December 4, 2007
Miracle On 34th Street
Howie Green READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Adapting a much-loved vintage classic holiday movie for stage could be a fool-hearty venture but have no fear; The Stoneham Theatre's live stage production of
In case you don't know this story, it concerns Doris Walker (played by Christine Hamel), a harried working mother who is charge of the annual Macy's holiday parade. She has raised Susan (played by Rebecca Lerman), her young overly serious daughter, to not believe in fairytales or, gasp, Santa Claus. When the parade's Santa shows up drunk on parade day Ms. Walker is in a panic until a kindly, plump, jolly older elfin man wanders into the scene claiming to be Kris Kringle (played by William Gardiner).
Having no other choice Ms. Walker hires him on the spot to be the parade's Santa and the man goes onto become the official Macy's Santa, winning the hearts and minds of the city and the country. Kris is befriended by Ms. Walker's suitor and next door neighbor lawyer Fred Gailey (played by Timothy Fannon) who ends up and defending Kris in court as he tries to prove that he is actually the real Santa Claus.
Along the way Kris spreads the simple joy of the holiday season as he even gets life-long competitors Macys and Gimbels to cooperate. Fred and Susan get Ms. Walker to soften up and in the end Kris disappears and it looks like Fred may finally get Ms. Walker to marry him.
This play, based on the book by Valentine Davies, was first done for the New York State Theatre Institute. Director Weylin Symes has done a remarkable job staging this comedy on the Stoneham's stage with a cast of 20+ racing around as if in a Marx Brothers comedy. The pacing never falters, the performances are very good and everyone seems to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. Worth noting are show stopping comic turns by Alycia Sacco as a Betty Boop-like Miss Adams, Harold Withee as the befuddled Judge Harper and Michael Barbo as the Judge's advisor.
Staging this ambitious and far-reaching action-packed production on the Stoneham's small stage is tricky. Set designer Katy Monthei has done a stunning job of creating a dazzling stage full of glowing holiday presents and gift wrapped stacks that turn into the skyline of New York City, a courtroom, Macy's, apartments and any other backdrop the play needs.
So this year don't stay home and watch the movie again. Rather take the quick drive up to Stoneham to see this highly charged delightful holiday comedy. The audience in the sold out performance that I attended was a wide cross section of folks, young and old, who thoroughly enjoyed the show laughing, applauding and singing along to the finale. But get your tickets now before you miss it!
In October Stoneham Square had a massive fire that threatened to engulf the entire area but was contained with the help of eight local town fire departments. As a special thanks the Stoneham Theatre is staging a special holiday musical event on Monday, Dec. 10 called Miracle on Main Street with the proceeds going to charity. The evening of food, music and thanks will showcase the musical talents of Leigh Barrett, Kathy St. George, Robert Saoud and members of the Stoneham Theatre's Youth Ensemble with surprise guests.
Howie Green is a Boston-based artist and painter whose portrait of rapper Biggie Smalls appears on the album "Incredible". He is winner of Absolut Vodka's 25th Anniversary art competition and he painted 3 of the cows in the Boston Cow Parade. He recently painted a series of Pop Art Murals at the Dimock Center in Boston, MA and completed large art and mural installations in Delray Beach and Jacksonville, FL. He also recently painted the front entrance to Boston City Hall. His a multi-media designer and author of several books including "Jazz Fish Zen: Adventures in Mamboland" - and he once sang back-up for the opening act at a Shaun Cassidy concert in Madison Square Garden.
