And May All Your Christmases Be White

It’s a Christmas staple: “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…” Written by legendary prolific composer Irving Berlin for the Fred Astaire/Bing Crosby movie “Holiday Inn,” the song “White Christmas” went on to win the Academy Award for Best Song. Ten years later, Bing Crosby would croon the tune again alongside Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney in the Christmas classic named for the song.

In this age of the Broadway musical, where now the stage gets its inspiration from the silver screen rather than the other way around, it is no wonder that “White Christmas” was adapted for the stage. It debuted last Christmas on Broadway, playing a limited engagement. This year, it is back for another limited engagement over the holiday season.

The musical opens in 1944 where we meet Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, two army buddies who are entertaining their troop on Christmas Eve. Their general, Henry Waverly, is being sent state-side due to an injury. He hopes that on Christmas Eve, 1954, the men will all be at home and in a better world. Fast forward ten years and Wallace and Davis are Broadway stars and regulars on the Ed Sullivan Show. Phil convinces Bob to come see a sister act to add to their show—Betty and Judy Haynes. Judy and Phil hit it off immediately while Betty and Bob have a very uncomfortable meeting. Judy and Phil plan to match the two. Thinking he is on his way to Miama, Bob is surprised to run into the Haynes sister and find himself in Vermont.

Instead of a white Christmas, Vermont is experiencing a heat wave. This is making business bad for the inn the girls are booked at and the concierge, Martha, tries to hid the situation from the owner—Gen. Henry Waverly. Bob and Phil decide to bring their show to the inn, get all the guys from their division up to the inn on Christmas Eve and surprise the general. Everyone—including the general’s visiting granddaughter Susan—gets excited. Betty and Bob fall in love as rehearsals begin. But after a miscommunication, Betty flees to New York. Bob chases her but are they meant to be?

The music is classic, all from Berlin’s catalogue. A few numbers, while well-staged and big productions, do not serve to push the story forward. These are the ones used for “rehearsals” of the Wallace and Davis show, but don’t really have any parallels with the show. Berlin did start writing for the stage in the age before book musicals, what most theater audiences are used to, became popular with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma.” The songs are hummable and toe-tapping. The current cast is wonderful, particularly Melissa Errico and Mara Davi as the Haynes sisters. Tony Yasbeck steals the show as Phil. It is also a treat to see David Ogden Stiers (“MASH”) on stage as well, even if they don’t utilize his singing capabilities in the show.

If you’re down in the city around Christmastime, I recommend seeing this show. It’s great for children…and for anyone who loves Christmas.

In Memoriam: Roy E. Disney

The Walt Disney Company announced today that Roy E. Disney passed away at the age of 79.

Disney was the son of Roy Disney and nephew to Walt. Roy sat on the board of the Walt Disney and was a prominent shareholder. In the late 1980s, he resigned from the board and led a movement to have Walt’s son-in-law, Ron Miller, replaced as head of the company. The movement was successful and Michael Eisner assumed control along side Frank Wells. Wells died in 1994 and Eisner continued to run the company as Disney experienced a re-emergence as an innovative movie maker.

As the 21st century dawned, many Disney fans grew disgusted at Eisner’s leadership as they watched the company take a dive. Disney, too, did not approve of the direction the company was taking. He once again resigned from the board and led another movement. Once again, he was successful as the board voted not to support Eisner. He resigned and Bob Iger assumed control of the Walt Disney Company.

Iger issued this statement regarding Disney’s death: "Roy's commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney's past, present and future.”

Disney was a great champion of his uncle’s ideals and Pixar’s chief creative officer, John Lasseter, offers a fitting ode in his statement:

"He put his heart and soul into preserving Disney's legendary past, while helping to move the art of animation into the modern age by embracing new technology.”

RIP

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord…Again

So, a couple summers ago I was unemployed and bummed. But there was a bright spot: the 2008-2009 Broadway season promised me a revival of my favorite musical ever. And then, as if it weren’t bad enough that I was a victim of the recession, Godspell became one as well. The planned revival was “postponed” and we all presumed it was just as good as cancelled.

But it is not! Playbill announced that the Godspell revival will now be mounted during the 2010-2011 season. The cast has not been announced but this is great news! At least for me, that is!

The American Cancer Society Would Like to Remind You…Smoking is Bad.

