All around town, technical directors must be groaning. The clever folks at the 5th Avenue Theatre have upped the ante of Christmas spectacular. Not only does it snow on stage in "White Christmas," new snow technology makes the audience become part of the winter scene.
Overall, the 5th Avenue's "White Christmas" uses its Norman Rockwell pretty sets to great advantage. The cast is clothed in layers of red velvet and nostalgia, turning every moment in a sparkling homage to a celebration of the holiday season.
Based on the 1954 movie musical starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, the stage show's snowflake-thin plot never offers much suspense. True love will win out and a show in the barn will save a quaint inn in Vermont from bankruptcy. If you want more chills and thrills than that, try "A Christmas Carol" at the ACT.
Luckily, very little time is spent on the dialogue (the only part of the show not given enough polish). Most of evening just tap dances along on the cheerful tunes of Irving Berlin.
That a Jewish guy from Russia ended up as Tin Pan Alley's bard of Christmas and patriotism is just one of the wonderful twists in the long life of Israel Beilin (1888-1989). In his adopted homeland, following a name change to Irving Berlin, the 20th-century's most prolific songster penned "White Christmas" (a hit from the moment it was released during World War II), "God Bless America," a dozen Broadway musicals and even more Hollywood songfests.
The creators of the stage version of "White Christmas" wisely decided to lengthen the musical by dipping into Berlin's vast songbook and set the band swinging in orchestrations reminiscent of the big band era of the 1940s and 1950s.
The show's four exceptionally strong leads warble, tap dance, and joke along in this celebration of Berlin's music.
With one of the smoothest voices to grace the 5th's stage in several seasons, Michael Gruber croons his way through the title song and "Blue Skies" in a manner worthy of old Bing. As the joshing sidekick, Greg McCormick Allen nicely evokes the antics of such classic sidekicks as Donald O'Connor and Bob Hope. The pair play two Army buddies who have reached the top of the musical comedy ladder in the 1950s.
Christina Saffran Ashford and Tari Kelly are the "sister act" headed for a snowy Christmas in New England. Ashford gets the heartbreak songs beautifully suited to her voice, such as "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me," and one killer black velvet dress. Kelly neatly waltzes through the more comic "I Love A Piano" and the tender "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing."
And, if you know anything about 1950s musicals, the songs sung by their characters guarantee Ashford ends up the serious guy played by Gruber and Kelly gets the silly sidekick played by Allen.
Following their ladyloves to Vermont, the guys discover that their former General is now running a failing inn. In this enterprise, the General relies on his friend Martha (Carol Swarbrick) and cute little granddaughter (alternately played by Olivia Spokoiny and Keaton Whittaker). Swarbick even gets her own signature number, "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy" done in the big Broadway style of an Ethel Merman. Swarbrick was a razor-sharp Mrs. Lovett in last season's "Sweeney Todd" and she's a terrific comic relief in this show.
Longtime Seattle theatergoers will also spot Clayton Corzatte, a regular fixture at the Rep since the 1970s, as the handyman Ezekiel, a silent Vermonter seduced by song into a momentary breakout.
All that is needed to save General (played by the stalwart Stephen Godwin) and his inn from going under is to "put on a show." The guys import an entire musical comedy chorus, including the splendidly funny Billie Wildrick and Pamela Turpen as the ditzy Rita and Rhoda. A few minor snags occur. More songs are sung. And, just in time for the big Christmas Eve show, the snow falls and the audience sings happily along for a final chorus of "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas."
Tickets ($20 to $75) for this show are flying out of the box office faster than Frangos. If you want to see Seattle's latest Christmas extravaganza, call the 5th Box Office at 625-1900 or order online at www.5thavenue.org. Extra shows have been added, extending the "White Christmas" run to Dec. 20.
Rosemary Jones writes about arts and entertainment for the Capitol Hill Times. Reach her at editor@ capitolhilltimes.com.
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