November 30 - December 17, 2011
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| Music & Lyrics by IRVING BERLIN (based on the Paramount Pictures film) Mr. Berlin’s winning hits include “Blue Skies,” “Sisters,” “Happy Holiday,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” and, of course the title song! "White Christmas", with its irresistibly sentimental post-WWII backstage story, cannot fail to charm everyone at the holidays! |
| * Bob Wallace Phil Davis Judy Haynes Betty Haynes General Waverly Martha Watson Sheldrake/Ezekiel Tess Crawford Susie |
| Costumes by Lighting Choreography by Production Stage Manager |
| CAST |
BRYAN CHAMBERLAIN
DAVID HAINES
FINNIE JESSON
CAROLINE MORO-DALICANDRO
ERIC BOTOSAN
JULIE LENNICK
MICHAEL WYCKS
SUSAN SANDERS
ZOE LEE
DAVID HAINES
FINNIE JESSON
CAROLINE MORO-DALICANDRO
ERIC BOTOSAN
JULIE LENNICK
MICHAEL WYCKS
SUSAN SANDERS
ZOE LEE
| Production Team |
| Production Designed & Directed by JOE CASCONE |
'White Christmas' sparkles with nostalgia
December 5, 2011
Theatre review by Mark Andrew Lawrence
Nostalgia plays a strong role in the success of the musical White Christmas, a story of a group of performers putting
on a show at Christmastime. The cast of the Civic Light Opera Company’s ensures that the Irving Berlin songs
sparkle like a Christmas snow.
In a plot twist reminiscent of so many back-stage musicals, the real-life cast was thrown for a loop when the actor
cast to play the leading role of Bob Wallace abruptly quit the show a few days before opening night. This left
director Joe Cascone no choice but to take over the role himself. This works out just fine, especially since it affords
us another chance to see him and David Haines cavorting together onstage.
Haines portrays Bob’s army buddy Phil Davis. Wallace and Davis quickly pair up with a sister act, Betty and Judy
Haynes (played by Caroline Moro-Dalicandro and Finnie Jesson) to stage a revue at a ski resort run by their former
Army General. It is a simple, heartwarming story and the cast plays it with tremendous sincerity. When General
Waverly, played by Eric Botosan, arrives to witness the first performance of the revue, the look of wonder on his
face could melt even the stoniest heart.
Unfortunately, the script, as adapted by David Ives and Paul Blake neglects the budding romance between Phil and
Judy giving them just one song to establish their connection. The number, “The Best Things Happen While You’re
Dancing” is sung and danced with élan allowing Finnie Jesson as Judy a chance to shine in a severely reduced role.
A little more attention is given to the often rocky romance between Bob and Betty. Even so, when she pours out her
heart in “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me,” we are moved more by Caroline Moro-Dalicandro’s evocative singing,
than by any sense of lost love. When Joe Cascone joins in with “How Deep is the Ocean”, it is the tender singing that
carries the moment more than anything established by the script.
The supporting cast is especially strong in this production. Zoe Lee is charming as the General’s granddaughter who
becomes enthralled observing the show business shenanigans going on around her. Counterbalancing her sweetness
is Julie Lennick’s performance as the General’s no-nonsense housekeeper, Martha Watson. It’s a role that adds a
good deal of levity to the proceedings, as does Susan Sanders’ turn as Tess, the harried stage manager. Michael
Wycks makes the most of his dual roles as Sheldrake, a fast-talking TV producer, and Ezekiel, a slow-moving stage
hand.
The musical numbers staged by Lesley Ansell have plenty of panache, and Cascone’s bright direction keeps the show
on a steady trajectory towards its final scene where with only minimal encouragement necessary from the Santa-
suited performers, the audience happily joins in for chorus of the title song, before heading home surrounded by a
nice warm, nostalgic glow.
December 5, 2011
Theatre review by Mark Andrew Lawrence
Nostalgia plays a strong role in the success of the musical White Christmas, a story of a group of performers putting
on a show at Christmastime. The cast of the Civic Light Opera Company’s ensures that the Irving Berlin songs
sparkle like a Christmas snow.
In a plot twist reminiscent of so many back-stage musicals, the real-life cast was thrown for a loop when the actor
cast to play the leading role of Bob Wallace abruptly quit the show a few days before opening night. This left
director Joe Cascone no choice but to take over the role himself. This works out just fine, especially since it affords
us another chance to see him and David Haines cavorting together onstage.
Haines portrays Bob’s army buddy Phil Davis. Wallace and Davis quickly pair up with a sister act, Betty and Judy
Haynes (played by Caroline Moro-Dalicandro and Finnie Jesson) to stage a revue at a ski resort run by their former
Army General. It is a simple, heartwarming story and the cast plays it with tremendous sincerity. When General
Waverly, played by Eric Botosan, arrives to witness the first performance of the revue, the look of wonder on his
face could melt even the stoniest heart.
Unfortunately, the script, as adapted by David Ives and Paul Blake neglects the budding romance between Phil and
Judy giving them just one song to establish their connection. The number, “The Best Things Happen While You’re
Dancing” is sung and danced with élan allowing Finnie Jesson as Judy a chance to shine in a severely reduced role.
A little more attention is given to the often rocky romance between Bob and Betty. Even so, when she pours out her
heart in “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me,” we are moved more by Caroline Moro-Dalicandro’s evocative singing,
than by any sense of lost love. When Joe Cascone joins in with “How Deep is the Ocean”, it is the tender singing that
carries the moment more than anything established by the script.
The supporting cast is especially strong in this production. Zoe Lee is charming as the General’s granddaughter who
becomes enthralled observing the show business shenanigans going on around her. Counterbalancing her sweetness
is Julie Lennick’s performance as the General’s no-nonsense housekeeper, Martha Watson. It’s a role that adds a
good deal of levity to the proceedings, as does Susan Sanders’ turn as Tess, the harried stage manager. Michael
Wycks makes the most of his dual roles as Sheldrake, a fast-talking TV producer, and Ezekiel, a slow-moving stage
hand.
The musical numbers staged by Lesley Ansell have plenty of panache, and Cascone’s bright direction keeps the show
on a steady trajectory towards its final scene where with only minimal encouragement necessary from the Santa-
suited performers, the audience happily joins in for chorus of the title song, before heading home surrounded by a
nice warm, nostalgic glow.
| Pictured (L to R): Michael Wycks, David Haines and Joe Cascone |
| * Mr. Chamberlain withdrew from the cast a few days before opening night and was replaced by Joe Cascone. |