There’s so much squeaky-clean goodness, corny juvenile fun and quite a few excellent performances in the Palo Alto Players’ production of “A Christmas Story, the Musical” that it’s likely worth a visit by both kids and their parents.
That’s not to say it’s compelling theater or particularly well written — which is probably why it didn’t get a hearty reception on Broadway where it played for just over a month in 2012 (and again in 2013). Nowadays it’s rarely performed except during the Christmas season. (PAP is obviously a little early; its production opened Nov. 9).
This version of the popular 1983 non-musical movie is rather weak by comparison. Consider that the most memorable line in the play is the oft-repeated “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
That comment is always directed at the play’s hero, nine-year-old Ralphie, who wants nothing more in the world than to find a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the family tree on Christmas morning.
Ralphie is played by a totally flawless Joshua Parecki, spectacles, spacey look and all. Whether suited up in a red plaid cap, a snowsuit or pink bunny pajamas, the sixth grader has a strong, commanding speaking and singing voice, and holds up his share of the play beautifully.
Parecki nails it in the Act 1 production number, “Ralphie to the Rescue.” In it he wears a red cowboy hat and black-and-white cowhide chaps and vest to lead the large cast through the number and prove that he really needs that BB gun to ward off the bad guys.
Michael Rhone is a revelation here as Ralphie’s father (affectionately called “The Old Man” in the program). As the beleaguered dad, he rejoices when he learns that he’s actually won some kind of prize and, in the number “A Major Award,” he does everything but stand on his head juggling oranges to demonstrate his eclectic versatility.
Besides these two actors, what saves PAP’s holiday offering are several fine Janie Scott-choreographed production numbers. There are the two already mentioned as well as the Act 1 finale and a comic-filled “Sticky Situation” extravaganza in Act 2.
Juliet Green is amusing as Ralphie’s teacher who has a number of secret talents (playing a 1920s-style vamp and tap dancing are two). She needs to ease up on the outlandish mugging but otherwise is fine at center stage in the “Sticky Situation” number.
Gwyneth Price Panos brings just the right amount of caring and concern – as well as an excellent singing voice – as Ralphie’s mother. Antonio Elias is suitably little-brother-ish as Randy.
That “A Major Award” number centers on a certain large lamp with a gold shade and a base that looks like a woman’s curvy leg in fishnet stockings. Later, tap dancers show up all dolled up in similar gold “lampshades.” That’s the kind of ditzy show this is.
Shawn Bender’s talents are somewhat wasted in the role of the Narrator (Jean Shepherd). He wanders in-and-out of most scenes – even in the children’s bedroom – and attempts to ‘explain’ the story. But the story mostly doesn’t need explaining: It’s pretty straightforward, and Bender’s meanderings sometimes come across as creepy.
Naomi Arnst deserves credit for creating a closetful of colorful costumes to cloth the 27-person cast. Ditto Patrick Klein for devising an easy-to-move two-story home for Ralphie’s family, as well as Higbee’s Department Store and other backdrops.
Music director Amanda Ku and her orchestra are functional, but the music and lyrics in “Christmas” (by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul) aren’t particularly memorable.
Brandie Larkin’s sound is exceptionally clear, not always the case at Lucie Stern Theater, and Rick Amerson’s lighting is fine as well.
The large ensemble is made up of almost equal parts children and adults. They fill in a lot of spaces and important scenes in “Christmas” like singing Christmas carols and walking around in the department store. In one scene the children try to tell a very obnoxious, drunk Santa (somewhat overplayed by Joey McDaniel) what they want for Christmas. Instead, he sends them one-by-one down a slide, laughing menacingly all the way.
The adult ensemble excels with their stellar dancing and singing in the large production numbers. A shoutout to Kayvon Kordestani who plays Mrs. Schwartz and also (according to the program) is the voice of the loud, angry “Bumpus Hounds,” the dogs next door who always hassle The Old Man when he gets home from work. PAP delivers with excellent props, costumes, singers and dancers. It’s unfortunate that the source material for “Christmas” isn’t on the same level.
Joanne is a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle and Theatre Bay Area. Email her at joanneengelhardt@comcast.net
Theater
What: A Christmas Story, the Musical
Produced by: Palo Alto Players
Where: Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays
Through: Nov. 24
Tickets: $27-$57, with discounts available for seniors, educators, students, military, and groups of 10 or more; 650-329-0891, www.paplayers.org