Ralphie Redux: Musical 'Christmas Story' Presents a Nice Way to Wrap Up the Holiday Season -- Chicago Theater Review

Theater Review

A Christmas Story: The Musical
Paramount Theatre, Aurora
Thru January 3
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The hearty few who read Seth Saith religiously--and bless you if you do--may recall that a few weeks ago I saw and reviewed a live version of A Christmas Story at Theatre at the Center in Munster, IN.

While it was enjoyable enough for an evening's entertainment, and a show I imagined many would find appealing, it wasn't quite what I was expecting.

Specifically, it wasn't the musical adaptation of the beloved 1983 movie, which I really relished in its first Chicagoland production, pre-Broadway in late 2011 at the Chicago Theatre.

To be clear, Theatre at the Center did nothing to promote it as such, but not knowing a non-musical stage version existed, upon deciding to go I assumed I'd again get to see the musical. It was only on the day of the show that I discovered I wouldn't.

Those involved did a nice job essentially re-enacting the movie, but having seen the film--a bit oddly, not until after I had seen the musical--I wasn't convinced of the necessity of a straightforward live replication, especially as it didn't delight nearly as much as the musical.

And to gauchely quote myself, in the closing paragraph of my @@@ (out of 5) review, I noted that:

"I'm still hoping the musical version will reappear somewhere down the line."

Well, down the line turned out to mean pretty much at the same time, and about 60 miles west at the opposite end of what may comprise "Chicago area theater."

So I felt compelled to see A Christmas Story: The Musical at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.

And I'm glad I did.

Of course, to those of you who might consider it a bit extreme for a Jewish kid from Skokie to shlep to Munster, and to Aurora, to see two theatrical interpretations of a movie that will run 'round the clock on TBS, well I can't really offer strenuous debate. (And on top of also seeing A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker, I've likely reached my limit of live holiday fare.)

But supposedly boasting a 30,000 strong subscriber base, the Paramount in recent years has joined Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire and Drury Lane Oakbrook (and often Theatre at the Center in Munster, as well as Chicago's Mercury Theatre) as regional self-producing houses that regularly stage musicals with comparable--and at times superior--quality to touring Broadway shows that play in the Loop.

In April I found this again to be the case when I caught an exceptional Paramount production of Les Misérables.

Thus, it wasn't just that someone was doing the Christmas Story musical, it was a theater whose work I've found consistently superb.

And under the direction of Nick Bowling, the musical scored by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul--with a book by Joseph Robinette, based on the movie--was about as good as I could have hoped.

Which in an odd way, made it a tad less thrilling than I remembered.

Playing Chicago a year before going to Broadway, in 2011 it was a new musical I saw without knowing any of the songs ahead of time. Also unfamiliar with most of the movie's specifics at that point, I found the story beguiling while many of the tunes were instantly catchy and several production numbers inspired.

By and large, the quality I noted remains true in Aurora, as young Michael Harp--so good earlier this year in Drury Lane's Billy Elliot (as Billy's friend Michael)--delivers a winning performance as Ralphie, the Indiana boy who shares the highs and lows, laughs and tears of a holiday season in which he wishes for a particular Christmas present.

Michael Accardo and Danni Smith are really good as Ralphie's parents, and Philip Earl Johnson is not only
strong as narrator and ostensible "adult Ralphie," Jean Shepherd--the real-life radio host who created the source material and wrote the movie based on his Hammond, IN childhood--I preferred the balance that was struck here vs. the non-musical, where the grown-up Ralphie is more prominently the main character.

Songs like "Ralphie to the Rescue," "Sticky Situation" and "Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana" are a lot of fun, and the most memorable moments from the movie are all present in a well-paced show that barely tops 2 hours with an intermission. (Though I missed any hints at fledgling romance for Ralphie, which was present in the play version.)

But while there is much to love in Pasek & Paul's score, and I've now owned a Cast Recording for awhile, I was less wowed than I was upon hearing it fresh.

