Hey Toronto! We’ve all been gifted, and it’s an authentic Canadian Hallmark Christmas musical, titled, considerably awkwardly, Chris, Mrs. It’s as Hallmark-y a present as one may presumably be, barely lacking one clue or body from the community that has saturated the market with completely different motion pictures with, mainly, the identical plot in repeat. And if it ain’t damaged, like they are saying, why repair it. And the musical is, a lot to my shock, nice and enjoyable; cozy and tenderly written, proper right down to among the extra clumsy elements that both flip the deal with into one thing too candy to abdomen, or one thing that leaves a clumsy bitter, and considerably grinchy style in your mouth. However not at all times, and never ultimately.

Danielle Wade (centre) and ensemble of Chris, Mrs. – A New Vacation Musical. Picture by Max Energy Pictures.
It’s not shocking that the brand new holiday-themed musical has billed itself, actually, as a Hallmark vacation film musical model, made for the stage and crammed with among the brightest prettiest Canadian stage stars promoting it sturdy to the plenty. Not a horrible factor within the least, and if you’re a lover of the Hallmark household leisure onslaught, then that is all going to slip down your throat as fortunately as egg nog on a Christmas morning (I, then again, may want an oz. or two of rum to make it style nice). It’s crammed to the brim with satisfying numbers, large dance numbers, just a few adorable-looking youngsters, and a vacation spirit that’s eternally overflowing into the attractive Winter Backyard Theatre in downtown Toronto. It’s performed straight at you, in a standardized Broadway blueprint trend, with no surprises within the large numbers offered, past the leap of religion one has to take to observe the easy Hallmark blueprint fashion of storytelling that can make us all completely satisfied and crammed with cheer on a chilly December eve.
From the second we meet widowed Ben Chris, performed handsomely effectively by Liam Tobin (Broadway’s The Guide of Mormon), we see the place that is all going. He’s the usual large metropolis company sort who has misplaced his approach and the connection he as soon as needed to the yuletide spirit, who has determined to spend this Christmas at a small city lodge that was owned by his mother and father however is now run, fairly effectively, thoughts you, by his brother Charlie, lovingly performed by Kale Penny (Mayfield’s Rock of Ages) who isn’t given a lot to do besides play second (or possibly third) fiddle to his extra dashing older brother.

Liam Tobin & Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane (centre) and ensemble of Chris, Mrs. – A New Vacation Musical. Picture by Max Energy Pictures.
However Ben will not be going dwelling to attach emotionally with any of the vacation festivities that the city is legendary for. He, and his glamourous girlfriend, Vicki, performed in a fabulously manipulative method by Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane (Stratford’s Hire), are going there strictly to finalize a deal that can hopefully get him one other high-powered promotion on the promoting agency, and can most definitely assure that she’s going to stay the influencer of the second related to one in every of their extra family-friendly manufacturers. That’s if she will get Ben to suggest to her this vacation season. All of that is laid out effectively and in true Broadway trend with a giant flashy opening quantity, “Simply One other Jingle“, staged a bit too clearly and flat by director Katie Kerr (program director at The Nationwide Centre of New Musicals/Theatre Aquarius), who additionally wrote the music, guide, and lyrics with the musical director, Matthew Stodolak (musical director at Canada’s Wonderland), attempting their finest to carry sparkle and large kicks to a formulation that’s already acquainted to most of us.
The present, defying all odds, is certainly entertaining and forward-moving, with a number of sparkle and vacation spirit at each flip, embodied most splendidly by Ben’s private assistant, Candace Brown, performed to perfection by the scene-stealing Sarah Lynn Unusual (Rainbow Stage’s Sister Act) – who, by the way in which, ought to get her personal vacation particular if the world is really giving out Christmas needs. The journey to the nation lodge is all deliberate, with Ben’s adorable-looking household, completely dressed within the vacation spirit by set and costume designer Cory Sincennes (Shaw’s Gypsy) coming alongside for the experience. Naturally, Ben’s youngsters are picture-perfect, with two mischievous twins; Sam and Samantha, performed on opening night time by Lucien Duncan-Reid and Addison Wagman (alternates: Finn Cofell & Isaac Grates-Myers), and the secretly cute, bookish teenage daughter, Claire, performed adorably by the proficient AJ Bridel (Drayton’s Kinky Boots), who’re instructed to behave, and play good.

