BWW Reviews: There May Be A MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET But It's Not In The Musical

Miracle on 34th Street ~ the film, that is ~ is for many a cherished old chestnut, a theatrical response, in effect although perhaps not direct intention, to Virginia O'Hanlon's timeless question, "Is there a Santa Claus?"

As is the case in so many family classics, the heartening message for all is that all that is required is that you believe.

So goes the story of Doris Walker, a Macy's events director, who seeks to dispel her daughter Susan of such notions as Santa, only to be thwarted by a well-intentioned neighbor aptly named Fred Gailey. When the annual Thanksgiving Day parade is delayed because of a soused Santa, an opportune substitute is discovered ~ a guy by the name of Kris Kringle, who immediately endears himself to Macy's customers and discombobulates Mr. Macy himself by referring them to rival stores (FAO Schwarz and Gimbels) on the radical customer-centric principle of "personal service over profits." Macy's will become a "place with a heart!" And heartfulness will inevitably envelop Susan and, predictably, Fred and Doris. It'll take a trial to prove whether Kris Kringle is who he says he is.

The fable does well on film, and that's where it should have stayed, as The Palms Theatre in Mesa has most convincingly and disappointingly demonstrated. Confused blocking, clumsy staging and choreography, faulty amplification, stumbling over lines, painful pauses between set changes ~ all suggest a show not ready for prime time.

With all due respect to the hard-working and well-intentioned performers (you know where this is going!), including such accomplished local vocalists like Danny Karapetian (Fred), Janine Smith (Doris), and Alex Gonzalez (R. H. Macy), I don't think that even the best of actors could salvage this mediocre product. Sad to say that even Kris Kringle (who seemed to have remarkably gained the necessary paunch somewhere mid-show) figured to be more like a character out of the Beverly Hillbillies than the North Pole.

The book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, deservedly acclaimed for The Music Man and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, are uninspired and forgettable. Mr. Willson blew it! The one song in this production that has withstood the test of time is It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas, and history records that it wasn't written for the musical at all but was added later to the Broadway show.

Notwithstanding the strained efforts in the book to be critical of commercialism and uplifting about imagination, the preaching falls flat, as does the entire production, directed by Victor Legarreta.

The best thing one can do ~ and here's a message for other companies ~ is to consign the musical version to the dustbin of forgettable musicals.

And the message for audiences: If you want to wax nostalgic and enjoy the story, go see the film!

Photo credit to The Palms Theatre

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