Judy's Scary Little Christmas: Burbank Leader Review

BURBANK -- Tree trimmed? Halls decked? It's time for a CBS Christmas special chock full of your favorite Hollywood stars.

Not nearly so benign, the Victory Theatre's world premiere of "Judy's Scary Little Christmas" twists that fondly recalled genre of annual holiday airings with wicked results as we attend Judy Garland's 1959 yuletide television taping.

Surrounded by a chorus of four singer/dancers and a cavalcade of celebrities, Connie Champagne resurrects our star with an uncanny grasp of vocal and physical mannerisms, if not necessarily a dead-on facial resemblance.

From her opening number, complete with Garland's oft-noted "deer in the headlights" look, Champagne's layering of her characterization with growing confidence and ultimate bewilderment as things go amiss is amazing.

Supporting Judy with nary an actor out of step are her guests. Sean Smith's Bing Crosby concocts a hilariously complicated family recipe for grog in "Let's Share a Cup of Irish Cheer." Liberace in all his sparkling regalia and a hell-on-wheels Ethel Merman, played by Don Lucas and Lauri Johnson respectively, round out the primary list of invitees who happen to arrive with song in hand.

Reality begins to warp, however, as Eric Anderson's show-stealing Richard Nixon pairs with political archrival, Lillian Hellman, portrayed with gusto by Jan Sheldrick, to ask the question "Ever Been in Love?"

Rounding out the troupe is Joanne O'Brien as a schizophrenic Joan Crawford and Mark A. Cross as a mystery guest whose identity cannot be revealed lest it ruin the show's ending.

Authors James Webber and David Church craft a story capturing our fondness for a past era now complicated by ever increasing absurdities while composer/lyricist Joe Patrick Ward wrings every double entendred laugh from each of the show's eight songs. Having worked professionally with the real Ms. Garland, award-winning director/choreographer Kay Cole has helmed this razor-sharp satire with pinpoint accuracy.

Embraced by Webber's faux living room set and diverse lighting design, costumer Jeannine Campi perfectly recreates the period's clothing, as does Ricky Gilbert, responsible for Champagne's collection of gowns.

With this first-time production in Burbank's own backyard, woe to your holidays if you miss "Judy's Scary Little Christmas."