Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” the staged version of the 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, is a Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC) holiday production that the whole family will enjoy.
The year is 1954 and “Bob” (Josh Powell) and “Phil” (Dereck Luscutoff) pair up with “Betty” (Elena Ramos Pascillo) and her sister “Judy” (Elissa De Maria) in order to perform at a New England inn during the Christmas Holidays. Here the boys meet their former, army commander, General Waverly (Scott Mikita). He is the grumpy owner of the resort who gives everyone a bit of a hassle. The problem is that it has not snowed yet and the usual guests have not made reservations. In the meantime, the entertainment has been hired and despite some internal disagreements, the cast members continue to rehearse. Thus, we have an excuse for an abundance of talented, tap-happy dancing and seasonal songs. The singing actors(most of them Equity performers) are wonderfully directed by MTC’s Kevin Connors, and the lively choreography by Mallory Davis is miraculous, considering the theatre’s small performing area.
Among the Highlights are:
“Sisters” delightfully performed by the girls, Pascillo and De Maria and which is amusingly repeated in the second act by the boys, Powell and Luscutoff. In “I Love a Piano” De Maria and Luscutoff’s costumes by designer, Diane Vanderkroef, creatively featured the black keys on a piano. David Wolfson aptly directed his hidden, live orchestra. Go see it!
