THEATRE REVIEW: White Christmas - The Palace Theatre, Manchester

The ultimate seasonal family feel-good musical has come to town! Memories of spending each festive season with my family sitting around a black and white TV set in the corner of our living room, watching the famous film came flooding back. It was our tradition, and was my mum's favourite musical film. 

'White Christmas' tells the story of two GIs who formed a song and dance act, and ten year's after being demobbed, are a famous theatre double-act. One thing is lacking in their lives however: love and romance. That is until they meet The Haynes Sisters, and it is through them that they are reunited with their old army General, trying to run a hotel in Vermont but in serious amounts of debt, and, well, of coure there are a few obstacles put in their way, not to mention a misunderstanding which sees one of the girls take a job in New York without saying goodbye; but this is good ol' Musical Theatre, and so everyone comes out winning in the end.

This stage production (based on the original film) is - and I don't think I have ever used this word in a review before - a triumph! From the very opening to the extended curtain call, this was pure gold. Traditional book musicals such as this can sometimes come across as stiff, false, and monodimensional when placed against the more modern Musicals; and there is always a danger of the cast over-compensating for this. Not here. I was fully invested in their story right from the start and the acting, singing, and dancing skills of every single person on stage was nothing less than amazing. Moreover, they did not try to simply recreate the characterisations from the famous film (I think it would have been a travesty if they had have done); and created their own whilst still staying true to the script and story. 

In fact I defy anyone to find me a better foursome to play the lead roles in this show. Matthew Jeans (Bob), Dan Burton (Phil), Jessica Daley (Betty), and Emily Langham (Judy) worked superbly together, had amazing stage presence, and just enthralled with the amount of talent each of them displayed. They were supported by a cast of cameo roles and ensemble, all of whom were excellent. I especially loved Sally Ann Triplett's Ethel Merman-esque Martha, and veteran (of the theatre world) Duncan Smith as army veteran General Waverley. And a special mention should also be made to a 19 year old graduate making her professional debut in this production in the role of Susan, Ella Kemp.

I have one, and only one, negative criticism with this particular production, and this concerns the follow spot operator. Sadly he / she was casting the principals in semi or total darkness at times, and not actually 'following' them as they traversed the stage. Otherwise, the ligthing design was excellent and creative without it being overdone or kitsch; and the sets were simple but effective, generating the correct contemporaneous ambience. 

This musical is the perfect antidote to the winter blues, and will guarantee to warm your hearts and leave the theatre with a huge grin, humming one of the many memorable Berlin ballads, including of course, the title song.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 22.11.21