White Christmas
By Diana Dicker
Thanks to global warming, snow at Christmas may only be a memory but, in the theatre, the seasonal excitement of snow and festive cheer is plentiful in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. And after a colourful, action packed, all-dancing, all-singing rendition of the 1954 musical movie, there is hardly a dry eye in the house as the audience are invited to join in singing the title song – the theme tune to the magic of Christmas – and the stage floods in red light and the auditorium fills with snow for a festive finale.
Bob Wallace (performed by Craig McLachlan) and Phil Davies (Tim Flavin) are successful showmen who wash up at an inn in Vermont in pursuit of two singers, the Haynes Sisters, who have caught their fancy. The place is deserted due to lack of snow and the failing owner turns out to be their beloved General from past army days. To help the old man out they import their cast, put on a show and corral former soldiers for the audience.
With great Irving Berlin songs from “Snow” and “Happy Holiday” to “Sisters” and “The Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing”, this is a happy, toe-tapping show. It’s familiar territory that’s as warming as a hot toddy.
The set has a front drop like a dolls’ house, which opens onto smaller sets which allow the action to continue as the main stage is readied for some seriously big dance numbers. The stage floods with tap dancers, including some who descend from the fly tower aboard a floating floor. The “I Love a Piano” routine launched the second act into a flurry of dance.
The success of “Strictly Come Dancing” has brought the suited dancer back into the forefront of our lives, and here the sharp male tappers are partnered by twirling Toni-permed, full-skirted 1950s-style women. The big dance numbers have heavy wow factor but the show also features some splendid singing, with over 20 musical numbers, 30 West End performers, and a full orchestra.
For those who love to dance, a show about dancers is a joy and the uplifting White Christmas is a pleasant change from The Nutcracker or a pantomime. Walking out of the theatre into the twinkle of street decorations and a snap of frost it certainly felt like a very, very merry Christmas.
Diana Dicker saw the European premiere of White Christmas at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal. The show plays at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, from Dec 7 through Jan 28, call 02380 711811.
Photographs by Alastair Muir.
