Review By Becky Evans, Front Row Reviewers
Hopebox Theatre in Kaysville is playing A Christmas Story: The Musical, based on the popular 1983 movie. In our house, the 1983 movie A Christmas Story is a holiday staple, so seeing it onstage is a Christmas treat. A Christmas Story: The Musical takes place in 1940s Indiana and focuses on Ralphie, who wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. It opens with Jean Shepherd, played in both casts by Darin Beardall telling a story of an important Christmas from his past. In some ways Ralphie represents all of us and his BB gun, that present we yearned for as a child, or that especially meaningful gift we once received.
A Christmas Story: The Musical has all the important parts of the beloved movie including an Italian FRAGILE leg lamp, a sticky flagpole situation and features a crazy cast of characters including a grumpy mall Santa, a father who dreams of becoming a winner, a troupe of dancing leg lamps, and a little brother who can’t get himself up when bundled in his snowsuit.
Upon entering the theater, it is clear that Hopebox has Christmas spirit and owner Jan Williams took special care with the set design built by Colton Nelson and Tanaya Ropp. A Christmas tree in the lobby, Christmas lights around the set and everything designed in shades of red and green set the scene for this holiday piece.
From the first note, we could feel the Christmas excitement Director Williams truly worked magic with the cast, bringing out the best of both the show itself and being inclusive of the actors and dancers’ unique talents. I particularly enjoyed the choreography by Williams and (co-director) Wyatt Welch. I love how the musical goes deeper than the movie and includes “dream sequences” of Ralphie saving the day with his Red Ryder BB Gun and his old man dancing with his leg lamps. The dances are unique, innovative, and aerobic. In particular, the song “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out” choreographed by Kate Erickson and led by Rylee Harris (Miss Shields) has a spectacular tap solo and nearly steals the show. The whole ensemble works together in harmony and energy that help move the show along.
The main focus of the show is the Parker Family. Mr. Parker (Jake Swenson) has a special energy, charisma, and geekiness that almost anyone can relate to. He is especially entertaining with his fake swear words that he comes up with throughout the show. Mother (Torrey Woolsey) represents every mother. Her song, “What a Mother Does” is a tender ballad about how a mother does everything they can for their children and is serving her family seconds and thirds and never gets a chance to sit down and eat herself. Woolsey has a gentle tenderness toward her husband and kids, but she also has some feisty moments as she doesn’t appreciate the sexy leg lamp quite as much as her husband does.
Some of the biggest stars of the show are the children in the cast. Ralphie (Leon Flint) is perfectly cast. He looks just like Ralphie from the movie and immediately gets the audience involved with his excitement for Christmas and his sweet melodies. His little brother Randy (Sawyer Collins) is so cute when he can’t put his arms down and when he tries to eat his food like a little piggie. You’ll just want to wrap him up and take him home. The other children in the cast can hold their own, as well. Schwartz (Ender Swenson) has the cutest little Boston accent and goads his friend Flick (Alex Choote) into sticking his tongue to a flagpole. Mary Beth (Harper Bowers) and Esther Jane (Georgina Stoneman) are great dancers and sing a touching reprise to the song “Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana”. My favorite number by the kids is “When You’re a Wimp”- it has great energy and choreography, and the kids sing so enthusiastically about how it feels being picked on by older bullies.
Other notable cast members include Jared Doegey who plays an awesome grumpy mall Santa, his elves Alex Dosdall, Brent Johnson and the fabulous waiter Ben Stoneman. These amazing performers share great vocals, truly fun acting, and only serve to heighten an already wonderful show. Beardall carries the show with his masterful storytelling and seamless narration of story within a story and narrates with passion.
Williams and Wyatt Welch have created a beautiful story that flows seamlessly from scene to scene thanks to the hard work of stage manager Ellie Stephenson. Costumes designed by Sadie Day add to the nostalgia and feature Christmas colors and include a range of 40’s clothing, winter gear, along with special Dream Sequence clothing for a night club, an old Western and of course the leg lamps. Hairstyles are especially period including some fantastic villainous mustaches (thanks in part to wig designer Stephenson). The lighting and special effects of a black and white old timey Western when Ralphie is pretending to save his teacher really adds to the scene (Jeff Twede).
Although this show isn’t about a baby born in a manger, it is a show about family, love, and forgiveness. As Williams said, “I love the “realness” of each relationship shown in this show. The family isn’t perfect but they are perfectly imperfect. And I hope that all those who come and bring their families to see this show will be able to relate to this heartwarming story. May we all love a little longer, laugh a lot harder, and stay believing forever!”
The Hopebox Theatre is a small theater with a big heart. Each show that they put on is dedicated to someone currently battling cancer and a portion of ticket sales and all donations go directly to that person. The wall of hope Recipient for this show is a 10-year-old boy named Isaac Shipp who missed Christmas last year because he was in the hospital battling T-cell acute leukemia. He has a long recovery ahead of him but hopefully this show lifts him up during this difficult time. Isaac has a heart of gold, and this show is full of little Easter Eggs for Isaac: the license plate on the car, a desk with his name on it, mentioning his puppy dog by name, and more. The seating is stadium-style, but because of its shape, I would suggest seats toward the middle or front for the best sight lines. I recommend getting there early to find good parking and to let your little ones meet Santa before the show. The night I attended was an extra special night. Hopebox honored an angel recipient who passed away from cancer and was honored with a special tribute for her family.
I would absolutely recommend A Christmas Story: The Musical to anyone who is looking for a light-hearted nostalgic Christmas show. Be reminded of a Christmas from your childhood with Hopebox Theatre’s A Christmas Story: The Musical.
Hopebox Theatre presents A Christmas Story- The Musical, music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Joseph Robinett.
Hopebox Theatre, 1700 S Frontage Rd W, Kaysville, UT 84037
A Christmas Story runs select nights 12/6- 12/28/24
Tickets: $16-$22
Contact: 801-451-5259, boxoffice@HopeboxTheatre.com
Hopebox Theatre Facebook Page
This review is for the Silver Cast. There is also a Teal Cast that looks just as amazing and it seems like the Mother Ralphie and Randy characters may all be related which would lend a great dynamic
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