Hans Christian Andersen in New York at HCT

Last night I went to the world premiere of the musical Hans Christian Andersen in New York at Hale Theatre. It is a reimagining of the 1952 movie musical Hans Christian Andersen and includes all of the songs by Frank Loesser but features a more contemporary story about the famous Danish storyteller's fictional ancestor who lives in New York City in 1962. Hans Christian Andersen (Alex King), a former dancer on Broadway, has inherited the lease of a bookstore from his aunt but she was behind on the payments so he faces eviction.  He lets his best friend Bunny Bailey (Erin Royall Carlson) use the back of the store as a dance studio where she teaches her young students, including Tiffany (Lucy White), Rosalie (Elsa Parry), Carol (Hailey Burnham), Ashley (Libby Despain), and Darlene (Sophia Quinn), to make some extra money.  She suggests putting on a show with her students to save the bookstore and, while he is initially against the idea, his great uncle Hans (Mark Pulham) appears periodically to encourage him.  Add Bobbie Tone (Selena Quayle Proctor), a Broadway friend roped into the job of director and choreographer, a possible romance with Nancy Offenbach (Amy Shreeve Keeler), the mother of two children, Natalie and Ian (Olivia Dietlein and Mason Burnham, respectively), who try out for the show, and Harry Porter (Ben Henersen), a bumbling but helpful community theatre actor from Omaha who offers to play Santa Claus, and merriment ensues!  This has the thinnest of plots (most of the scenes exist to set up the songs rather than tell a story) and it is not very compelling but, having said that, all of the musical numbers are fantastic!  I especially enjoyed "I Hear Music," "Hoop-Dee-Doo," "Thumbelina," "Tallahassee," and "The King's New Clothes" because they feature really fun choreography with the children who are unbelievably talented and charismatic! Unfortunately, I didn’t care for King in the title role because every movement, gesture, and facial expression is very mechanical so I didn't really buy his performance. The rest of the cast is fine but I loved Proctor's turn as an over-the-top diva, particularly when she instructs the girls on how to bow, and Mason Burnham steals the show every time he is on stage (he received the loudest applause and cheers during the bows).  There is an amazing live band, composed of Derek Crane, Reed Le Cheminant, Craig Moore, Alex Marshall, Eric Noyes, Emily Maddison, and Cris Stiles, and they sit in the windows of the buildings that surround the NYC set.  Speaking of which, it is pretty spectacular with a two-storey bookstore on one side of the turntable and a dance studio on the other.  The Christmas decorations at the store and the backdrops used for the show are a lot of fun and so are the 1960s era costumes. This show is a throw-back to the golden age of musicals and the big song and dance numbers are sure to put a smile on your face. It runs on the Sorenson Legacy Jewel Box Stage through July 15 (go here for tickets).

Note:  Don't miss the delightful production of Hello, Dolly! now playing on the Young Living Centre Stage through June 10 (go here for tickets).