Reviewed by Judy Richter
When you were a kid, was there
ever anything you wanted for Christmas so badly that it was all you could think
and dream about? That's what it's like for 9-year-old Ralphie Parker (Garrett
Meyer, a good
little comic actor), the young hero of Philip Grecian's "A Christmas Story," presented by San Jose
Repertory Theatre.
There's only one catch -- Ralphie wants "a Red Ryder 200 Shot Carbine
Action Air Rifle with a compass and this thing which tells time built right
into the stock," but adults in his life say, "You'll shoot your eye
out."
Grecian
bases his play on the 1983 film of the same name written by Jean Shepherd,
Leigh Brown and Bob
Clark. It didn't
last long in movie theaters, but since then it has become a holiday tradition
on TV. Some stations broadcast it nonstop on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The secret of its success is not so secret, for it touches on what it's like to
be a kid in a warm, loving but sometimes eccentric family. The story was
originally penned by Shepherd in his "In God We Trust, All Others Pay
Cash," one
of several books about growing up in Shepherd's hometown of Hammond, Ind., (my
hometown, too) in the 1930s.
The
play proved so popular with San Jose audiences in 2006 that the Rep has brought
it back for this holiday season with the same cast of adults. Dan Hiatt plays the low-key adult Ralphie,
who serves as narrator and steps into some smaller roles. Nancy Carlin and Howard Swain, married and parents in real
life, play young Ralphie's parents, known as Mother and the Old Man. Carlin
also plays Ralphie's teacher, Miss Shields. The seven kids are all new to the
show, but director Chris Smith has directed them well so that their scenes work better
than in the previous production
Emilio
Fuentes is
amusing as Ralphie's younger brother, Randy. He doesn't have many lines, but
he's in most scenes and not only stays in character but also develops it with
his actions and expressions. Ralphie's classmates are well played by Leah
Kolchinsky, Max Mifsud, Ali Molaei, Elara Rivers and Nicolas Sancen.
The
plot slips seamlessly from Ralphie's adventures with his classmates to his
daydreams about and campaign for that prized Red Ryder air rifle. Mixed in are
vivid scenes of his home life, especially the Old Man's battles with the
furnace and its clinkers and his penchant for entering contests. When he
finally wins one, the play has some of its most hilarious moments as the Old
Man cherishes his prize -- a lamp in the shape of a woman's leg. And who can
forget Ralphie's expression when he's forced to model the pink bunny PJs from
Aunt Clara?
Robert
Mark Morgan's
set moves easily between scenes, often aided by a turntable. The lighting is by
Lap Chi Chu,
the costumes by B. Modern and the sound by Jeff Mockus. "A Christmas Story"
makes a terrific holiday gift for San Jose Rep audiences, one that's suitable
for all ages.
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