Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Rick Batalla, Philip McNiven and Suzanne Jolie Narbonne (Photo by Colony Theatre)
Reviewed by Terry Morgan
Troubadour Theater Company
Through December 23
RECOMMENDED
For some of us, the holiday season hasn’t quite arrived until the seasonal Troubie show appears, when the faithful gather to laugh, enjoy several rounds of “You’re So Late” and breathlessly await the return of the Winter Warlock. This is a tradition hallowed by time, happening for more than two decades. For those who haven’t heard of this company, its usual format is to take one of Shakespeare’s plays or a piece of pop culture, and then use it as the basis for a musical by attaching the songs of a particular artist or group. This year the combo is the 1954 film, White Christmas, with songs from The Beatles’ White Album. The current production at the Colony Theatre is a goofy joy, with the troupe firing on all cylinders.
In 1944, Army buddies Bob (Rick Batalla) and Phil (Philip McNiven) start up a variety act and begin touring the country. Along the way they meet another act, the Haynes Sisters, Betty (Cloie Wyatt Taylor) and Judy (Suzanne Jolie Narbonne), and are immediately smitten with them. One winter both groups duos travel out to perform at the Colony Inn in Vermont, a venue coincidentally owned by Bob and Phil’s old Army commander, General Waverly (Matt Walker). Unfortunately, Waverly’s inn is failing, so his guests make a plan to save the day.
McNiven is charming as Phil, and his rendition of “Honey Pie” (a song that always seemed to me out of place on the White Album), is lovely and seems to be more in its proper context here. Narbonne is very good as well-meaning sister Judy, and Taylor is quite funny as Betty, especially in her drunken rendition of “Yer Blues.” Walker excels as the stern Waverly, affectionately referring to all his men as “maggots,” and Dallys Newton impresses with her dazzling hula hoop performance.
Beth Kennedy is hilarious as housekeeper Martha My Dear, mistress of the invisible bell, and she brings the house down with inspired physical comedy in a bit in which she cannot quite push a prop offstage. Finally, Batalla is terrific as Bob, getting great comic mileage from an amusing impression of the film’s Bing Crosby (complete with huge prop ears) throughout. It should be said that Batalla has been the Troubies’ secret weapon all along. He’s always funny, he’s a fantastic improviser, and he can sing — his performance of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (which he plays on the titular instrument and partly sings in Spanish) is a highlight of the show.
Director Walker does an excellent job of corralling and creating the delightful chaos, staging musical numbers with energy and pacing the entire show with unflagging spirit. He also adapts the material, which works especially well here, resulting in such titles as “Obey Me or You’ll Die” (a play on “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”) and “Why Don’t We Do It in the Snow?” The show is full of memorable moments and amusing gags, including Mother Superior literally jumping the gun, the repetition of the number nine, the outsourcing of tap dancing, a wonderful recreation of a Disneyland ride, a projection of a famous road and cameos by The Walrus and a renowned actor.
One of the things I most enjoy about Troubie shows is their willingness to comment on how a joke is received by the audience in real time or how an actor may have misplayed a bit — a freeing quality that removes the sense of a strict divide between audience and ensemble and underscores the troupe’s intent to create a good experience for all. White (Album) Christmas is a very good experience, a tonic to temporarily help one forget troubling times.
The Troubadour Theater Company at the Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St., Burbank Thurs.-Fri., 8 pm, Sat., 4 pm and 8 pm, Sun., 4 pm and 7:30 pm; thru Dec. 23. www.troubie.com Running time: two hours with one intermission.
