White Christmas - Boston

After listening and enjoying the cast recording of "White Christmas," I decided I had to see this musical on stage, be it in Toronto or Boston. As the airfares and hotel rates to Boston were better, I booked a trip for this past weekend. I saw the show both Friday and Saturday evening.

The performances of Kerry O'Malley, Meredith Patterson, Brian d'Arcy James and Jeffry Denman were all top notch. Kerry O'Malley has quite the voice; beautiful tone and richly nuanced. Meredith Patterson and Jeffry Denman were wonderful in their dance numbers. My favorite being, "I Love a Piano" which was worth the price of admission. Being a fan of tap dancing, I just did not want that particular number to end. It was sheer joy from start to finish. I have always liked Brian d'Arcy James since I saw him in "Titanic," and he does not disappointment here.

The musical numbers were enjoyable but a couple of weaknesses were the script (just plain bad) and some of the secondary characters. With the exception of Brian and Kerry's characters there was little to no character development for others. There were also a couple of extraneous characters that made me wonder why they were even there. One being "Mike" the stage manager. I'm not sure if it was the writing, direction or the actor's choice, but this was one role that I found thoroughly annoying and unfunny. It was like an over the top George Costanza (as seen by Jason Alexander on Jerry Seinfeld).

Blue Skies would have been better had it not been ruined by some of the secondary characters running throughout the dancers during the number (this was obviously a directors choice and not a good one at that).

The pros: Randy Skinners choreography as executed by a strong ensemble and great leads. The costumes were beautiful and the title number of the show (won't include spoilers) gave me chills. These were the reasons that I picked up a ticket for the following evening. I figured I would make the trip worth my while.

Thanks to those here who gave feedback when I was asking about the cast recording.

On a side note: The Wang Theatre and Opera House in Boston have to be two of the most gorgeous theatre's I have ever been in. I attended the matinee of Boston Ballet's Nutcracker at the Opera House yesterday and so glad I did.

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Updated On: 12/10/07 at 07:25 PM

So glad you enjoyed it, Dottie! Thanks for the review! Wish I could get up there to see it!

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Melody Hollis was on for the two performances I saw. She was good, and the audience seemed to really liked her (from the enthusiasm of their applause). Unfortunately her mic went out during the reprise of her song last night, so you really couldn't hear her.

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Millie, I was pleasantly pleased with Boston Ballet's Nutcracker. Having grown up with NYCB's version it's difficult to see anything else. IMO, this is a very close 2nd. Their Marie (played by a child) actually danced a lot and was quite good. The dancers, sets, costumes and orchestra were all in top form. I'm glad I was able to see it.

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Princeton,

The show ran 2-1/2 hours. The theatre was fuller Saturday night as opposed to Friday. The rear balcony should be fine. On Friday night, the ushers were encouraging people to move forward (if that helps you out).

Hope you enjoy it.

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Updated On: 12/10/07 at 09:38 AM

Princeton, to the best of my recollection it was the full overture that's heard on the recording. There's also an entr'acte after intermission.

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Misto, how was Nadine Isenegger as Judy?

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Updated On: 12/10/07 at 04:14 PM

Thanks for the review, Dottie! FYI for Boston locals, this show has been available for half price at the Bostix booth every day that I've checked (as has the Nutcracker, in fact).

Dottie, I hope you will also one day have occasion to see a show at the Colonial, another gorgeous theatre that we Bostonians are lucky enough to experience, and more intimate than the Wang or the Opera House.

Updated On: 12/10/07 at 05:24 PM

I stumbled across this video on that site and almost fell out of my chair laughing. Well done, Jeffry! It makes me want to fly to Boston even more!
The "Real" Phil Davis

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After whining for years that "Why doesn't this show come to Broadway (or at least NYC)?" I Amtracked to Boston on Tuesday with my bud Peter to see it at last.

If anyone can make it this year - get your butts to Boston ASAP. Though I loves me some new musicals, fresh scores and young audiences - I gotta say - of all the movies-turned-stage musicals WHITE CHRISTMAS (especially in this lavish production) is the absolute best-of-the-bunch and even better than the movie (sorry, but I'd rather go though root-canal than deal with Danny Kaye). As traditional, old-fashioned entertainment, it can't be topped.

This was my first time at the Wang Center, and I was totally unprepared for it. It's a plushly restored, Beaux-Arts Baroque wedding-cake of a gilded-age theatre complete with a huge balconied lobby with extravagant original chandeliers, circled by towering red marble Corinthian columns and an auditorium filled with carved putti and ignudi and a "frescoed" ceiling with Tiepoloesque gods and goddesses. It makes the New Amsterdam look like the Marquis. There is NO Broadway house that remotely compares to it.

Though Brian d'Arcy James was out (in NYC for the day for a NEXT TO NORMAL meeting), his understudy Peter Reardon was superb. His "How Deep Is the Ocean" made Peter weep with joy. Jeffry and Meridith Patterson made a charismatic dream team (Their "I Love A Piano" was a tap showstopper with the super-talented dance ensemble in support) and Kerry O'Malley Ohmygod. What a voice! Her "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" (in the swankest NY Night club set I've ever seen - it made the audience gasp) with all respect to Rosemary Clooney - may well be the definitive version that drew the loudest cheers of the evening. And if Debra Monk decides to leave CURTAINS, may I suggest powerhouse Susan Mansur to be her replacement? She belted "Sing and I'm Happy" to the rafters and got the biggest laugh of the evening with the one 'adult' wisecrack in the show (funnier still because it was totally unexpected in a family show). And little Melody Hollis was the least "cute" child performer I've seen in a long time!
(and I mean that as a compliment).

If I could afford it, I'd go back next week. And if anybody goes, I suggest The Chandler Inn. I got a great deal ($91 for a great room with two beds) and the staff couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. And it's only a five minute walk to the Wang Center.

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Updated On: 12/14/07 at 02:59 PM

Wow, Ashley! Brian was out on Wendesday, too? Bummer.

We are of the same mind - I'm VERY tempted to run back there next weekend.

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I was told Brian was only going to be out for a few days so hopefully he'll be back for this weekend! :)

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Ashley, the first time I saw the show her mic worked both times she sang, when I saw it the following night, during her reprise you couldn't hear her at all.

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