A Christmas Story at CPT

I saw the Broadway touring production of A Christmas Story several years ago and I thought it was delightful so I was excited to see it again last night at CPT. The musical is very much informed by the iconic movie of the same name (a favorite of mine).  It is narrated by radio personality Jean Shepherd (Darin J. Beardall) on Christmas Eve as he tells the story of a memorable Christmas from his youth. Ralphie (Soren Ray) desperately wants an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time for Christmas but his Mother (Jessica Love), the Old Man (Juston LeBaron), his teacher Miss Shields (Bailee DeYoung), and even Santa Claus (Andy Leger) tell him that he'll shoot his eye out. All of the well-known scenes from the movie are brought to life on stage including when Randy (Sam Akerlow) eats like a piggy, when Schwartz (James Leger) triple dog dares Flick (Trevin Hamblin) to stick his tongue to the flag pole, when the Old Man wins a major award, when Ralphie says the F-dash-dash-dash word while helping the Old Man change a tire, when Ralphie gets into a fight with Scut Farkus (Ben Liljenquist), when Ralphie gets a bunny costume from Aunt Clara, and when one of the Bumpus hounds (Phoenix, making his stage debut) eats the turkey forcing the Parkers to eat Christmas dinner at the Chop Suey Palace! The songs are not especially memorable but I really liked how they are staged and the talented cast does a great job, particularly the young actors. I really enjoyed the choreography in "When You're a Wimp," "Ralphie to the Rescue," "A Major Award," and "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out." Ray has a great voice and gives a really endearing performance as Ralphie, especially in "Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun," and Akerlow is absolutely hilarious as Randy (he made me laugh out loud several times), but, in my opinion, Phoenix steals the show when he chases the Old Man around to get to the turkey (he got the loudest applause all evening). The period costumes are fantastic and the elaborate sets, which feature Higbee's Department Store, the Parker house, and Warren G. Harding Elementary School, are cleverly placed side by side on stage to mimic an actual street. I had a smile on my face throughout the whole show and it definitely gave me a big dose of Christmas cheer! It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through December 23 (go here for tickets) and I highly recommend it to fans of the movie!