Violin virtuoso Isaac Stern once said, “America’s music was born at his piano.”
He was talking about Irving Berlin, who touted “White Christmas” as the best song he’d ever written. Berlin proclaimed, in fact, that it was the best song “anybody had ever written!” This bold declaration came from the man who also wrote “God Bless America,” so his arrogance is forgiven. It is the holiday season, after all.
Who knew that when Berlin wrote “White Christmas” more than 65 years ago, one day theater groups big and small would perform the stage play, inspired by the film, inspired by the song?
You can’t tell the story of White Christmas without first touching upon the song that started it all—and the subsequent 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney (yes, George’s aunt), and Vera-Ellen. To this day, it’s considered mandatory viewing in the classic seasonal cinema genre. It has stood the test of time.
The stage version, however, is just a wee toddler, having opened in 2004, with a current run on Broadway. Based on the film, this live version, written by David Ives and Paul Blake, takes artistic license by both adding to and taking away from the story.
White Christmas, playing now at PCPA at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, is brimming with universal themes and genres—yet, oddly enough, not much “white” or “Christmas.” Comedy, romance, music, dance, twists and turns, and a dash of wartime era nostalgia are its main ingredients.
The premise goes something like this: Boys do well in the Army, a former general needs help, boys meet girls, and boys and girls do well all over again. It’s all inspired by two little words, and one very big song.
All four of the lead actors bring an intensity, comic and heartwarming, to the stage as the charismatic and charming duos—World War II buddies-turned-song and-dance-men and a sister act—end up in Vermont at a picturesque inn.
Colum Parke Morgan plays Bob Wallace (Crosby in the film), Michael Jenkinson is Phil Davis (Kaye), Elizabeth Stuart is Betty Haynes (big sis Clooney), and Natasha Harris is Judy Haynes (little sis Vera-Ellen).
Parke Morgan brings fresh emotion to his part as the leader of the foursome, Jenkinson brings the funny as the sidekick and schemer, and the ladies bring a bit of both.
The women are strong in their sister roles, while totally at ease on stage. Stuart especially embodies the nostalgia of Betty, as well as her character’s talent and goodness.
White Christmas is a production built on its dance numbers and, of course, the music—and both are at the heart and soul of the production. The story will draw audiences in and fill them with holiday spirit, which PCPA achieves with grace.
This production is a piece of true theater as actors mingle with the audience in a very intimate portrayal—not a difficult task in the moderately sized Marian Theater: It’s not too big, it’s not too small, and all the seats are prime.
“Happy Holiday” is the opening number (which wasn’t in the film version, but was performed in the classic film Holiday Inn, where the song “White Christmas” debuted in 1942).
The stage, filled with bobby-soxer couples, the women in vibrant dresses, reveals spectacular choreography full of energy and Bob Fosse-esque style. Fosse’s influence comes around again during the whimsical “Blue Skies” number—another tune written by Berlin. “I Love a Piano,” which hands down had the best set and costumes (besides the finale) takes tap dancing to a new level, all done with huge smiles and performers giving it their all.
The trip to Vermont in the train car (“Snow, snow, snow, snow!”) is a watershed moment, better achieved on stage by PCPA with moving car seats, hilarious travelers, and the entire train car participating in the dance number.
You can’t take your eyes off the stage as the foursome arrives at the fledgling, almost bankrupt Columbia Inn, where they meet Martha, played with affection and no nonsense by acting veteran Kitty Balay Genge. Her “Let Me Sing” is also one of the best performances in the entire musical.
Whether it’s your 20th time experiencing White Christmas, or your first, you’ll feel welcomed to this very traditional, surprising, yet contemporary take on a classic—kids, grandparents, and college students included.
Merry Christmas, sir. Dismissed.
INFOBOX: Dreaming …
PCPA presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas through Dec. 21 at the Marian Theatre on the Allan Hancock College Santa Maria campus, 800 S. College Drive, Tickets range from $14 to $29. Info, tickets, and directions: 922-8313 or www.pcpa.org.
Christy Heron is the calendar editor of the Sun’s sister paper, New Times. She has a lot of Christmas cards to write, travel plans to make, suitcases to pack, trees to trim, lists to make, books to write, and gifts to buy. Send her some merriness and brightness at cheron@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Nov 20-27, 2008.