A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Edwin Arnaudin: Each year, it’s a minor miracle that Flat Rock Playhouse can plan and stage such an impressive Christmas show. And considering what Western North Carolina has endured over the past few months in the wake of Hurricane Helene, I’m surprised that the company was able to put together anything close to their usual high standard — and yet not surprised in the least.
As our host Scott Treadway said in his introduction, these are some of the most talented singers and dancers in the country and, backed by Ethan Andersen’s mesmerizing four-piece band, they crafted a short (75 minutes, no intermission) but sweet blast of holiday cheer despite what had to have been a truncated rehearsal period.
Which production numbers were you mentally replaying and/or singing along to on the drive home after opening night? And why were they exclusively ones involving the gifted young hoofers from Pat's School of Dance?
Bruce Steele: You know I'm a big fan of the impressive girls (and three boys) from Pat's. They were as wonderful as always, given free range of the stage on at least three numbers, including one playfully titled "The Flat Rockettes," and you can't help smile anytime they're dancing up a joyful storm. But the grownups also got to show off their fabulous footwork, including in the upbeat ensemble opener, "Step Into Christmas." As a lifelong Elton John fan, I was especially pleased to see that one on the menu for (I think) the first time.
Edwin: Stunning as the full-ensemble dance numbers are, I’m just as wowed by the smaller pieces. Maddie Franke’s and Chris McNiff’s intricate tap routine, performed while reciting “Twas the Night Before Christmas” in time with Bill Muňoz’s active drum beat, set a high standard early on.
Bruce: That was truly special and blew the dust off that too-often-tiresome poem.
Edwin: And a quartet of Pat’s dancers beautifully accompanied Sophia Aranda’s confident rendition of “Ave Maria” — one of two instances when the FRP fog machine got to show off its stuff.
Bruce: The stage effects were subtle but lovely dressing for the musical main course. Jeb Purcell’s video backdrops were always appropriately complementary without calling too much attention to themselves. The image of a recording studio, for example, set the stage for a comically competitive quartet trying to outdo one another on "Jingle Bells" — another chestnut made fresh by creative staging by co-directors Andersen and Lauren Hopkins, who's also the choreographer. What other unexpected delights impressed you?
Edwin: Band spotlights resulted in some of my favorite moments of the night. Following some witty banter with Treadway, Ben Mackel (vocals/guitar) and Muňoz (cajon) combined forces on a heavenly cover of “The Christmas Song”; multi-instrumentalist Ryan Guerra got to show off his singing prowess and electric guitar shredding late in the show with a fun take on Tom Petty’s “Christmas All Over Again”; and, backed by a snowy A Charlie Brown Christmas projection, Andersen hit all the right nostalgic notes on both vocals and piano for “Christmas Time is Here.”
Bruce: That was a high point, and a seasonal favorite that never gets old. I'd say the same of "O Holy Night," this year impressively interpreted by Jason Watson, and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," warmly delivered by the full ensemble. I could go on through the well-chosen playlist and the warmly capable cast — which also includes Lexis Danca, Gabriela Gomez, Amanda Tong, Patrick Dinnsen, and J. Taylor Wright, plus four perky and pleasant apprentices — but then we'd giving away the whole show. Audiences should discover the rest of the tunes for themselves.
Edwin: I wholeheartedly agree.
Even with the wealth of holiday songs from which to choose, I keep thinking that the creative team behind A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas will eventually start repeating themselves to a fault or turn to new or overly obscure songs that don’t quite carry the proper holiday spirit.
But that’s yet to happen and is starting to feel like it never will. Andersen & Co. continue to find welcome additions to the show while keeping audience favorites feeling fresh. Kudos to them for pulling off another memorable show under compromised circumstances and providing a balm for a community in need.
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas runs through Thursday, Dec. 21. For details and tickets, visit FlatRockPlayhouse.org.
(Photos by Jeb Purcell)