Finn Cofell & Isaac Grates-Myers in Chris, Mrs. – A New Vacation Musical. Picture by Max Energy Pictures.
All we’d like now are the 2 plot elements that this musical requires to make this all work because it ought to. The children discover a ring in Dad’s bag and assume it implies that Ben goes to suggest to Vicki, who’s now coming alongside on this household sleigh experience to the nation lodge. The children, as mischievous as ever, resolve they should ask Santa to assist them derail that romantic rendezvous, and in flip, discover another future spouse for his or her widowed father, although they haven’t been the perfect youngsters this 12 months, as identified by older sister Claire. Santa must hear, as they plead their case to Claire. It’s an lovable set-up, one that may make Hallmark proud, particularly with the ditty, “Expensive Santa“, performed out on to heat our hearts by these rugrats. Now, I don’t need to be a imply Grinch or an Ebenezer Scrooge however these two youngsters, as cute as they’re, are usually not the singers this present wants. They positively look the half, filling out the demographics solidly, however when they’re required to sing charmingly and wholeheartedly for his or her want to be granted, the 2, particularly Duncan-Reid, battle to remain on key and fairly truthfully fail to ship the gift-wrapped items strongly. It’s not a robust presentation by any means, particularly for the opening night time crowd.
No matter their lack of vocal power, their want is granted, candy and kindly, by the white-haired older gentleman in sequined purple, naturally named Nick, who reads the be aware that magically makes its approach into his fingers from the publish field. Their request units up the Christmas whirlwind that can hopefully take the non-maternal Vicki down and save these youngsters from the potential depraved stepmother syndrome that lurks simply across the nook in black excessive heels. Nick, performed joyously by Mark Weatherley (Right here for Now’s The Surprise of It All), after flirting up a deliciously candy storm with Candace, by some means, magically, delivers again to the lodge the wild and wandering seasonal employee, Holly Carmichael. Performed gloriously effectively by the vocally gifted Danielle Wade (Stratford’s The Music Man) doing her finest Anna Kendrick impression, Holly is destined, fairly clearly, to be the one who destroys the competitors with that high-wattage smile and killer vocals, with barely a battle scar available, at the least on Holly. She’s the recent, sincere, caring lady, who will, clearly, save the day, although she she reads too younger – nearly as younger as daughter Clair, which is a little bit of a visible attunement downside. She can also be recognized by brother Charlie to run off on the first signal of bother (and of affection). However he hires her again anyway to assist out, naturally, as he’s understaffed on the well-run lodge. So we will all breathe a sigh of reduction (not that we had been holding our breath in any sense of the phrase due to plot pressure). As a result of now, all of the items of this sweet-natured Christmas puzzle are in place, and we will all sit again and loosen up, understanding precisely the place that is all going to finish up.

AJ Bridel & Andrew Broderick in Chris, Mrs. – A New Vacation Musical. Picture by Max Energy Pictures.
However the artistic crew of Stodolak and Kerr, really feel the necessity to add one other subplot into the combo, presumably to drag in a youthful dynamic into the story. They play with a life-long crush by lodge worker, Tim, performed sturdy by Henry Firmston (Stratford’s Spamalot), for the teenage Claire, however it’s not going to be simple. He bumbles alongside in that Hallmark kinda approach, too nervous to state the apparent, particularly when he sees that Claire has developed a mad-quick crush on the resident worker hottie and junior determine skating champion, Cole, performed effectively by the proficient Andrew Broderick (Canadian Stage’s Choir Boy). Cole is a good wingman for his buddy, Tim, serving to him step up and into the sport, whereas additionally doing double responsibility together with his personal finest womanizing stance with out getting all creepy on us. These three do a fantastically enjoyable job navigating this foolish triangle with out ever dropping its PG stance, although all of them look a bit too previous to be enjoying teenage bumblers. But it really works its approach in, primarily due to the expertise offered.
