My thoughts on WHITE CHRISTMAS

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 12:43pm

I love all kinds of musicals - PASSING STRANGE, [title of show], BILLY ELLOT, {Put Sondheim Musical Here), GREY GARDENS, but there times I just want a big lip-smacking triple scoop ice cream sundae of a show - and that's WHITE CHRISTMAS.

The ruggedly handsome ‘Bob Wallace’ of Stephen Bogardus and the titian-haired ‘Betty Haynes’ of Kerry O’Malley make a compelling pair. Despite the relentless apple-cheeked cheer all around them, both of their characters are moody and almost resolutely melancholy, wistfully expressing their feelings from the droll parallel duet “Love and The Weather” (a interpolated Berlin number, a ‘single’ introduced by Kate Smith in 1947), Bogardus’ tender “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” and O’Malley’s knockout “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me”.

They contrast beautifully with Jeffry Denman and Meredith Patterson, both of whom ace their characters as well as their co-stars. Denman is far superior to the films Danny Kaye in appeal and singing (and he sings far better than most male dancers) as well as (obviously) dancing talents. His ‘Phil Davis’ isn’t slightly slimy like Kaye was, but is rather an overgrown, peppy Archie Andrews with a wide grin and roving eye.

I worship Vera-Ellen (really, who doesn’t) but Patterson’s saucy ‘Judy Haynes’ is a sparkling alternative, possessing both Betty Grable sass and gams. Both may offer audience ham, but there’s none tastier on Broadway – and yeah, audiences eat it up (sorry, couldn’t resist).

Both masters of the ‘old-school’ Hollywood-Broadway dance that has sadly become nearly extinct, Denman and Patterson have been dance partners for years and their chemistry is as integral to WHITE CHRISTMAS as Irving Berlin. Their numbers are high points, notably the second-act curtain raiser "I Love A Piano". Backed by a strong, on-target ensemble, Mr. D. and Ms. P. execute machine-gun taps that would make Fred and Eleanor proud – this and O’Malley’s solo elicit the loudest audience cheers.

To glibly dismiss the choreography (as some have on ATC) as ’42nd Street derivative’ is to miss Randy Skinner’s point entirely. Skinner’s choreography is an intentional homage to the classic Hollywood dance direction, vintage ‘30s-‘50s of Hermes Pan, Danny Dare, Seymour Felix and Robert Alton, hitting every movement exactly right. I disagree that the brief dance in the middle of ‘Love You Didn’t Do right by Me’ is an example of ‘not trusting that material’ - it’s necessary, as it forms a haunting backdrop for Bogardus’ “How Deep is the Ocean”. Robert Alton also realized the number needed a bit more movement when he choreographed Rosemary Clooney and her dancers in the WHITE CHRISTMAS film, but Skinner’s elegant version – set in the Allen room of one’s dreams - is markedly superior.
Ditto “Snow”, which in the film is unexcitingly rendered as a quartet sung in the Vermont-bound train. Skinner opens it up by adding a car-crowding sweater and mitten-clad chorus a la ‘The Trolley Song’ turning what was a minor number into a colorful, exhilarating group paean to the white stuff.

Could WHITE CHRISTMAS be improved? Well, yes. The paper-thin book scenes have an acre of corn and would benefit from zestier dialogue and better jokes. And even family musicals like WHITE CHRISTMAS could use a few more zingers like Susan Masur’s quip in Act 2, which gets the biggest laughs of the show.

I’ve seen the show twice (from orchestra and mezzanine) and both times the orchestra sounds full, luscious and not-overmiked– a real treat to such a score – with an overture, no less! - in a Broadway theater. No problems there at all.

Will I be returning? You bet. I have a bunch of tickets for myself and some out-of town friends for later in the run. After all, WHITE CHRISTMAS comes but once a year.

Updated On: 11/21/08 at 12:43 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 1:16pm

So how was it compared to the show you saw at Boston's Wang Center? I understand that you saw this too in Boston last year...Are there any changes? (aside from the cast like Brian D'Arcy)

I agree with you..the best part of the show is Randy Skinner's choreography specially I LOVE THE PIANO number. I like LET YOURSELF GO and BLUE SKIES numbers.

My only complain is they try to milk the cuteness of the kids in the show~it becomes redundant at the end of ACT 1.

