Merry and bright: Paramount’s swingin’ ‘White Christmas’ an ideal addition to the holiday season
“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” — 3.5 stars
Heading to my seat in Aurora’s Paramount Theatre for a performance of “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” I spotted in the lobby two adorably dressed little girls wearing pale blue party dresses.
Their outfits recalled those worn by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, who played singing siblings romanced by a song-and-dance duo played by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in “White Christmas,” the 1954 film that inspired this merry jukebox tuner.
The girls’ fashion statement testifies to the popularity of the film and its stage counterpart, which premiered in 2000. A series of tours followed, as did seasonal stints on Broadway in 2008 and 2009. The show also enjoys regular revivals, including one last year at Marriott Theatre.
No surprise there. “White Christmas” is a heartwarming confection with a score consisting of Irving Berlin ballads, ragtime and swing tunes, with the latter inspiring boffo production numbers that have become a Paramount trademark.
Robustly played by conductor Kory Danielson’s 14-member orchestra and beautifully sung by director Stephen Schellhardt’s top-notch ensemble, the music is terrific. The choreography by Tiffany Krause and Annie Jo Fischer is big, bold and expertly executed.
However, David Ives and Paul Blake’s book is negligible and the story — rooted in breakups, makeups and misunderstandings — is hokey.
No matter. Song and dance powers this 1954-set show about best pals and GI-Joes-turned-Broadway-stars Bob Wallace (the velvet-voiced Alex Syiek exuding old-school charm) and Phil Davis (Evan C. Dolan) who are looking for a sister act for their upcoming revue. They find just the chanteuses they’re looking for in Judy Haynes (Jessie J. Potter) and her older sister Betty (Sophie Grimm).
Despite some initial frostiness between Betty and Bob, the quartet hit it off (more or less) and head to Vermont, where the sisters have a holiday gig at an inn owned by Bob and Phil’s no-nonsense former commander General Henry Waverly (David Girolmo, a kindly curmudgeon). When housekeeper and onetime starlet Martha (Abby C. Smith) confides to Bob and Phil that the inn is failing, they decide to save it by putting on a show.
And what a show it is, particularly in numbers like the dreamy “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing.” Lydia Burke, Alanna Chavez, Tim Foszcz, Joe Giovannetti and Darian Goulding provide wonderful backing vocals for the number, which features Dolan, Potter and the ensemble performing Krause’s seamless combination of ballet, ballroom and Latin dance.
The indefatigable Dolan and Potter also take center stage during Fischer’s tap-tastic “I Love a Piano,” a near show-stopping ragtime tune that unfolds on a giant keyboard and against a swirling backdrop of piano keys courtesy of set and projection designer Jeffrey D. Kmiec. Mara Blumenfeld’s elegant and witty period costumes also deserve kudos.
Supporting actors Chavez and Carl Draper deliver several marvelous measures during the jolly “Snow.”
Grimm croons the suitably torchy “Love, You Didn’t Do Right by Me.” And Smith — who should be on a short list to play Mama Rose in a “Gypsy” revival — is a powerhouse.
So is Syiek. Crooning “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” or swinging big-band style on “Blue Skies,” he stands out among the outstanding actors and creatives who make Paramount’s “White Christmas” merry and bright.
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Location: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-6666, paramountaurora.com
Showtimes: 1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday; 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 11. Also, 2 p.m. Nov. 28 and Dec. 26. No shows Dec. 24 or 25
Tickets: $31-$106
Running time: About 2 hours, 30 minutes, with intermission
Parking: Limited street parking; paid lots
Rating: For all ages