A Christmas Story, The Musical, is a triple-dog delight

Oh the weather outside is frightful…and the snow-packed roads this holiday season make travel especially hazardous. Many Kansas City families are opting to forego their usual road trips to Grandma’s house and are hunkering down in town instead. But just because you’re “grounded” this year by Mother Nature’s excess bounty, doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy some world-class entertainment right here in Kansas City.

Critics and audiences alike have been raving about the world premiere of "A Christmas Story, The Musical!" currently at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre through January 3, 2009, and directed by Eric Rosen. Since its opening on November 20 at the Spencer Theatre, it has played to sold-out houses, making it the most popular show in the Rep’s history.

And it’s easy to see why. Those of us who watch America’s favorite holiday flick year after year, and thrill to the familiar lines (“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”, “I triple-dog-dare ya!”) are reassured that Joseph Robinette’s script for the musical is faithful to the beloved movie, and it conjures admirably the 1940s “slice of Americana” feel of Jean Shepherd’s small-town Indiana boyhood.

But there’s an added bonus to the stage play—some rousing musical numbers (music and lyrics by Scott Davenport Richards) that set theatergoers’ toes to tapping. “Take that!” is a particularly spirited piece, as young Ralphie imagines the brave feats of derring-do he could accomplish if he could only get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Ralphie’s visions of villains come alive on stage in the shape of a pirate, the Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkeys (with a musical nod to the Wizard of Oz soundtrack), and even a bristly-mustached Hitler, who agrees to give Poland back, if only Ralphie won’t shoot.

The cast is exceptionally talented at bringing to life this classic story, particularly Zachary Carter Sayle as Ralphie and Jake Bennett Siegfried as Randy, the two little boys who masterfully combine cuteness with just the right amount of sassiness. John Bolton, as the Old Man, is a joy to behold, as he wrestles with the smoke-belching furnace (which seems to be located in the orchestra pit!) and cusses with impressive ingenuity.

The supporting characters never seem to miss a beat, either—from Patrick DuLaney as a truly fearsome Santa (helped out by two of the most evil-looking Elves that you’ll ever see in your life) to Kip Niven as the shady Christmas Tree Salesman, who stoutly declares, “Ain’t no needles coming off this tree!” as thousands of needles fall to the ground.

You can bring the whole family to this holiday treat, as kids will enjoy the rollicking musical choruses as much as their parents. For added fun, you can buy gingerbread men at Intermission, coast down a slide in the lobby after visiting Santa Claus, and take pictures of your kids sticking their heads out of billboards festooned with Ralphie’s pink rabbit costume.

Now won’t that beat all the family arguments you might have had at Grandma’s house if the weather had cooperated this year?