Saw the first Chicago performance of White Christmas. I went in knowing this would be a mixed bag at best, so I viewed it more as a Holiday Show likeThe Radio City Christmas Spectacular rather than a real piece of musical theater.
The good:
Great to see Karen Ziemba. As expected, she made both her numbers land. Falling Out of Love Can Be fun was particularly delightful.
Both male leads, Sean Montgomery and Jeremy Benton, have great voices and seemed just right for the period.
Conrad John Schuck was poignant in his short monologues that bookend the show.
The Bad:
Very few laughs, although several attempts at humor. Some of the corniest jokes I have ever heard.
The thin plot of the movie seems even thinner here.
Dancing seemed not quite up to par.
Having said all that, the audience was attentive, engaged and loved it. I had fun, but this is certainly not a show that anyone who regularly sees musical theater needs to see. |
