“A Christmas Story” at Slow Burn is a holiday gift for all



Matthew Korinko and Michael Norman are shocked at the grade on Ralphie’s Christmas theme in “A Christmas Story.” [Photo by Rodrigo Balfanz]

Yes, you can watch the beloved, now-classic 1983 movie “A Christmas Story” 12 times during its annual 24-hour marathon on Christmas Eve and Christmas.

But this year, you can also see the story of a little boy’s most memorable holiday brought to brilliant, musical life on stage at Broward Center by Slow Burn Theatre Company.  And you should.

Slow Burn is the first professional theatre company in the South Florida region to produce “A Christmas Story”, and they’ve set a sky-high bar for all future productions.  Under the direction of Patrick Fitzwater, who pulls triple duty on this show as choreographer and sound designer, “A Christmas Story” is a funny, energetic production that has everything one could ask for in a holiday show, proverbially wrapped up in shiny paper and topped with a big red bow.

If you’ve never seen the classic film, it’s set in 1940 and follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker’s dogged campaign to receive the only gift on his Christmas list, a Red Ryder Carbine-action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle, despite the adults in his life insisting, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

The story speaks to the nostalgia of Christmas and longing for that once-in-a-lifetime gift that will make everything right in our world.  Directed by Bob Clark, who grew up in South Florida and graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School, “A Christmas Story” has become an annual must-see movie.

The musical, by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul of “Dear Evan Hansen” fame, follows the movie very closely, but re-imagines the film’s fantasy sequences that illustrate the characters’ internal monologues and turn them into show-stopping musical numbers.

The movie’s memorable narration was voiced by writer Jean Shepherd, on whose stories and childhood recollections “A Christmas Story” is based.  In the musical, that duty is flawlessly handled by Slow Burn co-founder Matthew Korinko, who plays Shepherd and is a constant on stage presence, walking into scenes and offering both his in-the-moment commentary and hindsight perspective.  Korinko’s deep, resonant voice is so melodic and powerful that he could read the phone book and make it riveting, and it serves Shepherd’s poetic prose and humor well, becoming the heart of the story.

As Ralphie’s parents, Tony Edgerton and Amy Miller Brennan make a charming couple, the very picture of marital bliss and conflict.  They each get a big moment; she uses her lilting voice on the poignant, “What a Mother Does” and he sees himself as a song and dance man accompanied by a kick line of dancing leg lamps on “Major Award”.

Fitzwater wisely cast a child actor who does not resemble young Peter Billingsly from the film, allowing him a better chance of making the role his own, which he does.

Young Michael Norman, who played Ralphie on the national tour of the show, brings spunk and heart to his portrayal.

Lindsey Corey, as Ralphie’s teacher Miss Shields, makes the most of her supporting role with a deliciously over-the-top performance.

She is hilariously fanatical about margins and truly shines in the splashy fantasy sequence, “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out”, in which she’s a speakeasy chanteuse accompanied by her young students dressed as tap-dancing flappers and gangsters.

The show’s designers bring all the elements together to create a cohesive period piece. Rick Pena’s spot-on costumes range from 1940’s styles to fantasy ensembles.  Thomas Shorrock’s evocative lighting design brings an old-fashioned Christmas to life, Fitzwater’s sound is crystal clear, and April K. Soroko’s scenic design conjures nostalgia.

“A Christmas Story” is another home-run for the company.  You won’t shoot your eye out, but you might shed a tear or two, and your face might hurt from so much grinning.

“A Christmas Story” runs through December 29 at the Amaturo Theatre at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. For tickets and more information, visit slowburntheatre.org.

One response to ““A Christmas Story” at Slow Burn is a holiday gift for all”

  1. Jerry K Jensen says:

    Very much agree with your review. Saw the same performance you did last weekend. A great Christmas present!

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