[NEohioPAL] Berko review: A CHRISTMAS STORY (Cleveland Play House)

[Roy Berko]

‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’ delights audience

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times

--COOLCLEVELAND.COM--


The gentleman sitting behind me at opening night of ‘A
CHRISTMAS STORY’ at the Cleveland Play House, seemed
to be an “expert” on all things “A CHRISTMAS STORY.’ 
Unfortunately, almost everything he was telling his
companions in a very loud voice, was mainly incorrect.

According to the self-anointed expert the play “was
written by a Clevelander” and “that’s why it is set in
Cleveland.”  Fact:  The story on which the movie and
play were both based was written by Jean Shephard who
was a Chicago native.  The play was written by Philip
Grecian, a native of Topeka, Kansas.  The play is not
set in this area.  It is located in the fictional town
of Hohman, Indiana.

The “font of knowledge” went on to recount how the
movie was made in Cleveland.  Well, he was almost
right on that one.  Some of the scenes were shot in
Cleveland, but due to a lack of big snows during
January through March of 1983, when the movie was
being shot, most of the filming was done in Canada. 
Yes, it was at 3159 West 11th Street in Tremont, where
The Christmas Story Museum is now located, that some
of the exterior hourse shots took place.  (The
interiors were filmed in a studio in Toronto.) And,
yes, the parade scene was in front of the now closed
Higbee’s Department Store in downtown Cleveland.  The
film makers had to make fake snow for those scenes.  

He also said that the majority of the cast of the film
were Clevelanders.  Again, nope.  The leads were
Hollywood professionals, including Darren McGavin who
played the Old Man, Melinda Dillon as the mother and
Scott Schwartz as Flick.   His information on the role
of Ralphie was also off-base.  He stated that Tom
Hanks played Ralphie.  No, Peter Billingsley played
the role.  Hanks did appear on stage in Cleveland as a
member of Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, but he was
not in the movie of ‘A CHRISTMAS STORY.’  I guess if
you count all the extras in the parade scene
(including yours truly) and other street scenes (which
also included this reviewer) he might be right on the
number of Clevelanders in the film.  

And then there was his final pronouncement: “The
Chinese restaurant the Parkers went to for Christmas
dinner is still in business here.”  Wrong, again.  The
restaurant scene was shot in Toronto.  (Some locals
have dubbed the C&Y Chinese Restaurant on St. Clair as
the present day stand-in for the play’s Bo Ling’s Chop
Suey Palace).

With that out of the way, what’s the play about?  It
relates a delightful, warm and fuzzy 1950s tale, about
a mom who knows best; a dad who is a lovable boob;
young Ralphie, who wants "an official Red Ryder,
carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air
rifle, with a compass in the stock and 'this thing'
which tells time"; and the adventures of Ralphie and
his friends. 

There are subplots concerning the major prize the Old
Man wins, how Flick is “triple dog dared” into
sticking his tongue to a freezing metal pole,
Ralphie’s disappointed reactions to his “Little Orphan
Annie Secret Society decoder pin,” how Ralphie finally
stands up to the bully Scut Farkas, and the next door
neighbors' hound dogs who create a worldly hell for
the Old Man.

The CPH production, under the direction of Seth
Gordon, is generally delightful.  It is nicely paced
and visually creates the right moods.

Charles Kartali, playing The Old Man for the third
time in this venue, populates the role.  His tirades,
his over-reactions, his anti-Father Knows Best persona
is one of lynch pins of the show.  Local favorite,
Elizabeth Ann Townsend is properly compassionate as
Ralphie’s mom.  Kolin Morgenstern is delightful as
Flick.  (He probably should have been cast as
Ralphie.)  Lily Richards as Esther Jane, the girl who
has a crush on Ralphie and Naomi Hill as Helen, the
class brainiac, are fine.  Christopher McHale, in his
third appearance as Ralph (Ralphie all grown up) is
full of youthful spirit as the narrator.

It is always dangerous to critique the performances of
children.  But, since CPH is a professional theatre,
which can draw its cast from the entire country’s
theatre community, the level of expectations has to be
maintained, no matter the age of the performers.  So,
here goes.  Though Billy Lawrence was generally
acceptable as Ralphie, he is a little long in tooth to
be playing the role.  He is more a teenager than a
child in size and mannerisms.  Some of his performance
was robotic, making the audience aware that he was
acting, not living the role.   Justin Montgomery Peck
(Schwartz) had some nice moments, but his poor
articulation made it almost impossible to understand
his lines.  Cameron McKendry (Scut Farkas) was not
menacing enough to be playing the bully.  He showed
good acting presence and would have been better cast
in another role.   

Capsule judgement:   ‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’ is the
perfect holiday production to which to bring children
and introduce them to the world of live theatre. 
Unless you’re a theatre critic, the few flaws with the
show should not bother you, and all should leave with
a warm feeling of life in the “good old days” before
Iraq wars, Fox news and the concern over terrorist
attacks.  Oh, for the street cars on Euclid Avenue and
downtown with shopping at Higbee’s and May Company,
and being able to have lunch at Mills Cafeteria.

The play runs through December 23.  For tickets call
216-795-7000


Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.  His reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


      ____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a better friend, newshound, and 
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.  http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