BWW Reviews: WHITE CHRISTMAS, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, December 3 2013

White Christmas opens in 1944 when soldiers Bob Wallace and Phil Davis are entertaining their fellow troops with a song and dance routine on Christmas Eve. Ten years later, they have left the army and are household names on the Ed Sullivan show. They meet a sister act Betty and Judy Haynes and head to Vermont to put on a Christmas show.

The plot is fairly simple and predictable but utterly charming. Things do not go to plan and Christmas in Vermont is set to be a disaster with an unprecidented heatwave and guests leaving the inn in favour of somewhere with snow. There are love stories that you can see coming a mile off, but it really does not matter or make the show seem cheesy.

The scenery was absolutely stunning and the costumes were beautiful. I cannot speak highly enough of the cast and I felt that all musical numbers and dance routines were executed brilliantly. Wendi Peters in particular who played Martha the hotel receptionist/aspiring entertainer was exceptional.

For me I found the choreography to be the highlight. The opening number of the second act I Love A Piano had a spectacular tap routine that you can't fail to be impressed by. I must confess that I have never seen the 1954 film that the production is based on and I was only familiar with the title track. However, I enjoyed all of the music and I don't think this hampered my experience in any way.

There are little touches to White Christmas that made it really special for me but I won't spoil it and tell you what they are! I left White Christmas with the biggest smile on my face and I would encourage anyone who has the chance to go and see this magical show to do so immediately!

White Christmas runs at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre until Saturday 4th January. Tickets and information is available here.

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