BOY, will we need to feel warm and fuzzy this winter. And, let’s be honest, for most of us a Primark onesie or a compilation tape of Humza Yousaf’s most hopeful speeches just isn’t going to cut it.
We need a real sense nostalgia, to be reminded of days when all that was cancelled was the milk and the papers. We need to rewind to the times when masks were worn only on Halloween, or metaphorically, perhaps, to try and hide a little school dance shyness.
And deniers were those who refused to accept that it isn’t clever to keep Spam in the cupboard three years past its sell-by date.
So, what’s the answer? Well, it very well could be the arrival in theatreland of the Irving Berlin classic, White Christ*** (professional ethics in the print medium prevents us using the word in full during October).
This is a show, in fact a musical show about a show, derived from a film about a show, that takes us back to far more simple, wonderful, in fact, times. It features lots of crooning. (A grandad performance art that simply isn’t practised anymore; you would hope sincerely that musical theatre colleges right now are considering Croon Classes.)
But of course, those of you under the age of 80 will be wondering what WC is all about? Well, Bob and Phil are a couple of ex-military men who have formed a song and dance act. They meet the singing sisters Betty and Judy and Phil fancies Judy something rotten.
Sadly, Bob’s not up for lumbering her mate. But regardless, Bob and Phil are talked into travelling up to cold, snowy Vermont to see the gals play at a struggling Inn, (a story which resonates with our own hospitality sector right now.)
But of course, our local bars and restaurants can’t always call upon the services of a couple of brilliant song and dance men to put on a show or enlist an army of dancers and singers who can transform an ailing bar into a Broadway-standard production.
Will they set the tills jingling? Will there be room at the Inn for a Bob and Betty romance? Will there be a performance of the Bing Crosby classic White Christ*** at the end of the show, that will produce more tears than Adele could ever create?
This story is perfect for our times. It’s about pulling together theme suggests the producers of this stage musical cleverly anticipated Covid – even though neither of our governments did, despite W.H.O warnings louder than the voice of a fame-struck chorus person.
It’s a story about battling on. Putting on a great show. And what’s wrong with a production that features great songs and dancing? You may struggle to secure a hospital bed this winter – but you certainly won’t see any Greg Wise dancing here. None of these performers, it can be guaranteed, have ever been legged up by a Dame.
White Christ***, the Edinburgh Playhouse, December 14- January 2.
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