and directed by Sir Alan Ayckbourn. Other Broadway credits include Sunset Boulevard and The Most Happy Fella (NYC Opera). He toured nationally in 42nd Street and Cats. He received critical acclaim for his performance as George M at the Goodspeed Opera House.  Film and television credits include The Shield, Crossing Jordan, Law and Order (all three series), Titus and The Guiding Light. 

Amy Bodnar reprises the role of Betty Haynes after playing it at the Tony award winning Denver Center. On Broadway, Amy played Laurey in the recent revival of Oklahoma and was in the original production of Ragtime. She starred as Marguerite in the national tour of The Scarlet Pimpernel, as well as performing as Betty Schaefer in the Canadian company of Sunset Boulevard. 

Denis Lambert plays the other half of Wallace & Davis as the dashing Phil Davis.  He starred on Broadway in A Chorus Line and off-Broadway in Yank!, Zorba and Finian's Rainbow. His other credits include the 1st National Tours of A Chorus Line and The Producers.

Shannon M. O’Bryan stars as Betty’s sister and matchmaker, Judy Haynes.  Her Broadway credits include: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, 42nd Street, City Center’s Encores!, productions of Face The Music, Follies and Of Thee I Sing.  Other favorites include: Gypsy, Grease, American In Paris (with Leslie Caron), the 1st National Tour and Theater of the Stars production of 42nd Street.

Starring as the cheerful but nosey inn manager Martha is Ruth Williamson.  Her Broadway credits include: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, La Cage Aux Folles, The Music Man (Outer Critics Nomination), Epic Proportions, Little Me , Guys & Dolls, Smile, Musical Comedy Murders, and Annie.  She’s had roles in these movies: Evan Almighty, The Producers, Legally Blonde II , Family Man, Malcolm X,  Foreign Student, Easy Six, Psycho Beach Party and Die Mommie, Die! Her television credits include Monk, Medium, The O.C., The Practice, ER, Star Trek : Enterprise,  Law & Order, Hannah Montana and Mrs. Grubman on Nip/Tuck.

Erick Devine stars as the commanding General Waverly.  His Broadway credits include: Ragtime, Sid Caesar & Co., Cats, Seussical and National Tours of Big River, Ragtime, Me & My Girl (Helen Hayes Award Nominee, D.C.), Grand Hotel, Annie Get Your Gun (with Cathy Rigby).  He performed in A Sondheim Tribute at Carnegie Hall and Of Thee I Sing and Allegro at City Center's Encore!  He directed Candide & HMS Pinafore (with Kristin Chenoweth), Anything Goes (with Kelli O'Hara), Annie Warbucks (with Gavin MacLeod) and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (with Cathy Rigby).

Tony Lawson portrayS high powered producer Ralph Sheldrake and starring as the General’s adorable granddaughter Susan Waverly is 11 year-old actress Mary Peeples. Other cast members include: Don Rey as the neurotic stage Manager Mike Nulty and James Young as the delightful Ezekiel Foster.

Ensemble members are: Adinah Alexander, Andrew Black, Scott Brateng, Melinda Cowan, Con O’Shea-Creal, Brandon Davdison, Jenny Florkowski, Megan Jimenz, Matthew Kirk, Janelle Neal, Amanda Paulson, Ashley Peacock, Kristyn Pope, Kelly Sheehan, Haley Swindal, Merrill West and Richard Riaz Yoder.

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS features Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin with Book by David Ives and Paul Blake and is based upon the Paramount Pictures film written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama and Melvin Frank.

 

This brand new production of Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS is produced by Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars. The creative team includes direction by Norb Joerder, choreography by Randy Skinner, scenic design by Anna Louizos, scenic supervision and adaptation by Kenneth Foy, lighting design by Ken Billington, and sound design by Peter Fitzgerald and Erich Bechtel.  The tour is produced by agreement with R&H Theatricals, an Imagem Company. The official tour web site is: www.whitechristmasthemusical.com.

About The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

The Bushnell is Connecticut’s premier performing arts center, hosting more than 350 events yearly, including major Broadway tours, symphony orchestras, family presentations, local arts and community events.  The Bushnell is home to two theaters- the historic 2,800-seat Mortensen Hall, and the 907-seat Belding Theater, a state-of-the-art performance hall that opened in 2001.  The Bushnell’s nationally recognized, award-winning, arts-in-education program, PARTNERS® (Partners in Arts and Education Revitalizing Schools), now in its 18th year, continues to provide quality arts-in-education programs for schools and communities across Connecticut. The Bushnell opened in January 1930 and is a not-for-profit organization that is proud to serve Connecticut and its citizens. For more information, call The Bushnell at (860) 987-6000, The Bushnell Box Office at (860) 987-5900 or visit our website at www.bushnell.org.

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With support from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.