by Cari Lynn Pace

The holiday spirit charms and shines in 6th Street Playhouse’s A Christmas Story: The Musical.

Fans of the classic 1983 Christmas movie will delight in this live stage production with an added musical score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The musical pieces enhance the nostalgia and heartfelt humor of the story set in the 1940’s without losing the original’s momentum or warmth.

The clever set, co-designed by Peter Crompton and Aissa Simbulan, seamlessly moves actors from kitchen to bedroom to classroom to the department store Santa’s slide. Sixteen songs move the action along, under musical direction of Les Pfutzenreuter and quick choreography by Malia Abayon.

The beloved homespun midwestern characters haven’t changed, brought to life by the Narrator (Anthony Martin.) It’s heartwarming humor with the Parker family and a fishnet-wearing leg lamp written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark.

Ralphie (double cast youngsters Max Williams and Leo Doucette) fantasizes about getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. This is the ‘40’s when cowboys were king and 9-year-old heroes protected their teachers from the bad guys.

Ralphie’s little brother Randy (William Young and Emma Clinton) won’t eat and hides beneath the kitchen sink. Dad (Garet Waterhouse) growls at the balky furnace while entering newspaper contests, and Mother (Nora Summers) cheerfully thwarts Ralphie’s dream with the familiar refrain “You’ll shoot your eye out.” The teacher Miss Shields (HarrietPearl Fugitt) adds her warning as Ralphie weaves a wild fantasy for his homework assignment.

Director Laura Downing-Lee molded a large double cast of youngsters into a holiday hit that will knock your socks off. The costumed buddies and bullies stay solidly in character, delivering authenticity and ability far beyond their years. The adult roles had their work cut out for them lest they be upstaged by the many talented wunderkinds.

A Christmas Story is terrific fun for all ages. It’s right on target for the start of a happy holiday season.

Playing now through December 21 in the GK Hardt Theatre at 6th Street Playhouse, 52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa.

Information and tickets at 6thstreetplayhouse.com

Photos by Eric Chazankin

Cari Lynn Pace is a long-time Bay Area theatre critic whose reviews were regularly featured in the Marinscope Community Newspapers.