While it was reiterated that A Christmas Story is a fine musical with a strong score to complement its warmhearted seasonal recollections, in a year where I've seen really terrific regional renditions of Les Miz, Billy Elliot, West Side Story, The Producers, La Cage aux Folles and more, I didn't perceive it to be quite on par, whether in terms of the material, production or some enigmatic combination of both.

Which isn't to suggest this @@@@ review doesn't constitute a recommendation.

A nearly full house of approx. 1,500 patrons at the resplendent Paramount seemed to validate my affinity for one of the better movie-to-stage musical adaptations of recent years...and for the quality of the work regularly done at the host venue.

I'm glad I made the trek from Skokie.

And back even more merrily.

But for those who don't travel by sleigh, or live relatively close to Aurora, I can't quite insist one's presence at this Christmas Story is a gift you must give yourself--and others.

Even if the musical version is, live and in-person, clearly the way to go.

Even for the Uninitiated, A Christmas Story Makes a Delightful Musical -- Theater Review

Theater Review

A Christmas Story: The Musical!
Chicago Theatre
Thru December 30
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The other day, I saw David Fincher's movie version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I thought it was quite good, but having read the book and seen the Swedish film adaptation, I knew the key plot points and actively wondered how Fincher's film would play to anyone coming to it cold. At the very least, the experience of seeing it with fresh eyes would be quite different.

I mention this here because undoubtedly unlike many of those seeing A Christmas Story: The Musical!, I have never seen the seemingly much beloved 1983 movie on which it is based.

I suppose I should, but am glad I went into the musical--recently created, but not a world premiere, now in a high profile run at the Chicago Theatre--unknowing. For though I recognize the challenge of adapting a popular work from one art form to another without either seeming too obvious & redundant, disappointing the faithful or confusing the newbies, ideally each work should stand--and sparkle--on its own.

Though I was drawn to A Christmas Story by strong reviews in both the Tribune and Sun-Times, not only did I not know the film, I didn't bring any kids with me (and am a bit removed from being one myself), I don't celebrate Christmas (being Jewish), I didn't know any of the music going in (unlike with most musicals I see, even new ones with original scores) and I've never heard of the composer/lyricists (Benj Pasek and Justin Paul).

Yet even with all those reasons to possibly not love it, I still did. With a show full of songs that sparkled even on a first hearing, a charming story, a strong cast and impressive scenery, A Christmas Story was thoroughly delightful.

In fact, or at least opinion, other then The Book of Mormon, this was probably the best new musical I've seen in 2011 (and that includes the most expensive musical ever created, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark).

By virtue of his being the understudy for the central role of young, bespectacled Ralphie, I'm guessing Carl Kimbrough isn't quite as polished a performer as Clarke Hallum, the regular Ralphie. At times, Kimbrough's singing was hard to hear over the orchestra and I never took note of his dancing, for which rave reviews have praised Hallum.

But an "underdog" Ralphie seemed rather apropos for the role, and Kimbrough was quite likable along with many other winning child actors. And several Broadway caliber adults were excellent, including Rachel Bay Jones and John Bolton as Ralphie's Mom and Dad, longtime Chicago vocalist Karen Mason as his teacher and Gene Weygandt as the narrator, Jean Shepherd. This was the third show in which I've seen Weygandt this year--Working and Snapshots being the others--and it's a shame his role didn't call for him to do any singing.

For while the quirky story--which I imagine closely matched the movie--was certainly enjoyable, the quality of the music was surprising. As I said, I don't see many musicals without having heard a cast recording, and when I do, only the very best scores capture me instantly. Yet, that was the case here. In fact, I bought a cast recording at intermission (after checking that that the one available at the theater isn't yet carried on Amazon).

The song "Ralphie to the Rescue!" lent itself to the best production number, but almost all the others were quite catchy and tuneful. From what I've read, A Christmas Story: The Musical! has Broadway aspirations, and it's almost a shame that its title will likely make it a seasonal affair. It's also a shame that it's not extending past December 30 in Chicago. But if you can get to A Christmas Story before it wraps, you'll be giving yourself quite a present.