REVIEW: CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

REGENT CENTRE, CHRISTCHURCH

THIS hugely entertaining Christmas show by the Glad Rag Production Company delighted an enthusiastic Regent Centre audience.

Now in its fifth successful year, the Glad Rag Company delivers high-quality family shows written and directed by Helen Barrington, produced and brilliantly costume designed by Sue Simmerling, and creatively choreographed by Carly Simmerling.

Set at Santa’s North Pole toy workshop, the show features the excited expectation of preparing for Christmas Eve, the delightful young elves and babes, and the pantomimic polar bears Benji and Bruce.

Particularly compelling is Bryan Newman as Santa with his kindly gravitas, crisp enunciation and tone, and endearing vocals on Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

Highlights of this pacy joyful production are the costumes – imaginative, professional and genuinely beautiful – and the mesmeric slick choreography.

Unfortunately there is no live band, the vocals being sung to backing tracks, producing a bland karaoke sound.

And although some vocal harmonies are superb, particularly on Mr Santa, many of the solo vocals lack punch and attack, possibly due to opening night sound imbalance.

At the show’s end, having some of the cast walk up the theatre aisles through the audience to wait in the foyer wishing people “Happy Christmas!” is a creative directorial masterstroke.

Sadly this year there is no artificial snow flowing from the theatre windows onto Christchurch High Street.

This genuinely spectacular family Christmas show runs until Christmas Eve with matinees almost every afternoon.

Brendan McCusker