sign in to your theatermania account email password · pdf filesign in to your theatermania...

SearchShow, Actor, Keyword Find Theater In Your Area Zip Code, City or State

Accidentally, Like aMartyr

Kissing Sid James

Sign in to your TheaterMania accountEmail

Password

LOG INDon't have an account? Sign UpForgot your password?Click here.

Having trouble logging in?Click here for help.

BROADWAY SHOWSOFF-BROADWAYDISCOUNT TICKETS

ALL CITIESNEWS AND REVIEWSVIDEOGOLD CLUB

THEATER NEWS AROUND THE WEB REVIEWS PHOTO FILES BLOGS TM MAGAZINE

A Christmas Westside StoryBy Jonas Schwartz • Dec 19, 2011 • Los Angeles 0 Comments

Leah Sprecher, Beth Kennedy, RickBatalla,

Matt Walker in A Christmas WestsideStory

(© Chelsea Sutton)The Troubadours have done it again with the wonderful A Christmas Westside Story, now at the Falcon Theater. The award-

A Christmas Westside Story - Reviews - Dec 19, 2011 http://www.theatermania.com/los-angeles/reviews/12-2011/a-chr...

3 of 7 12/21/11 10:08 AM

Sort by popular now

M Subscribe by email S RSS

winning group has taken two very different beloved classics, West Side Story and A Christmas Story, and mashed them together insuch a seamless way that you wonder how this musical combination of chocolate and peanut butter ever survived without eachother.Somehow, the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim and melodies of Leonard Bernstein work perfectly with Jean Shepherd's satirical storyof a boy and his burgeoning love affair with a Red Ryder model air rifle.Once again, Little Ralphiie (Matt Walker) lives with his hotheaded dad (Rick Batalla), his level-headed mom (Leah Sprecher) andhis put-upon baby brother (Beth Kennedy), yearning for a BB gun. But a conspiracy between his mom, a teacher, and even SantaClaus seem to be preventing him from achieving his dream.Wittingly, the troupe turn "Gee, Officer Krupke" into a plea for tolerance for the bullies Farkus (Brandon Breault) and Toady(Christine Lakin); "Something's Coming" now tells of a father's anticipation for his precious prize; the love songs "Maria" and"Tonight" are now tender anthems for that famed BB gun (personified with sultriness by Katherine Malak); and "A Boy Like That"is transformed into "A Toy Like That Will Shoot Your Eye Out."

BUY TICKETSCHECK FOR DISCOUNTS

Like

0

more infoThe cast is at their best, showcasing that they're not only hysterical actors, but prime dancers and singers as well. Using a squeakyvoice and wearing a nerdy blond wig, Walker (who has also directed the production) is an overgrown visual joke as the belovednarrator. One spends the entire show waiting for him to appear in the six-foot pink bunny outfit. (And when he does, it doesn'tdisappoint.)Sprecher is the grounding force in the project as the comforting mom. Batilla, a master at pratfalls, twirls his legs and curses andthrows out asides that are always worth a hearty laugh. The only shame is there isn't enough for Kennedy to do, and LisaValenzuela, a fantastic belter, has only a few scenes as the elementary school teacher.Naomi Yoshida's costumes turns the adults into believable 10-year-olds of the 1940s, while Mike Jespersen's set looksappropriately like an urban jungle, with the steps reminiscent of West Side Story's famous balcony scene, but also substituting forthe terrifying slide that kids are shoved down after being harassed by Santa.You may not get what you want for Christmas, but whether you've been naughty or nice, you are guaranteed two-hours of non-stoplaughter from this show!

Showing 0 comments

1

LoginAdd New Comment

Type your comment here.

7 7 0Email


4 of 7 12/21/11 10:08 AM

comments powered by DISQUS

NEWSLETTER SIGN UPBE FIRST TO GET OUR TICKET DEALS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX!EMAIL:

ZIP:

MOST POPULARTODAY THIS WEEK THIS MONTH

Ron Holgate, Kendrick Jones, Forrest McClendon, et al. Set for PTC's The Scottsboro BoysTHEATER NEWS

Actress and Director Heidi Helen Davis Has DiedTHEATER NEWS

Diana DeGarmo's Young LoveFEATURE

Carol Burnett, Hugh Jackman, Mary Tyer Moore, et al. to Attend Betty White's 90th BirthdayTHEATER NEWS

Last-Minute MixesFEATURE

SHARED ON FACEBOOK


5 of 7 12/21/11 10:08 AM

Login You need to be logged intoFacebook to see your friends'

recommendations.

Post Office - Reviews - Dec 7, 201113 people recommend this.

Mariott Theatre Announces Cast forLegally Blonde7 people recommend this.

Mara Davi, Constantine Maroulis,Nancy Opel et al. Set for AlleyTheater's Toxic Avenger - Theater N6 people recommend this.

PHOTO FLASH: MJ Rodriguez, IsabellaBoylston Receive Clive Barnes Awards10 people recommend this.

The Canterbury Tales Remixed19 people recommend this.

Facebook social plugin

FOLLOW US:THEATERMANIA.COMBROADWAYOFF-BROADWAYOFF-OFF-BROADWAYALL CITIESNEWS AND REVIEWSDISCOUNT TICKETSVIDEOTHEATER NEWS


6 of 7 12/21/11 10:08 AM

REVIEWSBLOGSAROUND THE WEBPHOTO FILESTM INSIDERLOGINMY ACCOUNTUNSUBSCRIBE SERVICESLISTINGSADVERTISINGTICKETINGABOUT USSTAFFEDITORIAL TEAMJOBSLINK TO USCONTACT USTHEATERMANIA ON THE GO!DOWNLOAD OUR IPHONE APP

JOIN TODAYLEARN MORELOGIN

PLAY ON FACEBOOKTAKE QUIZZESSUBMIT A QUIZRATE AND REVIEW SHOWS

By providing information about entertainment and cultural events on this site, TheaterMania.com shall not be deemed to endorse,recommend, approve and/or guarantee such events, or any facts, views, advice and/or information contained therein.

©1999-2011 TheaterMania.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy


7 of 7 12/21/11 10:08 AM

sign in to your theatermania account email password · pdf filesign in to your theatermania...

Documents