‘A Christmas Story’ is fun for the family

by Karen Keefe
Grand Island Dispatch, December 16, 2005

From left, Patrick McEnchrow White as Ralphie Parker, Michael Heintzman as The Old Man, Deidre Madigan as The Mother and Max Wojtaski as Randy, perform as a strong ensemble in the Studio Arena production of “A Christmas Story,” directed by John McCluggage. (photo by Jim Bush)

Whether you say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” the current Studio Arena production of “A Christmas Story,” is a joy of the season.

Like the film, “It’s A Wonderful Life, “A Christmas Story,” has become a life-affirming Christmas classic. One TV station even programmed a 24-hour marathon showing of the tale of Ralphie, the 9-year-old who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, despite warnings from every grownup he knows. By the end of the marathon, families far and wide were probably bonding by chanting, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” On the surface, this could hardly be called appropriate Christmas fare.

But it works, especially in this Studio Arena version, replete with three talented adults and eight adorable and surprisingly professional young actors, one of whom will make Grand Islanders especially proud.

Patrick McEnchrow White, 12, plays the lead character, Ralphie Parker. White is a seventh-grader at St. Stephen’s School with quite a few good roles to his credit already. He recently appeared in the world premiere production of “The Cobbler” at the Irish Classical Theatre. He also has performed with the Theatre of Youth, the Towne Players and St. Stephen’s Parish Players.

White is terrifically appealing as Ralphie. He is pure kid, and natural as can be on stage. His voice is clear and distinct, and he has charisma in copious amounts. He conveys the comedy in the straight-faced way of a youngster who doesn’t know he’s funny, but is just being himself.

“A Christmas Story,” set in the 1940s, was written for the stage by Philip Grecian and is based, for the most part, on the film of the same name, written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark.

The stage version has all the big scenes you’d remember from the movie, including an exploding furnace, a gaudy leg lamp, and the unfortunate experiment that challenges the notion that you can lick an icy lamppost without getting tongue-tied.

One energetic and eloquent scene pairs the Adult Ralph, our narrator, with the boy Ralphie. White and his grown-up self, played by Dan Hiatt, are reacting to yet another setback in the quest for the coveted BB gun. Seated on the living room couch, they fidget, stretch, frown and fuss in mirror images of each other. Ralph and Ralphie, at different points in their shared continuum of experience, are the child that we all feel deeply at Christmas time. You begin to see Ralphie’s maddening mantra about the gun as a yearning to be a hero. He imagines – and the young cast acts out – how he’ll gain fame, glory and gratitude by saving everybody from the bad guys. Who can’t relate to that?

Michael Heintzman as The Old Man, and Deirdre Madigan as The Mother/Miss Shields, are so good, they almost make you forget Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon in the 1983 film version. There’s broad comedy in their performances, but also an honesty and an epic quality. This could be your own Mom and Dad, remembered in that warm, golden glow of nostalgia that author and raconteur Jean Shepherd conveys as narrator in the film version. Hiatt definitely captures that comfortable, wise and funny telling of a crisply recalled childhood. He’s the rock in this production, but it’s all good.

“A Christmas Story” is wonderful family fare – a fine Christmas present for kids of any age. The play, directed by John McCluggage, runs through Thursday, Dec. 29. For information and tickets, call 856-5650 or 1-800-77STAGE.