(The cast of Goodspeed’s White Christmas. Photo by Diane Sobolewski)

by Tim Leininger

EAST HADDAM — The forecast may still be up in the air as to whether the rest of Connecticut will be having a joyful white Christmas, but in East Haddam at Goodspeed Opera House (6 Main St., East Haddam, CT), spirits are in full winter revelry in their charming and uplifting production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and book by David Ives and Paul Blake. Directed by Hunter Foster and choreographed by Kelli Barclay, the production is running through Dec. 31.

            If you really want to get into the Christmas sprit this year, White Christmas is the musical to bring you and your family together. It’s bright and uplifting, the songs are catchy and classic, and the dancing is some of the best you’ll see anywhere in the tri-state area, Broadway included.

Based on the 1954 Paramount Pictures film that starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen, White Christmas follows two World War II veterans, Bob Wallace (Omar Lopez-Cepero) and Phil Davis (Clyde Alves), who have become an acclaimed song and dance team. Phil is the womanizer while Bob is hyper-focused on work. The two meet sisters Betty and Judy Haynes (Lauren Nicole Chapman and Jonalyn Saxer respectively), two up-and-coming talents who would like to find success working with Bob and Phil. After some travel hijinks, Bob and Phil end up with Betty and Judy at The Columbia Inn in Vermont coincidentally owned by Bob and Phil’s former Commanding Officer, General Henry Waverly (Bruce Sabath). The inn is struggling to stay afloat, and it is up to the foursome to bring in customers to save it while not letting their relationship issues get in the way.

(Omar Lopez-Cepero, Clyde Alves, and the cast of Goodspeed’s White Christmas. Photo by Diane Sobolewski)

The music is classic. Irving Berlin songs like “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” “Blue Skies,” “Sisters,” and of course the titular “White Christmas” will have the audience feeling warm and toasty in this frigid winter climate, and the cast sing them beautifully. Kelli Barclay’s choreography is phenomenal. She leaves us going into intermission thinking the act one finale of “Blue Skies” can’t be topped and then proves us wrong with one of the best duet and ensemble tap routines I’ve ever seen with the act two opener “I Love a Piano,” featuring Alves and Saxer. The two of them are absolutely incredible in their precision and dynamic engagement.

The supporting cast is great. Aurelia Williams is hilarious as the inn’s manager, Martha Watson. She really shines when Martha tries to convince Bob and Phil to let her into the show they’re rehearsing with the boisterous number “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy.” Jay Aubrey Jones’ sauntering portrayal of the mostly monosyllabic caretaker Ezekiel Foster is great, and Sofie Nesanelis is adorable without drawing attention from the rest of the cast as General Waverly’s granddaughter, Susan Waverly.

Lauren Nicole Chapman and Jonalyn Saxer are great as the sometimes rivalrous sisters. Nicole Chapman is fantastic in her beautiful performance of “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me” in act two.

(Clyde Alves, Jonalyn Saxer and the cast of Goodspeed’s White Christmas. Photo by Diane Sobolewski)

The one misstep is Lopez-Cepero as Bob. He has a wonderful voice and his vocals for “White Christmas,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” and “The Old Man” are great, but he lacks charm. I get that Bob is supposed to be a bit more reserved than Phil, but Lopez-Cepero pushes it to the point of cold stoicism that detaches any sense of appeal that could be there, not just for Betty who would become his love interest, but the audience as well.

The design mostly works. Jeff Hendry’s costumes are immaculate, between the ritzy silk and satin of New York City’s cultural elite to the rustic flannels of countryside Vermont. I do think the flannel may have gone a little too far by incorporating it into David L. Arsenault’s set design by having the wings and proscenium arrayed in red and gray flannel checkering. I think the gray, in particular, feels a little cold compared to the rest of the design. The design of the Columbia Inn’s barn, though, is great as it balances between rustic and decorous.

White Christmas is a delightful Christmas musical. Hunter Foster has put together a mostly amazing ensemble with some of the best dancing since Goodspeed’s production of Summer Stock. It’s a wholesome family musical which everyone should go see.

WHITE CHRISTMAS

TICKETS: https://www.goodspeed.org/

PRODUCTION: Based Upon the Paramount Pictures Film Written For the Screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank; Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin; Book by David Ives and Paul Blake; Original stage production directed by Walter Bobbie; Original Orchestrations by Larry Blank; Vocal and Dance Arrangements by Bruce Pomahac; Directed by Hunter Foster; Choreographed by Kelli Barlcay; Music Direction & Orchestral Reduction by Adam Souza; Scenic Design by David L. Arsenault; Costume Design by Jeff Hendry; Lighting Design by Kirk Bookman & Nathan W. Scheuer; Sound Design by Jay Hilton; Wig, Hair & Makeup Design by J. Jared Janas & Cassie J. Williams; Costume Coordination by Antonio Consuegra; Associate Music Director: Gideon Temple; Casting by Hardt Casting; Production Stage Manager: Chris Zaccardi; Director of Production: Endla Burrows; Production Manager/Technical Director: Dominick J. Pinto; Associate Artistic Director: Michael Fling; General Manager: Gretchen Wright

CAST (in order of appearance)

Omar Lopez-Cepero as Bob Wallace

Clyde Alves as Phil Davis

Jeff Gallup as Ralph Sheldrake

Bruce Sabath as General Henry Waverly

Daniel Reardon as Ed Sullivan Announcer/Mike Nulty/Regency Room Announcer

Jasmine Ashanti Gillenwaters as Rita

Linda Neel as Rhoda

Laura Guley as Tessie

Lauren Nicole Chapman as Betty Haynes

Jonalyn Saxer as Judy Haynes

Travis Ward-Osborne as Jimmy/Train Conductor

Quintet: Laura Guley, Keyon Pickett, Daniel Reardon, Colleen Roberts, Travis Ward-Osborne

Jay Aubrey Jones as Mr. Snoring Man/Ezekiel Foster

Colleen Roberts as Mrs. Snoring Man

Aurelia Williams as Martha Watson

Sofie Nesanelis as Susan Waverly

Sydney Chow as Sheldrake’s Secretary

Ensemble: Sydney Chow, Jeff Gallup, Jasmine Ashanti Gillenwaters, Laura Guley, Jay Aubrey Jones, Alex Hayden Miller, Linda Neel, Keyon Pickett, Daniel Reardon, Colleen Roberts, Travis Ward-Osborne