Judy's Scary Little Christmas: Los Angeles Times Review

Comedy and Musicals Make a Theater Merry

By F. Kathleen Foley, Special to The Times

If you're in the mood for a holiday bargain, you can get four shows for the price of one in "Judy's Scary Little Christmas" at the Victory Theatre. Joe Patrick Ward's witty score and a terrific cast are a frequently magical combination.

The action is set on a CBS sound stage in 1959, where Judy Garland (the wonderful Connie Champagne) is taping her Christmas special. Recovering from a recent brush with death, Judy has a lot riding on this show, and she's hoping show-biz pals Bing Crosby (Sean Smith), Liberace (Don Lucas), Joan Crawford (Joanne O'Brien) and Ethel Merman (Lauri Johnson) will help her put things over. Unfortunately, "special guests" Richard M. Nixon (a wickedly funny Eric Anderson) and Lillian Hellman (Jan Sheldrick), bristling antagonists, threaten to derail Judy's comeback.

Writers David Church and James Webber too often bend their plot to accommodate a gag. However, the subsequent duet between Nixon and Hellman -- a high point -- almost makes us forget the initial contrivance. Making the most of the material, the cast sparkles throughout. In fact, these performer/impersonators are so dead-on that you want to package them and present them to your friends.

* * *

What: "Judy's Scary Little Christmas"

Where: Victory Theatre, 3326 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank

When: Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m. Starting Dec. 8, Sundays at 3 and 7 p.m.

Ends: Dec. 22

Price: $28

Contact: (818) 841-5422

Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes