Judy's Scary Little Christmas: Frontiers Magazine Review

FRONTIERS MAGAZINE

AN INSTANT HOLIDAY CLASSIC

Victory Theatre

Through Dec. 22

It's a joy to witness the premiere of what's bound to become a perennial holiday attraction. The dazzling musical satire "Judy's Scary Little Christmas" is the best of the recent string of plays characterizing the legendary Judy Garland, and is among the year's finest offerings. It's a quirky but captivating mix of camp, nostalgia, music and biting satire lampooning famous Hollywood stars and vintage TV variety shows, while simultaneously providing an affectionate tribute. The prodigious talents behind this endeavor are writers James Webber and David Church, composer/lyricist Joe Patrick Ward, and director/choreographer Kay Cole, joined by an exemplary cast and design team. The story takes place in 1959 at CBS Television City in Hollywood, where the great Garland (Connie Champagne) is headlining a star-studded Christmas special featuring Bing Crosby (Sean Smith), Liberace (Don Lucas), Ethel Merman (Lauri Johnson), Vice President Richard Nixon (Eric Anderson), playwright Lillian Hellman (Jan Sheldrick) and Joan Crawford (Joanne O'Brien). The creators initially trick us into expecting a harmless pastiche, recreating the spirit of TV's golden age. But midway through, Garland's merry little Christmas turns bizarre, with a nifty surprise plot twist that sends the creaky genre into a tailspin, leading to a deliciously curdled cup of holiday cheer. Among the fine ensemble, Champagne is best--as bubbly as her name implies, and also quite poignant as the emotionally fragile diva. Sheldrick is a hoot as Hellman, and Anderson's uproarious Tricky Dick oozes manipulation and neurosis from every pore. Ward's pleasant score is highlighted by two showstoppers. Webber and Church's satiric barbs, spoofing the foibles of the narcissistic celebrities, provide endless laughs. The visual design is sleek and sophisticated, while Ward's musical direction and Cole's sprightly staging propel the fast-paced fun. This exhilarating show is a glistening Christmas gift for local audiences.

-Les Spindle

From the 1/3/03 issue of FRONTIERS

The immortal Judy Garland was the subject of no less than four shows in 2002. The best of the bunch was the musical spoof Judy's Scary Little Christmas (by James Webber, David Church and Joe Patrick Ward), a sparkling takeoff of vintage TV variety shows.

TEN BEST OF 2002: "Cream of the Theatrical Crop"

JUDY'S SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS at the Victory Theatre

A touch of camp, a lot of heart, a measure of satire and a tinge of mysticism drove this scintillating musical about a 1959 Garland TV special.