Review by: Paul Towers, 14/12/18
White Christmas By Irving Berlin (lyrics & music) and David Ives & Paul Blake (book)
Made at Curve, directed by Nikolai Foster, choreographed
by Stephen Mears
Curve 6 December to 13 January 2019
“a sure fire festive winner.”
There was a full house for tonight’s Press Night of Irving
Berlin’s White Christmas on a suitably frosty Friday. Like Gershwin’s Crazy For
You earlier this year an Irving Berlin score is very distinctive and a
guaranteed toe tapper, especially in the expert hands of Curve’s Nikolai
Foster. Combine that with the set design skills of Michael Taylor and Stephen
Mears’ distinctive choreography and Curve has a sure fire festive winner.
White Christmas is the 1950’s version of a jukebox musical,
a series of songs (usually by a single songwriter) gathered together with a tenuous
story. Except in the old movies there was a little more attention given to the
story.
White Christmas is the story of a couple of ex soldiers who
form a double act singing and dancing after the war. They are at a club one
night and spot a singing sister act, The Sisters. Bob Wallace (Danny Mac, who
still can’t keep his clothes on!) is immediately smitten with Betty Haynes (Emma
Williams) while Phil Davis (Dan Burton) falls for Judy Haynes (Monique Young). In true musical
fashion the path of true love doesn’t run smooth. They end up in a remote ski
resort (unusually devoid of snow this particular year) and decide to put on a
show to try and attract punters to the resort. Of course, in the end, it all
works out and the boys pair up with the girls and live happily ever after as
the snow finally falls over the mountainside and the entire cast sing White
Christmas.
This is a hugely festive, feel-good show with an eye
catching number of costumes and a huge set that slides in and out, up and down
making full use of Curve’s extensive capabilities. The cast of 27 plus 13 Curve Young Company performers
fill the stage with typically extravagant dance routines which are obviously
influenced by Bob Fosse, Gower Champion, Busby Berkley and other great Broadway
choreographers.
Some of the best lines belong to Wendy Mae Brown as Martha
Watson who plays the concierge of the ski lodge. She also has a belter of a
singing voice.
Judging by tonight’s full house there will be very few tickets
before Christmas. Try for the New Year.
Full details available at www.curveonline.co.uk
First published on Western Gazette
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