You know, I saw the show last year~same time in my hometown (Boston).. Honestly I cant even remember it anymore. Its kinda forgettable! The good news is if you like IRVING BERLIN most likely you'll enjoy this jukebox musical of his Broadway standards songs. I enjoyed the show, but cant remember the details like how GREY GARDENS, PASSING STRANGE & TOS stayed with me. Its a cute musical! good for like $25.00 tops. I wont pay more than that with this economy!~that's just my opinion and advise to people who want to see it.

J*

Updated On: 11/21/08 at 01:16 PM

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 1:37pm

Welcome Back , JAY!

:)

[justme2]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 2:41pm

Jaystarr! How could you forget details such as:

The Blue Skies number that closes Act one? The fantastic white tuxeoded dancers against the blue backdrop, utilizng canes in all in that number?

The I love a Piano number that opens the 2nd act with a glorious tap dance number that Judy and Phil lead by doing a tap challenge, dancing on a mini piano, and leading the chorus into a tap finale that stops that show?

The "Happy Holiday Number" from the beginning, with the Bob and Phil crooning while a plethora of dancers tap dance in triangular unison?

The Sisters number? Betty and Judy singing that classic, which leads into Judy and Phil doing some of the best partner dancing seen in years in "The Best Things Happen while you're dancing"?

The closing "White Christmas" number, complete with a backdrop that makes the set look like a Currier and Ives print while dancers "ice skate"?

I can completely understand someone forgtting the slim plot, but for someone like you, who sees and reviews everything wonderfully...even photographing the theatre outside...I cannot understand how you can dismiss this lovely show with a comment like "it's good for $25.00 tops"!!!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 2:51pm

Love the show, but the chase sequence during "Blue Skies" with Martha and the General is ridiculously amateurish and cringe-inducing.

Updated On: 11/21/08 at 02:51 PM

[justme2]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 2:54pm

Yeah I thought the same the first time I saw it. By the third trip, the scene made sense.

I thought, if they could have taken one element away...it would have to be the kid singing that numebr "Let me Sing". The kid was ok until that number.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 3:00pm

Justme, I saw it twice and felt the same thing both times. I'm seeing it again on 12/26, so who knows, maybe the chase scene will make sense to me, too!!

[justme2]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 3:10pm

LOL!!

Hi, my name is Justme and I've seen White Christmas 9 times.

(gasps from the group)

...and I am proud to admit it!

Have fun! I had to purchase SF Nutcracker tix this year to try and have something else to see as ONCE AGAIN, WC is not coming to a theatre near me this year.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 3:31pm

I can completely understand someone forgtting the slim plot, but for someone like you, who sees and reviews everything wonderfully...even photographing the theatre outside...

Oh thanks!

Unfortunately, I only saw the show once and I saw different shows (about 66) last year, that's why I cant remember a lot of details. Thanks to you~I finally remember the ending of ACT 1 which is BLUE SKIES and I LOVE THE PIANO opening ACT 2. I remember having a nice vermont FULL SIZE set- i hope they still have that! I wont forget I LOVE THE PIANO number~bec. the stage came up in different levels like a big piano.

Yeah~ The book is kinda corny~now I remember it...I also remember loving some of the sets and the choreography but that's it. (I wont count the music~just because almost every theater enthusiast love IRVING BERLIN) I paid $25.00 for nose bleed seats at Wang & went down later (Wang has 5,000 seats~and never filled it)

I guess.. (if I have not seen the show) I will go for TDF for $34.00 or TKTS but I dont know about $115.00?

It was enjoyable, but I wont not see it more than once! I am not into seeing shows multiple times.

J*




Updated On: 11/21/08 at 03:31 PM

[justme2]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 3:41pm

LOL! I love your reviews and photos! Ok, $34 is a LITTLE better...I usually am like you and don't see a show more than once. I ended up bringing different people each time I saw WC again, so that's my excuse. And I'm sticking to it.

[kooky]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 5:52pm

Please someone, tell me the running time of this show ...... going to the opening
Sunday.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 6:57pm

Nice to see you back, Jay! No changes since Boston.

Kooky, the show runs a bit over two hours.

Yeah, justmehere - I could have done without the kids little song-and-dance, but they gotta give her something to sing. I think it would have been better for her to do something other than "Let Me Sing And I'm Happy". Once is enough for that number.

It would have been a hoot to hear the kid sing "Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning" - a real Berlin Army song for her Grandpa!

Updated On: 11/21/08 at 06:57 PM

[kooky]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 7:07pm

Thank you Tulita, and Happy Thanksgiving to you.

[Hulmeman]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 7:11pm

Oh TulitaPepsi how it gladens my heart to read a review which is both honest and fond. WC sounds like the perfect yuletide treat. Wish I could see it after reading your words.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 7:12pm

Jaystarr!
How can you call this a jukebox musical?

