The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical, receiving its East Coast premiere at Playhouse on Park, is a loosely structured, silly, over-the-top holiday show that is big on audience interaction.
Jef Canter, Cheron Whittley, Michelle
Jennings and Marcel Werder in The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical. Photo by Meredith Longo.
The premise – employees at American Regalia Uniforms are awaiting their Christmas bonuses. There is Cheryl (Michelle Jennings), the perky, positive thinking HR Director; Doug (Marcel Werder), a childish flirt; Niles (also played by Werder), a stylish influencer; Charlie (Jef Canter), a soon-to-retire member of the team and Kelli, Cheryl’s daughter and Misty, the staff intern (both portrayed by Cheron Whittley). Unfortunately, the president of the firm has secretly sold the company to a German conglomerate and absconded with the proceeds and, more importantly, the staff’s bonuses. To compound matters, the tyrannical new boss, Olga (Lara Yen Solito) wants to close the company. What can save the day? Coming up with a line of, can you believe, ugly sweaters!
Cheron Whittley in The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical. Photo by Meredith Longo.
What follows are songs, a smattering of lively choreography from Darlene Zoller, bad jokes, and a heaping spoonful of audience interaction for ticket holders wearing, you guessed it, ugly sweaters. The book, co-written by Dan Knechtges and Megan Larche Dominick, comes across as a slapdash effort amplified by Suzu Sakai’s mishmash Scenic Design of holiday decorations and Kevin Cronin’s haphazard direction. The cast of performers are game for whatever shenanigans in the script are thrust upon them.
Cheron Whittley, Jef Canter, Michelle
Jennings and Marcel Werder in The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical. Photo by Meredith Longo.
The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical, playing at Playhouse on Park through December 22. Click here for dates, times and ticket information.
No comments:
Post a Comment