A CHRISTMAS STORY the MUSICAL Seattle 5th Ave Theater DEC 9 2010

21 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment

by kkryder in THEATRICAL STAGE PLAYS Tags: 5th Ave theater, A Christmas Story the Musical, Broadway, kk ryder reviews, Peter Billingsley

Nine-year-old Ralphie Parker can just about taste what he wants for Christmas “an official Red Ryder carbon-action 200-shot range air rifle, with a secret built in compass in the stock, and this thing that tells time.” and the famous line from the movie in which everyone shoots him down with “You’ll shoot your eye out” makes the audience roar with recognizable laughter along with famous one liners “Fragile’ it must be Italian” “I can’t put my arms down”, oh- fu———dge” and of course “He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny” these are only a few of the remarkable and memorable phrases heard once again, only this time as a musical!
A Christmas Story the Musical which can be seen now until the 30th of December at one of the most ornately decorated theaters in the world the 5th Avenue theater, which is located in Seattle Washington, this theater has had the glorified honor of creating 4 stage productions which have gone on to play on Broadway and has also received 2 Tony awards!
Eric Rosen creatively directs the musical version of A Christmas Story. The music emerges from the amazing minds of Broadway’s hottest young songwriting team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
The orchestra is first heard playing wonderfully, familiar parts of songs in which your mind escapes to the different scenes from the movie, as the sold out theater prepares itself for a great old fashioned, updated version of a good time favorite Christmas classic!
The stage framing is that of a dreamy Christmas card all decked out in white, red scaffolding on both sides are reserved for beautiful harmonies, props and Christmassy sound FX heard and seen by the actors of the radio quartet, you are first brought into what could only be the “Jean Shepherd” radio show played by veteran stage actor Frank Corrado on stage left who is seen and heard many times throughout the show and center stage at home in the Midwest fictional town of Holman Indiana, sitting cross legged on the floor in front of the radio is Ralphie brilliantly played by first time 5th Ave theater actor Clarke Hallum.
The plot familiar to the famous 1983 Christmas movie revolves around Ralphie’s ever dying need of being the proud owner of this official Red Ryder BB gun, shot down over and over by Mom and Dad, his teacher and of course the big man up top of Mt Olympus at Higbees department store Santa Clause, comically portrayed by Matt Wolfe a very funny actor who has been seen in many stage productions in theaters across Washington State. Ralphie first fell under the jaw dropping- spell after watching a singing dancing cowboy called Red Ryder wielding the bb gun of his dreams in his arms!
Through many attempts of and wild boyish daydreams Ralphie and this entertaining cast take you through songs like “Ralphie to the Rescue”,” A Major Award”,” Sticky Situation” ,”He’s Blind”, ”You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out” and many many more.

Snow falls, windows come down and go back up again, there is dancing, scenes change before your eyes as your scenes are filled with an array of exciting memories adapted into this musical and yes even complete with dancing leg lamps and Flick stuck to the pole!
Under the Christmas tree in a lot of homes since 1983 when the movie first aired there have been a lot of ” official Red Ryder carbon-action 200-shot range air rifles, with a secret built in compass in the stock, and this thing that tells time”, but on the very special night of Dec 9th 2010 under the roof of the 5th Ave. theater, was none other than Ralphie himself…Peter Billingsley who signed on as Producer for the stage play and what a treat for the theater it was, even Night Line which is airing a piece on Dec 20th about Peter was in the house with their camera crew, what an amazing show and a magical night, catch A CHRISTMAS STORY the MUSICAL and relive your memories of this American Christmas Classic, oh and don’t forget to purchase your Christmas Story favorite collectables from several “Deranged Bunnies” through out the theater, I took home a leg lamp which I so proudly will display in my window every Christmas!
Review by KK Ryder kkryder@comcast.net www.kkryder.com

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