White Christmas

[jmcirino]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 3:01pm

Anyone in SFO seen White Christmas yet? Planning on seeing the show in Dec and haven't been able to find a review.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 3:03pm

tonight is the official Opening Night. reviews should be out tomorrow.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 3:03pm

Cutie Kevin Worley from 42nd Street is in it.

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 3:38pm

I have heard nothing but good things about it. I am seeing in on December 4th. Here is a link from someone who is usually dead on....
White Christmas Review Updated On: 11/9/04 at 03:38 PM

[JJsugar]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 4:23pm

hey broadwayMatt...

i'm also near SF in the bay area, and i'm thinking of maybe seeing 'white christmas' so thanks for the review i much appreciate it! i'm not sure yet of the dates it is playing and i'll have to check the paper for it!

if i do go and see 'white christmas' in San Fran, i will be sure to post a review of it also!

being that the Bay area is home to Bing crosby's family still his wife still owns thier family estate which is in the town i grew up! i have even met mrs. crosby she attended our same church years ago!

it is very appropriate that it is playing in San fran!

[JJsugar]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 4:30pm

wow...now that was a great review i just saw it and read the whole thing!

thanks for that it really helps me in deciding if i will go to see it! i'm now really excited about the show and i'm glad as this review said they are not trying to duplicate bing and rosemary and danny it's best to develop their own style !

thanks again...i'm dreaming of a white christmas...let is snow let is snow let it snow... i like the idea if they make this show annual show for the holiday's and they can add a new stuff from year to year to change it up some! good idea!

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 11:53pm

I want to hear all about this! If any of you left coasters see this be sure to let us know what you think. I am reading a book right now discussing how the title song affected American culture http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/artsandentertainment/0%2C6121%2C859960%2C00.html and it is really interesting. Wish I could be out there to see it!

Updated On: 11/10/04 at 11:53 PM

[justme2]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 2:06am

Hi there (I posted this review on another thread as well)

I am in SF and saw this show for the SECOND time already last Saturday night. It's the best I've seen in 5 years here in SF and I see everything! A friend of mine and I went on opening night Nov 9th and we were floored with the sets, dancing, singing, etc.

Specifics:

Walter Bobbie is a genius. This man took a 50's movie, developed the best parts into key scenes, then added Irving Berlin songs from other shows to enhance the show. And enhance is not saying enough. From the opening number to the surprise curtain call, the tone of the show was perfect. An ode to the 1950's without mocking tones at all. While waiting for the few dancers we knew at the Stage door, I glimpsed the man himself and was actually speechless! I cannot commend this director enough.

Skinner -this choreographer is fantastic. I only heard of her in connection with 42nd street and had no idea just how talented she is! The Blue Skies and I love a Piano tap numbers were designed to impress and managed to blow everyone away! 15+ tappers in the dance numbers, fluid motion, wonderful tap mikes, and skilled dancers made the audience feel like they had been transported back to the "golden age" when dancing was key to a show! Jeffrey Denman and Meredith Patterson were well suited to each other and their partnering for "The Best things Happen when your dancing" and " I love a Piano" made me feel like I was watching Fred and Ginger. They were fluid and made me hold my breath while watching.

Actors -D'arcy James, Patterson, Denman and Barzee were all top notch. I was especially enamored by the Denman and Patterson coupling however. Brian's voice is smooth and even and he crooned two of the love songs beautifully. Barzee has a torch song in the second act, "Love, You didn't do right by me", which she carries off well with D'Arcy James coming in to sing his "How deep is the Ocean" along with it. Beautiful. The little girl Raquel was good, not overused and overcute. Just enough to enjoy. She has one small dance number, and that's just enough! The character leads were great as well. All of the supporting cast were enjoyable to watch. My friend knew 3 of them (he is a bay area regional theater guy and auditions with them all the time) and getting to talk to them after opening night was a treat. They loved working with Bobbie, and said the injuries from the tap numbers were worth the trouble.

Sets: I was floored by the sets. I came in thinking I would see some type of "pre broadway" sets, a couple of scrims and the like. NO WAY. There was a full "Vermont inn" setpiece that somehow rotated backstage to have a front porch area and lobby area. It was fantastic! A real 50's feel to the whole set design, with a bar scene with those curved booths to the Ed Sullivan show stage. The costumes were beautiful! A lot of blues and some great lime green suits on the two male leads in the early scenes of the show. The end of the show has the whole red white costume theme and those costumes were gorgeous as well.

I almost forgot! They make it "snow" in the audience at the end and it was not over the top and looked gorgeous coming down as the singers ended the show with "I've got my love to keep me warm". It looked like a Xmas card, I swear!

Whew!

I am trying to think of anything I didn't like... The Opening was ok, with the two male leads singing in the army on Christmas day, then it goes to 10 years later, and they are famous on the Ed Sullivan show. The "Happy Holidays/Get Together" number really revs up the whole show, and, at least on opening night, the applause for the major dance numbers stopped the show twice.

I cannot say enough about Mr. Bobbie. He looked happy as he left the Curran on opening night! This man has yet to fail me. I can't wait for Sweet Charity now!

There was lots of logo stuff to buy, from scarves to magnets to snowglobes to posters...but NO CD and NO program. Very disappointing, as the arrangements of the songs were wonderful and the voices impressive.

Sorry this is so long...I actually joined the board so I could post! I hate when shows like this are just mentioned barely on this board, and OTHERS have 80 threads a day!!