Stone Soup: Riverwalk Theatre Thrills with White Christmas

I’ve seen my fair share of small town, cringe-worthy performances by well meaning thespians who are long on heart and short on actual talent. Tonight was just the opposite. Sitting in my seat at the Riverwalk Theatre for the opening of White Christmas, I felt honestly such hometown pride that I was actually wiping away tears toward the end of the second act – and I never cry.

I’m honestly shocked at how absolutely vibrant this cast was, top to bottom. Each cast member, no matter what role they played, acted like they were having the time of their life.

This period piece is clearly a showcase for all the famous Irving Berlin tunes that were so popular in a world so fractured by war and no matter what age you are, these are songs that are familiar. The musical tells the story of a group of men, whose friendships were forged by the war and were found to stand the test of time.

The two male leads, Joe Quick and Adam Woolsey, were the talented young men that brought life to these wonderful songs, literally singing and dancing their way through the entire show.

Racheal Raymer and Rachel Dalton, as the two struggling sisters, played off each other brilliantly and had voices that blended so well that they made you believe they actually may be related.

Doak Bloss, with an acting resume a mile long, played the understated curmudgeon of a general and did so in the most charming and believable way, that by the end of the show the whole audience wanted to salute him. I saw more than one person wiping away a tear as the cast sang the moving “We’ll Follow the Old Man” to the general. Mr. Bloss played his part so well that we all felt moved by his transformation from a strict, buttoned up ex-soldier, to a kind hearted, dear old man.

Kelly Stuible was exuberant and full of robust charm as she belted out tunes with a gutsy, confident attitude and lovely singing voice. She showed great range with her acting skills too, and you felt a tug as she tried to keep her feelings for the general hidden. She stole the show in “Let me sing and I’m happy”.

And who doesn’t want to see Mr. Ken Beachler pushing a broom in and out of all the scenes? He brought about many giggles, especially when someone in the cast commented that he “came from the Barn!”

The costumes, what kind of a budget could they have had for this –were rich with charm and added so much to the shows overall success, they were absolutely perfect for this period piece set in 1954. The production’s shoes, hats and accessories transported the audience to another time with meticulous attention to detail.

My favorite scene was set on the train, the song “Snow” literally buzzed with energy. Each person was fully committed, and the music, the movement, the way they all seemed to glow with the fun of the thing, made it just a joy to watch. Kudos to the set designer and crew, there were man many set changes and not a delay in the mix.

This production has singing, dancing, costumes and scenery, the likes of which we have not seen here with such a talented group of performers in a very long time. I highly recommend you unplug your Ipad, turn off your phone and take someone you love to see White Christmas at the Riverwalk Theatre. You’ll leave with a lump in your throat and you may just be humming tunes you know and love.