Is Anything Goes a Cole Porter jukebox musical?

Is Sunday in the Park a Sondheim jukebox musical?

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 7:14pm

Is Sunday in the Park a Sondheim jukebox musical?

I'm confused...

[Princeton78]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 7:20pm

Jaystarr said...

"The good news is if you like IRVING BERLIN most likely you'll enjoy this jukebox musical of his Broadway standards songs."

I was just commenting.

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 7:40pm

I'm still confused. The film was a jukebox musical, so is this show.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 9:57pm

Thanks blaxx!

I called it a Jukebox Musical per definition: is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score. The songs are contextualized into a dramatic plot, often the biographical story of the performer(s) whose music is featured.

In this case. the song "White Christmas" by Irving Berlin was introduced by Bing Crosby in 1942 musical HOLIDAY INN. I am sure you guys are familiar with BLUE SKIES (1926) ~was actually composed for Rodgers & Hart musical, LOVE AND THE WEATHER, I LOVE THE PIANO and so on.

The song was made into a movie in 1954 in a movie of the same title, WHITE CHRISTMAS starring Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. Blaxx is right- the movie is a jukebox movie musical, so is this Broadway Holiday adaptation. It is what is it~ I dont mean that in any condescending way!

Jukebox movie musical was invented in Hollywood a long time ago...way before MAMMA MIA, JERSEY BOYS, MOVIN' OUT...

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is not a jukebox musical simple because Stephen Sondheim composed songs specifically for the musical. Same with ANYTHING GOES~ Cole Porter specifically composed "Anything Goes", "You're the Top", and "I Get a Kick Out of You" for the Musical.. they did added some Porter songs with the recent revivals like It's DeLovely~ I guess if they keep adding more Porter's song- it will become a jukebox musicalsoon! I saw a Porter Jukebox musical on Broadway in 1998~ called HIGH SOCIETY with Melissa Errico, Randy Graff & Stephen Bogardus. I considered that Jukebox since the original movie has orginal songs but the Broadway adaptation several songs added~w/c is more than the original songs.

J*

Updated On: 11/21/08 at 09:57 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 10:26pm

I still say that it's not a jukebox by a long shot.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 2:20pm

Just bumpin' up some WHITE CHRISTMAS love and trivia:

Here are the interpolated Berlin songs not in the WHITE CHRISTMAS film:

"Falling out of Love Can Be Fun" (from Miss Liberty - 1949 - Introduced by Mary McCarty)

"Love and the Weather" (a Berlin 'single' not written for a show and introduced by Kate Smith in 1947)

"I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" (from On the Avenue, -1937- introduced by Dick Powell & Alice Faye)

"Let Me Sing And I'm Happy" (from Mammy, 1930 - introduced by Al Jolson)

Songs from the film cut from the stage show:

"I'd Rather See A Minstrel Show"
"Mandy"
"Abraham"
"Gee, I Wish I Was Back In The Army" (one line is sung in the stage version)
"Choreography"

Other WHITE CHRISTMAS trivia:

Donald O'Connor was originally cast as Bob Wallace. He was replaced by Danny Kaye after O'Connor either (the reasons vary) hurt his leg or fell ill after working on his latest film with Francis the Talking Mule.

Five numbers were written for the film and not used:

"An Army Santa Claus"
"What Does A Soldier Want For Christmas?"
"Sittin' In The Sun (Countin' My Money)"
"A Singer - A Dancer" (intended for Crosby and Donald O'Connor. When O'Connor was replaced by Kaye, the song was re-written as "A Crooner - A Comic", which was also unused)

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote the score for the 1926 musical Betsy. Producer Florenz Ziegfeld thought the score needed a bit more zing, and commissioned Berlin to write something for its star Belle Baker. Berlin wrote it in a week, Baker sang it and to Rodgers & Hart's chagrin, it became the smash hit of the show - so much so that Baker often reprised the song after tumultuous response. The song was "Blue Skies".

"Blue Skies" became one of Berlins most-often used movie musical songs. First sung on film by Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer (1927), it subsequently appears (as background music) in Glorifying the American Girl (1930), and was sing by Ethel Merman and Alice Faye in Alexander's Ragtime Band (193, Bing Crosby in (naturally) Blue Skies (1946) and (with Danny Kaye)in White Christmas (1954).

WHITE CHRISTMAS grossed $12 million dollars for Paramount. It was the highest-grossing film of 1954.