By Marilyn Jozwik
Forte Theatre Co. is taking audiences back in time to Dec. 24, 1947, to the fictional radio station studio WFTC in Milwaukee. The occasion is a presentation of “Miracle on 34th Street,” the beloved Christmas classic that gets everyone believing in the spirit of the season. The show is adapted from the 1947 Lux Radio Hour Broadcast by Lance Arthur Smith. Randall Dodge directs.
Complete with flashing “Applause” and “On Air” signs above the stage, three large clocks on the back wall -- showing the correct times in three different parts of the country -- and standing microphones, “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play” gives the audience a taste of live radio back in the day. It is a fun family ride from start to finish with great music, marvelous performances and a wonderful holiday message for all ages.
Several performers play a variety of roles, slipping in and out of characters as easily as an old pair of slippers. The musical follows the familiar story of the single mom, Doris (Leah Gawel), a Macy’s employee, who falls for her handsome neighbor, Fred (Joey Chelius), an attorney. Doris considers herself practical and sensible and teaches her young daughter, Susan (Layla Katers), not to believe in fantasies like Santa Claus. Fred sees no harm in such delights of childhood and helps the old man who claims to be Kris Kringle (Robert A. Zimmerman) keep his job as Santa Claus at Macy’s (King Hang plays Mr. Macy), while Doris almost has him fired. The story takes the jolly Kris to an inept psychiatrist and a courtroom where a plan Fred and Doris devised saves Kris and helps bring a family together at Christmastime.
Robert A. Zimmerman as Kris Kringle in Forte Theatre Company’s “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play.”
What I loved about this show is the music and the expressive, high-spirited and light-hearted performances. Ryan Cappleman gets the show started in fine fashion as the announcer -- introducing all the performers in the radio show -- and then proceeds to the piano where he beautifully performs Jon Lorenz’s music, plus doing his announcer duties and playing other characters. Justin Hall handles a variety of instruments and sound effects as the Foley Artist.
Lorenz’s music takes many well-known holiday tunes and gives them clever, jazzy remakes, such as “Jazzy King Wenceslas” “Jingle Mashup,” “Rest Ye Merry Gents” and “Jazzy Halls.” Also included are several of Lorenz’s lovely original tunes. This cast offers first rate vocals and lots of Andrews Sisters type harmonies in this high-spirited production. The Friday night audience appreciated the energy, providing lots of applause even when the sign wasn’t lit!
The audience loved the fresh music, especially “You Better Watch Out!” a fun “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” spinoff by the whole cast, and “Don’t Let Us Down,” featuring Chelius and Zimmerman. As Susan, the 10-year-old Katers sang a delightful “I Believe in You” that was a big hit with the audience.
Layla Katers plays Susan in Forte Theatre Company’s “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play.”
Zimmerman has the perfect look and demeanor for the Kris Kringle role. I really enjoyed the scene where Kris teaches Susan how to make believe they are monkeys. So charming.
Chelius segues from the laid-back Fred to the tightly-wound psychologist Dr. Sawyer to other characters with ease, while Gawel nicely toggles from practical Doris to other roles – including a little boy. Eiche and Hang also give distinct personas to their characters. Katers plays the precocious Susan with lots of spunk and energy, especially when she whirls around her potential new home.
The show is a fast-paced 90 minutes with no intermission. Exits in the rear of the theater make it easy for youngsters of all ages to slip out for a bathroom break, if needed.
If you go:
Who: Forte Theatre Company
What: “Miracle on 34th Street”
When: Wednesday, December 22nd @ 7:30 pm; Thursday, December 23rd @ 7:30 pm; Friday, December 24th @ 12 pm
Where: The Fine Arts Center at Martin Luther High School, 5201 S.76th St., Greendale
Info/Tickets: www.fortetheatrecompany.org; (414) 366-3634 or email tickets@fortetheatrecompany.org