Christmas 2011: The theatricals (Elf The Musical; Winter Wondrettes...)

While I impatiently await the once rumoured (I think, i might have just dreamed it) Mariah Carey musical based on her Christmas albums (i think it was to do with some evil man, or Janet Devlin, building a mall and ruining Christmas, etc), there are a few stage shows with a highly festive theme that are totally worth your while. Here are two fairly recent additions to the Christmas musical genre, as well as two ghosts of Christmas musicals-ish past...

Elf ~ The Musical:

Weirdly, considering my quite ample love of Christmas, I was never that into Elf The Movie. However, add a few show tunes, some jingle bells and a jazz hands dance routine, plonk it on a stage and I am so there. The stage story isn't that much different to the movie version, with Buddy determined to help his real father and the cynical New Yorkers discover the true meaning of Christmas. It's sort of Big meets every Christmas movie ever made, but there is so much charm and feelgood factor here that it is nigh on impossible to dislike. And the soundtrack is a chintzy, sparkling festive bauble treat. Much like this year's critical darling Book of Mormon Broadway, the tunes feel instantly familiar by emulating songs you already know and love - they are performed with such exuberance and joy that you instantly get swept up in the emotion of the songs & find yourself singing along. Of particular note are the glorious opening number "Christmastown" - it's all choral falalalas, perky lyrics & matching vocal delivery, chimes and bells and of course the most rousing chorus this side of "Belle" (the opening tune from Beauty and the Beast); "Nobody Cares About Santa" is a refreshingly snarky lament by criticized Kris Kringles on the lack of yuletide civility, and "Never Fall in Love," a harshly funny comedy number for Buddy's love interest, has bite and sass, especially as delivered by Amy Spanger, Broadway's go-to girl for spunky ingénues. Overall, even if you haven't seen the stage show, the story is well told through the music and it's a memorable score that keeps on giving with each listen. Lovely...

The Winter Wonderettes:

This is the not widely known sequel to the not widely known Marvelous Wonderettes musical by Roger Bean. The story is basically that Santa has gone missing at the local store, so the Wonderettes have to step in and entertain the townsfolk with a variety of singalong festive treats. It's certainly more of a singalong delight than an out and out musical, but the classic, almost Andrews Sisters-esque arrangements of the tunes along with some pitch perfect harmonies make for some jolly listening. Songs like Dear Santa (to the tune of Mr Sandman), Jingle Bells and Rocking Around The Christmas Tree have a real zest, pep and energy to them, while Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day and What Are You Doing New Year's Eve add a touch of wistfulness, reflection and melancholy to the proceedings. Don't get too glum though because there's a soaring finale of Ring The Christmas Bells mixed with Sleigh Ride. It's quite quite smashing :)

Like these? Try these on for size (Ghost of Christmas Musicals Past):

• Daniel Boys ~ Ave Maria: I'll take any opportunity I can to blog about the lovely Mr Boys. if you haven't checked out his awesome new cover of As Long As You're Mine with Shona White, check out my review here. Daniel has dabbled with Christmas songs when he contributed to the Christmas in New York cd - his rendition of Ave Maria is utterly mesmerising, flawless and spellbinding. A gorgeous showcase for his voice as well as perfect soundtrack to those frosty dusky starlit nights. Heaven...
• Beauty & The Beast (The Enchanted Christmas) ~ usually the direct to dvd spin offs from Disney films are a bit disappointing, but this one is a regular seasonal go to for me - and one I would die to see a stage version of. There are some charming moments in it as well as one of the most singalong Christmas tunes to come out of the House of Mouse in decades with As Long As There's Christmas. This has been presented ballad style by people like Peabo Bryson, Michael Ball & Roberta Flack as well as a pulsating pop version by Play. The reprise in the movie is also a lovely brief nugget.
• The Forgotten Carols ~ ooo I'm going all Mormon for a minute. One of the memorable musicals from my upbringing was this Mormon staple about the people who are often forgotten in the Christmas story. What became of the innkeeper who turned them away? The shepherds who saw the angel? How did Joseph really feel? You don't have to be particularly religious or even Mormon to enjoy these traditional and memorable, well executed tunes...