The ensemble (Photo by Mandy Penn)
Reviewed by Socks Whitmore
Ahmanson Theatre
Through December 31
RECOMMENDED
It’s another snowless winter in sunny Los Angeles, and in spite of the rising global temperatures, the holiday spirit has found its way once more to the Ahmanson stage. Based on the 1983 motion picture originally produced by MGM (and inspired by the childhood adventures of real-life radio personality Jean Shepherd), A Christmas Story: The Musical is a festive family comedy set in 1940s Indiana. The story follows nine-year-old Ralphie Parker’s epic quest to obtain the only thing he wants for Christmas: “an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.” Ralphie tries to sway his homemaking mother, crossword-obsessed father, unamused English teacher, and a disgruntled mall Santa to help him acquire the present of his dreams, but his plans continually go awry. From the infamous leg lamp and pink bunny onesie to licking the frozen flagpole, the musical adaption sports all the fan favorite features of the original holiday classic.
The set is framed by a gigantic snow globe periodically bedecked with swirling snowflake projections. After a brief “present day” vignette, Jean Shepherd (Chris Carsten) begins narrating the Christmas tale as a wry older Ralphie. Matt Lenz’s direction puts a distinctly theatrical spin on the material, taking suspension of disbelief to heart with bombastic vigor. Where the ’80s movie used camera angles and misty daydreams to add fantasticality, the stage show has two-dimensional trees and joyfully absurd ensemble numbers — and at several points, real dogs running across the stage! The leg lamp and tap-dancing speakeasy sequences, featuring brief strobes, are both showstoppers and showcase the talent of the children in the cast. Esther Jane (Addalie Burns) displays stunning tap skills, Mary Beth (Izzy Pike) has excellent physical comedy, and Kai Edgar as Ralphie is vivacious and charming. The staging is exceptionally creative and mostly successful, with stylized transitions between vignettes and a goofy take on each beat from the original.
This 1940s nostalgia trip is goofy, feel-good, family-friendly, and a little sappy towards the end. Though it’s a far different beast from the film it’s based on, it’s a lot of fun and the kids will love it.
Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Tues.-Sat., 8 pm; Sat., 2 pm; Sun., 1 pm & 6:30 pm; thru Dec 31. https://www.centertheatregroup.org/tickets/ahmanson-theatre/2023-24/a-christmas-story-the-musical/ Running time: two hours and 35 minutes with an intermission.