That is additionally the half the place one of many not-so-great elements of a Hallmark film comes flying out to hit us within the head. The musical is blessed with some snappy enjoyable songs, breezy one-liners, a significant love alliance that occurs sooner than an applause break, and a seen-it-coming-from-the-heavens completely satisfied ending, however it additionally has some stereotypically casting decisions the place the individuals of color are those who’re actually standing in the way in which of the image good white couple lastly coming collectively ultimately. With Sinclair-Brisbane’s Vicki getting the harshest finish of the literal sweet cane. Her half is a blast although, drenched in evil step-mother glamour vibes, performed to the max, particularly when she lastly will get her large tune and dance quantity, naturally named “Vicki’s Lament.” She lastly will get to be within the star highlight, similar to she at all times needs to be, backed by just a few gorgeously attired backup dancers who’re as good-looking and horny as they’re proficient. That’s the place she really shines (as do these guys); not as a maternal determine attempting to appease some youngsters she clearly has no need to take care of. You simply know boarding college is one cellphone name away for Vicki if she, and her falsely twisted ankle, get their Christmas want she is gaming for. Guess it obtained misplaced within the mail, or Nick determined to not learn it.
Matthew Stodolak and Katie Kerr do a reasonably stable job with the music and lyrics, discovering festive taste within the playfulness of the wordplay. It sounds good, particularly when the musical fingers over the reigns to its grownup leads, letting them sing out sturdy and true stage heart. The rhymes and rhythms of the Christmas jingle and joyfulness are intelligent and play effectively to the group, together with the festive choreography by Sarah Vance, who delivers flip after flip from the professionals she is working with.
Chris, Mrs. fulfills the want for offering festive cheer and confection-laden leisure. It’s pure Hallmark fluff, delivered effectively in a breezy tacky form of approach. The actors all discover festive cheer in each reward unwrapped, particularly Unusual who personally lights up the stage with each gloriously gifted snicker she delivers. Unusual’s Christmas chemistry with Weatherley’s Nick is only one of many enjoyable bows on this well-wrapped Christmas current, similar to the good-looking Tobin because the musical’s major bah-humbugger, who wants that mistletoe shift that solely a visit to a snow-covered nation lodge can do. He lastly will get his second to really shine with the tenderly encrypted tune, “The Nice Snowy Owl“, showcasing not only a good-looking face and physique, however a clumsy Dad attempting onerous to connect with his youngsters after dropping, not too way back, their mom/his spouse, who he met and fell in love with at this very lodge. We see all of it clearly from the company vacation celebration to the ending across the city’s large Christmas tree. I half anticipated a White Christmas second with snow and a grand opening of the doorways to point out a sleigh drawn by a horse (or perhaps a reindeer). Adopted by a sing-along of a Christmas basic. Fortunate for us that solely performed out in my head.
The Holly character is as a lot of a staple to this style because the hard-hearted big-city company man (or typically lady, or homosexual man, relying on the demographic Hallmark is attempting to hit). However as embodied by Wade, Holly is strictly what Ben and this musical have to make it shine. Their on the spot attraction and fast fall into love is as formulaic because it sounds, occurring so quick, presumably too quick and livid, due to all of the secondary plots getting in the way in which. However we simply have to just accept it, with out actually attending to see how or why. Their required love/combat close to the tip feels as inauthentic as you possibly can think about, Primarily as a result of we by no means noticed them really come collectively sufficient to say these issues to 1 one other. Nonetheless, it’s Christmas, ya know, so we simply take it in and imagine that they’re destined to be collectively – and we additionally should attempt to ignore the concept Holly loves and is extra related to the children than to their father, who she hardly has been given any time to work together with, not to mention one-on-one romantic bonding time.
But, stuffed with mischief and mistletoe, Chris, Mrs. is all concerning the suspension of disbelief and having fun with the sleight experience to happiness and love. I might be curious to see what a unique director who was not so hooked up to the creation of the music, guide, and lyrics would do with this present, as I believe it wants a sharper eye and a clearer directorial perspective. The set wants a little bit of constructual stabilization, as does the large metropolis vs small city vibe and vacation sensibility judgment. However let’s put that each one behind us, and benefit from the coming collectively of two picture-perfect individuals who barely know each other, however who the entire city appears to be attempting to carry collectively simply in time for the lighting of the tree. Do I sound a giant bah-humbuggy? Nicely, possibly I do want a visit to a winter nation lodge to search out my real love and acquire some vacation spirit. However if you’re already there, wanting a giant splashy holiday-themed musical that appears like a Hallmark film, you’ve got discovered it in Boldly Productions‘ Chris, Mrs. – A New Vacation Musical, now enjoying on the Winter Backyard Theatre. It delivers simply as promised, with out guilt or remorse.
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Originally posted 2023-12-12 05:02:03.