BWW Reviews: A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS CAROL at MetroStage

Combine Broadway melodies with literature's most famous miser, and instead of "Bah humbug," you might be saying "Encore!." The good folks at Alexandria's MetroStage are in their fifth season of what has become an annual tradition of presenting A Broadway Christmas Carol, the madcap musical version of the classic Dickens tale, which tells the story by way of well-known Broadway tunes with [liberally] altered lyrics. From the opening number, set to "Comedy Tonight," from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, to a rousing finale set to the title tune from Oklahoma, there's something for everyone in this "comedy tonight."

A supremely talented trio of actors (and a music director pulling triple duty as piano player and actor as well), make laughter their priority; and this has to be one of the hardest working casts around. They shift with entertaining ease between characters, costumes and props, without losing the comedic timing that is so critical to slapstick humor. In particular, Peter Boyer, as Scrooge, while having the fewest costume changes, and only one role to handle, is a wonderful singer, and a steadying force in the madness. Accomplished local performers, Tracey Stephens and Michael Sharp, are natural comedians, have great voices, and, most importantly, fearlessness and boundless energy as they create multiple characters, sometimes within the space of seconds, and in full view of the audience.

All the important elements you expect from Scrooge's night of haunting are present and accounted for, with liberties taken to work in appropriate songs. But a big part of the fun of the evening is the anticipation of what Broadway tune will show up next, so I won't spoil the surprises (Carolyn Griffin, Artistic Director of MetroStage, noted at the close of the show, that "cheat sheets" are available in the lobby if you want to check your memory). Between the two acts, there are songs representing more than thirty different shows, so the chances are high you will know many, just from the tunes alone. And even the songs you might not immediately recognize have been given such clever makeovers, that you won't care.

That said, the need to relate the revised songs to the story sometimes makes for muddled details during the "Ghost Stories," and some of the gags are stretched too thin, which makes the show perhaps a bit too long. Certainly accomplished Washington theater artist and educator, Kathy Feininger, who created the show, wanted to squeeze in as many familiar songs as possible, but it works best when we are given more of a snippet, and not the entire song.

It's hard to imagine repeat director, choreographer and actor in the show, Michael Sharp, making better use of the small set and very clever props to serve so many purposes. Likewise, music director, piano player and cast member, Howard Breitbart, is a treat, and displays amazing skill in all three roles.

So, for a fun holiday evening out, grab a Broadway-loving friend or two, or three, old or young, have dinner in Old Town, and treat yourself to a healthy helping of laughter and good cheer with A Broadway Christmas Carol, running through December 28.

More information and tickets can be found at metrostage.org.