Think of “The Wizard of Oz” in a winter wonderland where instead of a Yellow Brick Road you have a wind-swept expanse of snow along with great music, and you have some idea of what “The Christmas Express” is. In this charming new musical, providing a new option for Christmas shows, a few of the characters are stranded in the North Pole snow – as they head back home. Our red haired Dorothy is DJ Christmas (Ally Bouska) who instead of red slippers has a red backpack. There’s no “tin man,” but there is a “tin lady” or a robot named Snowbot (Melanie Young) designed to survive in the snow. And a lot’s at stake as they voyage home, to help save Christmas with a new, high tech sleigh in this entertaining, new musical completing its run at Theater for the New City.
“The Christmas Express” is a fun musical with strong songs from rock to rap to ballads and clever lyrics that deserves its place among the canon of Christmas classics. While September is hardly the traditional time for a holiday show, this is a preview of a Christmas show that could find its place as a Christmas classic. This production, skillfully directed and blocked by Robert Liebowitz, is welcome any time of the year. With entertaining, upbeat and emotional music by John Paul Louis (and some by Matthew Lightsey), the show gives us modern music for a twist on a classic tale, along with lyrics (Matthew Lightsey) that express emotion and advance plot and character. We hear about no man’s land where nobody sends a postcard or plays guitar. And a dramatic dual toward the end is conducted not with dialogue but music. It’s a fast-paced, fun show well realized and staged by Robert Liebowitz who creates a world where real emotion exists in an imaginary universe. The show fills the space with humor and holiday cheer, working well with adults and children alike and going far beyond the Christmas cliches, using the holiday as a jumping point for a variation on the classic story.
While some stories such as “Miracle on 42nd Street” show us the classic Santa with a big belly and a big laugh, “The Christmas Express,” with book by Claude Solnik, puts a novel, new spin on the classic story. In this world, Santas succeed each other. We are told this may be our Santa’s last Christmas before he retires. Who will be his successor? Enter heir apparent Rennick (Eric Grant), an ambitious, not so warm hearted elf who keeps things moving efficiently, but clearly lacks the service ethic that a good elf needs. It’s the spirit, not the suit, Joe Chacon, as Santa, reminds us.
It’s a light-hearted story with a point, as technology intrudes on, and assists in, this world where the holiday dominates the year. Neil (Christian Cieri) and DJ Christmas (Ally Bouska) try to develop a sled that runs on starlight to replace the old sled, as we see the holiday put at risk. Rennick tells us that Christmas is about tradition, not technology, delivering a true line, even if it comes from the lips of the show’s (often lovable) villain. “Evil is so much fun,” Rennick proclaims. Everybody on stage seems to be having a good time with this cast who truly embodies the Christmas spirit. It looks like the old sled, neglected as some elves focus on a “futuristic” sled, may not work and the new one hasn’t been tested. When the new sled tumbles out of the sky and into the snow. after being sabotaged, the elves on board have to get back home and repair the sled as the Christmas countdown continues. Somehow, we know there will be a happy ending at the end of this Christmas rainbow, but it’s a pleasure to watch the chaos that ensues until we get there.
A true family show, fun for adults and children, “The Christmas Express” lives in that rare, and rarefied, space for shows that work for adults and children. It is a sort of combination of Santa and Star Wars, with elements of sci fi woven neatly into the fantastic, wintry story of Santa. “We specialize in the impossible,” we’re told. Why wouldn’t a sled that moves at the speed of light (“What will happen to the reindeer?”) be next? It’s just a fun story with fun characters ably presented through the directorial vision of Robert Liebowitz with adept performers keeping the fun flowing.
Ally Bouska’s DJ Christmas is just plain fun, with every motion and word filled with joy. She moves with attitude, the “cool” kid on this Christmas block. Her red hair may remind one of Lucille Ball, but she has comic timing and a comic knack that completes the equation. Her sunglasses in the snow are comic and cool at once. Christian Cieri’s comic, but moving portrayal of Neil, an elf with tech savvy, is a true stand out. And Eric Grant as the evil elf (a child in the audience proclaimed those two words at one point) is absolutely entertaining and riveting. He sings with emotion, a worthy villain in this Christmas wonderland, so the drama increases, rather than pauses, when he sings. We find ourselves agreeing with him, at times, as he speaks in measured tones, wise if not warm, a worthy foil to Santa, eager to take “Santa’s seat in the sled,” if only Santa would retire already.
