Elliot Weiner, Elena Easley
A Believable Miracle
by Michael
Dresdner
The
stage version of Miracle on 34th
Street now playing at Tacoma Little Theatre is a sterling
example of how impressive theatre can be when all the elements click. A large,
solid cast directed by Casi Wilkerson, very creative lighting, delightful
music, a wealth of fine costumes, and an absolutely mind-blowing set combine to
make this charming Christmas story of trust and imagination a worthwhile
investment for the season.
I’m sure
everyone has seen at least one of the movie versions of this classic so heavily
aired this time of year. The play is fairly close to the movie, so I’ll keep
the synopsis brief.
Kris
Kringle, who claims to be the real Santa Claus, is hired to replace a drunken
Santa by Macy’s’ event coordinator Doris, a pragmatic single mom with a cynical
young daughter, Susan. Kris wins over customers and bosses, has a run in with a
stuffy personnel wonk named Sawyer, and gets himself committed to a mental
hospital. With help from Doris’ love-struck neighbor, a lawyer, Kris must get
himself released, fulfill some promises, get the lawyer and Doris together, and
convince Susan he’s the real deal, all before Christmas. (Yes, he does.)
Adysen Barkhurst, Elliot Weiner
Throughout
the huge and admirable cast are some wonderful portrayals, starting with the
leads. Elliot Weiner is both charming and fitting as Kris Kringle. Gabe
McClelland brings the perfect touch and convincing manner to lawyer Fred Gayley,
who lives next door to, and has a schwarm for, Doris. Elena Easley is a solid
and likeable Doris, but as good as she is, she is sometimes outshined by her perky
factotum, Shellhammer, played superbly by Jefri Peters. Incidentally, Jefri’s
infant son appears on stage several times doing a very convincing job of being,
well… an infant. Last, and certainly not least, go kudos to young Adysen
Barkhurst who is both adorable and outstanding as Susan, the non-believing daughter
who hides a genuine hopeful streak inside.
But it’s
not just the leads who carry this. Michael Osier does an outstanding portrayal
of a drunken Santa in the opening scene, then shows up later, just as
convincingly, as a cigar chomping ward healer advising the presiding judge
(Steve Lien) in Santa’s hearing. Perhaps my favorite portrayal, though, was Joseph
Grant as the supercilious popinjay Sawyer, who tricks Kris into getting himself
incarcerated.
It may
be hard to believe with such a fine cast, but even they are a bit overshadowed
by what I can honestly say is the best set I’ve ever seen in any community
theatre production. Set designer Blake R. York, aided by props and set dresser
Jeffery Weaver and set painter Brie Yost, pulled out all the stops and, taking
advantage of the theater’s rotating floor, created four sets, each one so impressive
and dazzling that one alone would garner accolades. There’s a snow-kissed store
front street scene, an iconic Santa’s throne receiving area, a courtroom, and
Doris and Susan’s apartment. In a fine choice by the director, when the floor
is rotated through one scene for another we see people in each of the “unused”
sets doing just what they’d be doing if it were the set in use. It was a clever
and pleasant way to let the audience experience the set changes.
Excellent
lighting by Niclas R. Olson, including the very clever use of some GOBOs for
special effects, and delightful period era music from sound designer Joseph
Kelly all added to the allure. Wrapping up the whole package were a huge array
of fine costumes from Michele Graves, Diane Runkel and Marci Hagerman.
Forget
the fact that this is a tired old chestnut, and forget that you’ve seen it many
times on film. Indulge once more and go see Miracle on 34th Street. This version at Tacoma
Little Theatre is a feel-good experience that’s sure to make your
holiday much more merry, no matter what you believe in.
Miracle on 34th
Street
Nov. 30 to Dec. 23, 2012
Tacoma
Little Theatre
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