Laughs abound in A Christmas Westside Story :: ArtsBeatLA - The ...

Laughs abound in A Christmas Westside Story :: ArtsBeatLA

http://www.artsbeatla.com/2011/12/christmas-westside-story/

Home About Contact Advertise

Laughs abound in A Christmas Westside Story By Pauline Adamek

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

Photos by Chelsea Sutton

What more can be said about the Troubadour Theatre Company, who each year bring their own hilariously warped and satirical style of musical comedy to a beloved Christmas tale? This year they have mashed-up the stunning musicality of West Side Story with the early eighties kiddie yarn ‘A Christmas Story’ to create A Christmas West Side Story. Who else but those ultra-talented and po-faced Troubies can take the superb and intense choreography of Jerome Robbins and send it up brilliantly? The entire cast has fantastic dancing skills, while choreographer Molly Alvarez has skillfully adapted the intricate choreography to this small stage to great effect. With the original musical featuring soaring music by Leonard Bernstein, tender lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a gripping story and book by Arthur Laurents, here was a case where the confluence of exceptional talents created magic; West Side Story is “lightning in a bottle.”

1 of 5

12/28/11 3:21 PM



Miraculously, Bernstein’s magnificent score is as complicated as the dance, yet the exceptionally talented four-piece band led by Eric Heinly virtually replicates the full orchestra sound. (Only occasionally was the blaring brass section conspicuously absent.)

Meanwhile, the gang warfare between the Jets and the Sharks from West Side Story is somehow seamlessly merged with the story of little Ralphie (here played by company Artistic Director and writer Matt Walker) who badly wants a BB gun for Christmas. Hence, the lyrics for the romantic song Maria – “I just met a girl named Maria!” – become “I just held a red rifle rider!” Highlights include Rick Batalla as ‘Old Man’ – whose eyebrows need their own zipcode. His random Marlon Brando/Godfather impression is one of many laughs of the night. If you have any trouble obtaining tickets, then I urge you to become a subscriber to the Falcon Theatre.

Photos by Chelsea Sutton.

2 of 5

12/28/11 3:21 PM



A Christmas West Side Story Falcon Theatre 4252 W. Riverside Drive Burbank, California Performances: Runs until Sunday, January 15, 2012 Wed. – Fri. at 8pm, Sat. at 4pm & 8pm, Sun. at 4pm & 7pm

*** No shows Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31 & Jan. 1 ***

Running time: Approximately 1 hour, 50 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission TICKETS: Weekdays (Wed/Thurs) $34.50 – $37.00 Weekends (Fri/Sat/Sun) $39.50 – $42.00 Student Rate (valid student ID) $27.00 Box Office: Tickets can be purchased online here or call the FALCON THEATRE BOX OFFICE at (818) 955-8101

Tweet

1

0

Share

Share and Enjoy: Categories : Music, Performance, Review, Theater Tags : A Christmas Story, Falcon Theatre, Matt Walker, Pauline Adamek, Toluca Lake, Troubadour Theater Company, West Side Story

Comments 1. A CHRISTMAS WESTSIDE STORY (TROUBADORS): 91% – SWEET : LA Bitter Lemons says: December 22, 2011 at 6:59 pm [...] SWEET Who else but those ultra-talented and po-faced Troubies can take the superb and intense choreography of Jerome Robbins and send it up brilliantly? The entire cast has fantastic dancing skills, while choreographer Molly Alvarez has skillfully adapted the intricate choreography to this small stage to great effect. Pauline Adamek – ArtsBeatLA [...]

Leave a Reply Name (required)

3 of 5

12/28/11 3:21 PM



Mail (will not be published) (required) Website

Submit Comment

Categories

Blogroll

Art Gallery Charity Concert Culture Dance DVD Event Film Fine Arts Food Hollywood Interview Lecture Literature Music Op-Ed Opera Performance Photography Report Review Site News Theater Video

Bitter Lemons California Philharmonic Culture Monster — LA Times Eater LA JetSetJen LA Theatre Review LA.Foodblogging Los Angeles Opera Los Angeles Philharmonic Manifesto NoHo Arts District Pauline Adamek

Blogroll Bitter Lemons California Philharmonic Culture Monster — LA Times Eater LA JetSetJen LA Theatre Review LA.Foodblogging Los Angeles Opera Los Angeles Philharmonic Manifesto NoHo Arts District Pauline Adamek

Tag Cloud A Noise Within art Cella Gallery children children's literature clowns comedy Culture Dance Disney Concert Hall downtown Los Angeles drama Eclectic Company Theatre exhibition

4 of 5

12/28/11 3:21 PM



Getty Center Hollywood horror Italy Japan

Falcon Theatre Festival Geffen Playhouse Getty Villa Glendale

Lankershim Blvd LA Stage Times Tokyo Lucy Griffin

LA Weekly Little

Music musical New York NoHo

paintings Pasadena Playhouse

Pauline

Adamek Photography

Road Theatre Company

Shakespeare Theater theatre thriller Tracy Lynn Schafer Troubadour Theater Company Troubies

Archives Select Month

ArtsBeatLA Copyright © 2011 All Rights Reserved iThemes Builder by iThemes Powered by WordPress

5 of 5

12/28/11 3:21 PM