By Bob Nesoff
They say that things get better with age. Well, not always. Many movies and shows become so dated that they lose everything.
Fortunately, that did not happen with the show, “White Christmas” now playing at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn. It’s 70 years old and still is a rocking musical that actually had the audience tapping feet in time with the music and songs.
A prologue to the show takes place on the Western Front toward the late days of World War II. Two Army officers, Phil Davis (Casey Garvin) and Bob Wallace (Max Clayton) treat the audience to a rousing opening along with Phil Davis and set the stage for what is to come. Soldiers at war invariably think of home and what it would be like to come back.
Skip a decade and Bob and Ralph are at the Ed Sullivan show. Along with the ensemble they belt out “Happy Holidays” and Let Yourself Go.”
But of all the songs, the most memorable, “I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas,” is still on peoples playlist seven decades later. And it is as fresh today as it was when Irving Berlin penned it. Ironically, Berlin, a Jew, came from Russia but remembered little of it. His three-year-old son died on Christmas Day. That could have influenced his writing and the way it touches everyone.
The show does not stop for a breath until intermission. Take a breath. Inhale and wait for the theater lights to blink signaling Act 2 about to begin. So many of the songs are still familiar today and you could tell from audience reaction.
Wicked, playing on Broadway, issues a request to the audience not to sing along with the cast. Paper Mill issues no such dictum. While the audience was respectful, you could still hear those present singing or humming along.to songs such as “Blue Skies,” How Deep Is The Ocean,” and “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.”
Moving along, Ralph and Bob end up in Vermont at a lodge owned by their former commanding officer, Gen. Henry Waverly (Lance Roberts.) Of course, the common kicker is that Gen. Waverly is on the verge of losing the Inn. We’ve seen this, many times in countless shows and movies, but here they pull it off with aplomb.
Bob and Ralph are going to call in a bevy of entertainers to put on a show and save the Inn. But, as expected, things go awry. Calls are misconstrued and a budding romance between Bob and Betty Haynes (Ashley Blanchett) is almost on the rocks. Betty learns of a phone call Bob received and wrongly things he has betrayed everyone by dealing with a real estate agent to sell the Inn.
All is saved, the world is good again when Betty finds out that Bob was working to get the group on the Ed Sullivan Show. Love triumphs in the end. Phil, on the other hand, plays the field. He has eyes for a couple of bimbos and anything wearing a skirt. But he is on the job with Phil to help their old commanding officer save his Inn.
One of the unsung hits is young Savannah Austin, the General’s daughter, Susan Waverly. She pumps out a rousing “Let Me Sing,” and “I’m Happy” and comes close to stealing the show.
The cast is comprised of all professionals singers and dancers who belong to Actors Equity and White Christmas exudes the professional talent on the stage. During the last scene it begins to snow in the theater and you know immediately that everything is going to be fine.
White Christmas runs to Dec. 29. It’s followed on Jan. 29-Feb. 23 by Mystic Pizza and then by Take The Lead (a new musical) from March 29-April 27. The season closes with The Little Mermaid from May 29-June 29.
Paper Mill’s box office is (973) 376-4343. Go to the website for information and tickets The shows are every bit as good (and even better) than anything on Broadway. They are less expensive and even the ample parking doesn’t break the bank. And, in the current atmosphere, there is no danger of Congestion Pricing.
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