Review: A CHRISTMAS STORY at Broadway Palm Brings Holiday Fun to All!

Broadway Palm's production of A CHRISTMAS STORY is absolutely one of their best shows yet. It is a heartwarming, hilarious tale; a classic story many people know and love to watch around Christmas time. Infamous quotes, like "you'll shoot your eye out," and well-known objects, like the leg lamp and the bunny onesie Ralphie wears, are taken from the film and made into a fantastic musical production.

Joshua Lehman played Jean Shepherd in the show, aka a grown-up Ralphie, and I enjoyed how he would return at particular points in the show and narrate what was happening, or what would happen next. His character hosts a radio show, and, in this production, he is telling his listeners about this particular Christmas story--which is how we, as the audience, hear and see it. Lehman did an amazing job at making the audience feel like we were looking into his character's past; we got lost in the story, just like his character did.

Christian Miller, who played Ralphie at the performance I attended, carried the show along extremely well. I was incredibly impressed with both his singing and acting; he was perfect in this role, and had amazing stage presence. I really appreciated how he depicted the excitement and worry Ralphie has about trying to convince his parents to get him his dream Christmas present--a Red Ryder Carbine-Action BB Gun. Miller had a maturity about his acting that I found brilliant, yet he still portrayed a 9-year-old boy's Christmas struggles very accurately. I am sure many kids who attend this show will be able to identify with his Ralphie, as will many adults who recall their own Christmas memories.

Nicholas Salerno played Ralphie's younger brother, Randy, at the performance I attended, and I thought he was excellent in the part. Both Miller and Salerno seemed very brotherly towards each other, both in moments of agreement and arguments between their characters. Salerno had some very good, comedic lines throughout the show, and his delivery was great; it felt very natural.

Connor Simpson and Benton Sheely, who played Ralphie's parents, had wonderful chemistry on stage. They did a great job showing the audience the dynamics of their characters' relationship, despite the story being more focused around Ralphie. I enjoyed how they characterized the roles they played in many ways--especially through their facial expressions and dialogue.

The ensemble was full of many talented actors and actresses, both kids and adults, and they all played a vital role in making this show so excellent. I wanted to give them an extra special mention because they are all wonderfully talented, and they truly made Broadway Palm's A CHRISTMAS STORY the fantastic show that it is.

I also want to commend the staging, costuming, and music in this production. These parts of production and performance are always very well-done at Broadway Palm, and A CHRISTMAS STORY was no different. The musicians are very talented, as the music always sounds great, and the staging and costuming are perfect.

Whether you have seen the movie version of A CHRISTMAS STORY or not, I am confident you will enjoy this production. The musical numbers were all quite fitting, and many of the songs were very catchy--I admit, I have one of the songs from the show, "Ralphie to the Rescue," stuck in my head as I write this. One of the best moments of the show was when Ralphie's dad led a big song and dance number after he won the infamous leg lamp, during which he jokingly points out that the film version of the story doesn't have that particular scene in it. I appreciated that they acknowledged the movie in such a comedic way, and the leg lamp dance number was definitely one of the many fun parts of the show.

Broadway Palm's production of A CHRISTMAS STORY is certainly perfect for all ages, and it's a very appropriate show for this time of year, considering it is quite literally a Christmas story. From the brilliant acting, to the fun, spirited musical numbers, this production is full of entertainment and delightful moments. It is something you do not want to miss.

A CHRISTMAS STORY is playing at Broadway Palm now through December 25. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings, with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $45 to $70, with discounts for children and parties of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting BroadwayPalm.com, or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

To post a comment, you must register and login.