Fox is doing a Christmas Story Live

[Luv Bunnies]

I spent much of the show texting observations back and forth with my son who is a college musical theater major. We've seen a lot of shows, so we always have our opinions!

This has always been one of my favorite Christmas movies. I had previously heard a few numbers from the musical, but had never actually seen it. Overall, I just don't think such as iconic movie worked as a musical. The Old Man's first number (Genius of Cleveland Street) immediately took him out of character. And then having him dance with a bunch of leg lamps just erased the identity that makes him so effective in the movie. The Old Man seems grumpy, aloof, even detached. But in the end, he comes through with the air rifle for Ralphie which shows us that, despite his gruff exterior, he is very much in tune with his family. It's both surprising and endearing. I think the musical numbers erased the mystery of the Old Man and made his character much less interesting.

I also think that inserting musical numbers into the story just sort of chopped it up and ruined the flow. It's like they looked at the script, highlighted each iconic moment, and wrote a song about it. Did we need a song about Flick's tongue getting stuck? It's a funny moment in the movie, but it doesn't really advance the plot. So they put in a production number just because, and now the flow of the story is stopped for no apparent reason. The guys who wrote this also wrote Dear Evan Hansen. My son said A Christmas Story is definitely not their best work!

 

[tiggger1]

See, I enjoyed it... no it was not a tony award winning performance but for the most part it was ok. I really enjoyed all the kids, they had great voices and their costume changes where crazy!....I also enjoyed all the singing and dancing but then again I’m a theatre person and love the musical!

Yes there were a few issues here and there and I was afraid someone was going to fall in the snow! ( they slipped a lot!) but for the most part I’d totally watch it again!

 

[robinb]

See, I enjoyed it... no it was not a tony award winning performance but for the most part it was ok. I really enjoyed all the kids, they had great voices and their costume changes where crazy!....I also enjoyed all the singing and dancing but then again I’m a theatre person and love the musical!

Yes there were a few issues here and there and I was afraid someone was going to fall in the snow! ( they slipped a lot!) but for the most part I’d totally watch it again!

I loved how they showed the dad's costume change into the tux in the credits. We paused and watched the live version of the change (a super close up of him singing) a couple times and then the change from behind the cameras a couple more times. FWIW, I loved the dancing leg lamps, LOL.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Overall it was meh, but watching Jane Krakowski dance in a slinky sequined dress was worth it.

When it came to the Chinese restaurant scene, I knew there was no way they would do it like the movie. I will say I thought they handled it well. The staff sang the song without the stereotypical accent. The Old Man said, "I wasn't expecting that," and the restaurant owner gave him a defiant look and asked, "What WERE you expecting?"

That may have been the best scene of the show.