There were no i’s undotted and no t’s uncrossed. The directors, cast and crew of “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” put their all into the musical and you could feel it in every moment of it. In a previous sit down, director Chelsea Collier explained that her goal for the show was to stress the dynamics of the relationships of the actors. She wanted the audience to be able to feel and take part in the bonds that had been built over time. It is safe to say the production exceeded those expectations.
The Story
We began the war on Christmas Eve of 1944 when Bob [Bryan Goode] and Phil [Jacob Deters] were putting on a show for their peers. We are then fast-forwarded to Christmas time in 1954 where Bob and Phil are putting on a show of their own with a full crew. We are then taken to Phil trying to convince Bob that it is time to find love while simultaneously, Judy [Emily Hogan] is trying to convince her sister, Betty [Abby Gailey] the same.
In an attempt to get Bob and Betty to connect, Judy was able to convince Bob and Phil to come to her and Betty’s show by using the name of a member who served in the army with them. Phil landed on the side of being intrigued by Judy’s creative way of getting them to come, while Bob felt bamboozled. Ultimately, feathers just got increasingly ruffled and it was seemingly a failed attempt.
Phil took that opportunity to get them together by any means necessary, including getting them on a train that was going to Judy and Betty’s next destination instead of to Florida, where Bob and Phil had their next show. Upon arriving at the Inn that they would be staying and performing at, they are reunited with their General [Dave Laker]. Although the lack of snow in the town sent away their many disappointed guests, they realize that the General is in trouble of losing his Inn.
They create a plan to turn things around, but when a misinterpreted phone call leaves Betty questioning Bob’s character she chooses to go to New York to put on a show in hopes of creating as much distance as possible between them. As the dust settles the crew is reunited to assist in showing the General that – even though he is terrible at it – running the Inn is exactly where he needs to be.
The Cast
This cast was a very powerful bunch, from the depth and soul in the voice of Martha Watson [Samantha Wells] to the Philly Dilly’s that we got from Rita [Whitney Havice] and Rhoda [Carissa Yau]. From the yerp’s that we got from Ezekial Foster [Jace Jamison] to the enthusiasm Susan Waverly [Zoe Harms] put into trying to get into Bob and Phil’s show to save the Inn, one is never left with a dull moment.
This cast gave face, energy and talent from beginning to end. The amount of practice and dedication that the cast members gave was evident, a great example being the tap numbers which were lively and completely in sync. At one point in the show, the cast was completely still in their spots as Bob sang a number that was meant to signify that he was the only one who could hear it. It was seamless.
There were no small parts. Everyone gave maximum effort in the roles that they had. Rita and Rhoda were the perfect bookends in the musical adding their own spice during their flirty moments with Phil. Ezekiel Foster was literally a man of very few words but always gave the audience a hearty laugh. Our leads Goode, Deters, Hogan and Gailey connected perfectly with their characters. They authentically portrayed what each character required and it made for a better production.
The voice that arose from Wells while singing the song, “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy” took everyone by surprise as she fulfilled the song’s purpose. Wells’ range specifically stood out as one of the better performances throughout the production.
The Crew
From the lighting to the backdrops that came from the sky, or the scene changes that happened within seconds. The music and the costumes and makeup. No detail went unconsidered. This production went on like a fine-tuned machine. They even found a way to incorporate active snow towards the end of the musical. Though it is impossible to go through and accredit everyone who is part of this production, it is important to acknowledge that without the hard work of each and every crew member creating an experience that left the audience filled with holiday spirit and joy would not be possible. “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” was an enjoyable production, where the passion of each member was felt throughout. For information regarding showtimes and tickets click here.
