Tuesday, November 22, 2011

4 STARS! Review: 'A Frank's Christmas 2011' production is lustrous

In the end, after all the child-like cuteness and grow-up parental pains, "A Frank's Christmas 2011" goes out in a blaze of glory. Kelly Haddad opens "Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee," not as an old hymn but soulfully. The song kicks into rock-soul high gear with the cast dancing and soloists rapping and riffing.
It's quite a cap to a night of powerful singing, slick playing by the band, light shows and oddball characterizations by the cast playing children in the first half and their parents in the second.
Time after time, Lisa Andre, Haddad, Emily Paulsen and Amy Riemer come out to nail a song. To name two: Riemer lights up "So This is Christmas," and Andre leads a gospel-fueled "Silent Night."
The guys' characters are flakes in this show, but they deliver in song, too. Frank Hermans fires up an Elvis-like take on "Here Comes Santa Claus." Tom Verbrick delivers a deliciously diabolical "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch." Pat Hibbard rocks in "Something About Christmas Time." With Andre, David Gusloff warms "The Christmas Song." Ben Cahall is perky in "Jingle, Jingle, Jingle."
Guitarist Dennis Panneck opens the second half with right-on licks in Trans Siberian Orchestra's "O Holy Night" along with keyboardist Tony Pilz and drummer Dan Pauquette.
The show shies from standard Christmas songs. If a standard is sung, it's with a twist. In its 12th Christmas show, the troupe creates a sense of freshness.
That's the case with the production number, "Heat Miser." Hermans unleashes playfulness as the Miser, with the rest of the cast dancing in top hats with walking sticks.
wgerds@greenbaypressgazette.com
Let Me Be Frank Productions: "A Frank's Christmas 2011": 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Nov. 29-30, Dec. 1-2, 13-23, plus 1 p.m. Dec. 1, 15, 17, 22 at Meyer Theatre, 117 S. Washington St. Running time: 2¼ hours. $32. http://www.ticketstaronline.com/, (920) 494-3401 or (800) 895-0071. 4 stars (out of 4)

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