Joe Chacon’s Santa is good-hearted and naive, but still authoritative, a leader who embodies the Christmas spirit, although his back is beginning to ache as he prepares for what may be his last ride. Cieri reminds us of the ergonomic seat in the new sled! Chacon is our Othello to Grant’s Iago in this story that has, although comic, some Shakespearean overtones. Think of it as silly Shakespeare, although there are serious moments. Chacon stands still when he sings, letting us focus on the song, as if the lyrics are delivered from the heart not just the lungs and lips.
Jessi Bushman brings dignity and emotion to her role as Emma Claus AKA Ms. Claus, dressed in bright red like the queen of Christmas. She has a beautiful voice that can stop time briefly, and delivers lines with added meaning. When our Santa says they always enjoy Christmas, she delivers the words “You do” with weight and more meaning. Santa is a workaholic. Her character puts up with it, but there is a price in this world where woman, often, run things, while men may have the rank.
It’s surprising, but still so, that some of the strongest moments involve what we think is the death of the robot known as Snowbot, played by Melanie Young in a fashionable, snow-white and metallic costume by Heather Bushman. In a powerful moment, underscored by moving music performed by John Paul Louis who wrote most of the score, Snowbot offers her circuitry to revive the sled. It’s a true act of sacrifice by this stainless steel saint, which she does with a mix of humanity and mechanical mission. Georgia VanRy mixes a heavenly voice with great comic timing, creating a kind of snowbum and cowgirl complete with cowgirl hat. She’s also the center of a funny scene at a bar, reminiscent a little bit of a bar scene in the initial “Star Wars.”
Kyra Gee has the audience cheering for her as Arden, the ordinary elf, taken in by the evil elf, who truly saves the day. The audience applauded her character, but also her performance, at the end. She brings realism, emotion, an inner life and realistic delivery, to a highly imaginative tale. When we find out who the next Santa will be, there is a sense of satisfaction and justice. That is the “real” future, not the sled, but the Santa. Grant tells us that Christmas cannot change, but the show does acknowledge change and time with an uplifting message true to the holiday’s spirit.
John Paul Louis’ score creates a moving, fun mix of music as Matthew Lightsey’s lyrics both advance the plot and express deep emotions, elevating a fun show to another level. Robert Liebowitz keeps the show moving along like a fine-tuned Swiss watch, often with short scenes. The actors seem at ease on stage and in their characters, but the blocking helps, separating and connecting characters. Katie Michelle Stahl’s choreography is just the right mix of comedy and drama. And the show keeps moving, in part because the choreography enacts the story with dance, as we see it enacted through dialogue and song.
This production has relatively little set, but the costumes by Heather Bushman give it a look, feel and atmosphere. This Santa has style thanks to Bushman’s decision to clothe this Christmas CEO in a kind of royal robe. Santa has class with a red uniform full of lace. Krya Gee as Arden, at one point, looks a little bit like a character from Godot, Vaudeville villain and part victim beneath a black bowler hat a little bit out of place in a world with a Christmas palette of greens and reds. The costumes are pure fun, in keeping with the show’s tone. Rather than reflecting the reality of winter clothing, we see the characters moving forward, attired imaginatively in a fun way.
Marsh Shugart's lighting adds emotion as well as illumination, sometimes showing us the darker side of the story, as an elf tries to sabotage the holiday, so he can rise to the holiday throne. The projections, by Brian Larkin, include a Christmas calendar countdown and sound effects such as roaring winds. In a show with little set, the projections and sound effects go a long way to creating a world. It's a visual experience as musicals should be. And despite little set, the stage is sprinkled with Christmas decorations, from a bar adorned with Christmas ornaments, to toy snowmen. We immediately know we are in the world of a place where Christmas lasts all year long.
“The Christmas Express” was presented in September, rather than December, which seems its natural home. It is a joyous celebration of the Santa story, told with love, affection, originality, emotion and great music. It is a show that those who love Christmas or don’t think about it much can both enjoy. “The Christmas Express” gives us a new take on traditional characters and the traditional need to save Christmas story, with an evil elf hungry for power who could take over the holiday. It’s just a fun, entertaining show that was a pleasure to hear and see. We can only hope that, just as Christmas comes around every year, this show will find its place around that holiday that time of year. It’s a fun show, possibly made for matinees so more children can see and enjoy, that works for adults and children. In a world filled with many Grinches “The Christmas Express” helps you get in touch with your inner child, if that’s still there. If you want to get a little bit of the holiday spirit, there’s hardly a better way than seeing this show. All aboard the Christmas express!
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