White Christmas
It’s many years since I’d seen the 1954 film version of White Christmas, so I arrived at the Mill with no preconceptions, after what had been a very hectic and at times difficult week…and this Christmas show was JUST what the doctor ordered!
As ever at Sonning, the evening started well, with a warm welcome from front of house, and a delicious two course meal. My first Christmas dinner of the season, as it happened!
The action of this classic Christmas show, starts off on Christmas Eve 1944, with Captain Bob Wallace and aspiring performer Private Phil Davis entertaining the 151st division with a Christmas Eve show, with a great song and dance routine to Happy Holidays.
The action then moves forward to 1954, and Bob and Phil have formed a double act. They are asked by their former army buddy Sheldrake to go and watch Betty and Judy in their double act, and are blown away, by their performance of “Sisters”. And here is when the double romance starts, with Phil and Judy getting together, but the romantic attraction between Bob and Betty taking longer to ignite, due to a series of misunderstandings. The four end up in Vermont, at the hotel owned by the men’s former General, General Waverley. They decide to reunite the old regiment to put on a show for him!
With a dazzling score by Irving Berlin, featuring well-known standards and the classic title song, “White Christmas” this is an uplifting, gorgeous musical that will delight audiences young and old, and gets us off to the Christmas spirit just perfectly.
Irving Berlin’s songs are the stars of this show. Jae Alexander’s musical arrangements and direction showcase these classics beautifully. From “White Christmas” to ‘Blue Skies’ and Act Two opener ‘I Love A Piano’, there are some fabulous musical numbers. The choreography is clever, and I’m a sucker for old fashioned tap dancing and big musical Hollywood glamour!
I also really loved Betty, Judy and Martha’s “Falling Out of Love Can Be Fun” which had some beautiful melodies from the three ladies.
The movie starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen. Our Sonning stars are led by Connor Hughes, as Phil, Jason Kajdi as Bob, Nic Myers as Judy and Gabriella Williams as Betty who are all superb. All four sing, dance, and act their hearts out and charisma is sparkling on that stage. Williams in particular shines with her fabulous vocals in ‘Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me’. It’s a very classy performance.
Shirley Jameson is also wonderful as Martha while my favourite Wizard, (and also my husbands doppelgänger!) Mark Curry gives a lovely performance as General Waverly.
The whole cast and ensemble do well and everyone brings character to their parts, large and small.
This production of White Christmas is also gorgeously colour coordinated. Costumes, props, lighting, stage, and even the piano, are soft pastel pinks, blues, lilacs and yellows, apart from the red, green and white at the end, full on classic Christmas colours. It’s just so pretty!
White Christmas is an absolutely charming show. The singing and dancing is as crisp as the snow at the end, and the whole cast shines on the tiny Sonning stage! The whole show exudes glamour and warmth.
This show was reviewed on the 6th December 2024 at The Mill at Sonning, Berkshire where it runs until the 25th January 2025. Tickets available here: Mill at Sonning
Review written by Ruth Hawkins
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Photo credit: Pamela Raith
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