We start in 2030, where the kids are listening. Future!Ted talks about how early Robin’s show is. She asks Ted if he watched but he said he was busy sleeping. She tells him about Don Frank, who has made a career being a morning newsperson. Robin then excuses herself to go to the roof and stand there on the roof. Future!Ted then tells his kids that Robin really went to have a cigarette. “WHAT?” the kids shout. Future!Ted reveals Aunt Robin liked the occasional cigarette…and by occasional, Robin means all the time. She even smokes while doing yoga. Ted chases her to the roof. Marshall gives her the usual “It’s disgusting…” before asking if he could bum one. “WHAT?” the kids shout again.

Credits!

Marshall began smoking at the age of 13. And every cigarette is his last one. Ted tries to lecture him but Marshall says it is just because he is stressed at work. His old boss, with whom Marshall had a shouting match, is now in charge of the legal department. He’s been firing people left and right. Barney mentions they fired “What’s his face.” “What’s his face” was apparently important, according to Marshall. Ted asks about Lily. Marshall says he has a system—he puffs, he showers, he spritzes and Lily still finds out.

Meanwhile, Robin is immediately deillusioned by Don when he reveals he doesn’t give a crap because their audience is a half-drunk slob. Robin wants to do a good show for him. Don wishes her well and then stretches, revealing he has no pants on.

Marshall, feeling stressed, escapes to his business’ roof where he runs into Arthur, smoking. Arthur, the boss, offers him a cigarette and mourns the good old days when he could bond with someone over a cigarette. So Marshall takes one and gets treated to pictures of his dog.

Coming back, Lily catches Marshall. He says he is a smoker and even bought a box, lighter and Viking lamp. Lily’s upset. Smoking is a filthy habit and they already have three Viking lamps. She demands he hands over the box and immediately lights up. “WHAT?” Yes, Aunt Lily would fall off the wagon with her husband.

Meanwhile, Robin is trying to get the mayor on the show. Don thinks her enthusiasm is adorable. She tells him that he may be bitter but she still has dreams of being on a network. He tells her he was on a network. Everyone gasps and he talks about Labor Day weekend and a dressing room. They are all impressed. Robin joins Lily and Marshall smoking outside MacLaren’s. They haven’t seen her show, which depresses her.

Inside, Ted and Barney reminisce about when smoking was allowed in bars. We cut to a smoke filled scene, where Marshall has to play Marco Polo with the two to find the booth. They decide to go out and smoke. “WHAT?” Barney explains he smokes pre-coital, post-coital and during pregnancy scares. Ted asks why he is smoking and Barney says he’s always pre-coital.

But the gang realizes they have to quit. Lily sounds like Harvey Fierstein, Ted gets winded going up his stairs, Barney finds a stain on his tie and Marshall watches Arthur suffer a heart attack.

On the roof, the gang promises to quit. Marshall wants to go and stop his 13 years-old self from smoking. He beats the kid up. They force Barney to do so as Robin shows up. She was able to get the mayor to do her show. They gang congrats her and they convince her to smoke. They agree to stop together. They start bickering at MacLaren’s, where they are pigging out. Instead of punching Ted, though, Marshall goes to kick his younger self some more.

Meanwhile, Robin lets Don have it, calling him a loser and a slob. He tells her the mayor cancelled and they can’t even get their cameraman to watch the show. He tries to get Robin to smoke on camera, but the gang calls. They are watching at Ted’s and convince her not to. She tosses the cigarette into Don’s coffee. And it explodes.

The gang is proud of Robin…but they race to the roof for a cigarette. Even Robin buys a box. She’s happy they watched her show and Lily tells her she should date Don. Robin says no. Future!Ted says they’ll be dating in 3 months. They watch the sunrise where Robin declares it the perfect time for a last cigarette. And they light up on the count of three. Future!Ted reveals it wasn’t their last cigarette ever. Robin’s was in June 2013. Barney’s was in 2017. Lily’s was when she decided to try to get pregnant. Marshall’s was when his son was born. And Ted’s was two weeks into dating the Mother.

Tag: Marshall goes to see his younger self and gives him a picture of Lily as a peace offering. Younger Marshall goes into the tent as Marshall leaves.

I thought this was cute and had its moments. I liked the Robin-Don interactions as well as Lily’s Harvey Fierstein voice. But I wonder…did they film generic shots with the kids? Because that looks like David Henrie and Lindsay Fonesca from the beginning and I’ve seen David Henrie since. He can’t be made to look like a kid anymore.

Quote of the Episode:

“I think that cute girl over there is smiling at me.” --Ted

“Umm, that’s a chair. But you go hit that.” --Barney