Set in 1917, during the First
World War, it’s “loosely based on the true story of A.C. Gilbert” and the
musical “focuses on Gilbert's battle with the U.S. government as it attempts to
ban toy sales during the holiday season”. It’s the kind of story that almost
asks to be musicalized and so composer and lyricist Ron Lytle took the task
into his own hands and delivered a good old fashion score.
The show had its opening in
2006 and took this long to get a recording of the score, but it was released on
the right time of the year, Christmas season. This has the spirit of a truly
holiday musical and it sounds like a Frank Capra movie.
Ron Lytle take us to a
innocent time, where the bad guys get what they deserve and all the good guys
get happy endings. The songs are simple, tuneful, with a happy quality that
seems to be missing from many of the new Broadway musicals. I confess the names
in the cast don’t say anything to me, but they deliver their songs with heart.
I’m not very fond of the kids
song “What’s Wrong with the Grown-Ups?” or the lame “Daddy Has to Leave You”,
although it has a sweet melody, but I like the rest of the score. “I Think I
Think” is one of those tunes that linger on and the romantic “All I Want for
Christmas” and “A Very Merry Christmas After All” could easily become new holiday
classics. Michael P. Mendelsohn give us a funny time with “Dixon’s Turn”, Chris
Vettell has a good time with the hopeful “Dream a Dream” and Sheelagh Murphy shines
with the kind of lullaby “See You in the A.M.”. Ryan Drummond happily leads the
company with “A New Man” (a big production number that could benefit from
better orchestrations) and Melissa O’Keefe beautifully delivers the ballad “It’s
Very Dangerous”; together they deliver us best song of the score, “No More Love
Songs”, that reminded me of Jule Styne.
Like Ron Lytle’s musical OH MY GODMOTHER!, this one has the heart in the right place and a feel good
quality that’s contagious. With more exciting orchestrations this could sound
even better, but I enjoy it like it is and I’m sure many people would like to
have it as a Christmas present. Just one warning, cynics keep away!
Rate: 6 (from 1 to 10)
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