‘A Christmas Story’ delivers holiday nostalgia to Syracuse
‘A Christmas Story’ delivers holiday nostalgia to Syracuse
Review: Syracuse Stage welcomes the holiday season with a charming winter tale of one small town boy’s big Christmas dreams.
A Christmas Story, directed by Robert Hupp, debuted at Syracuse Stage on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Local performers put their own spin on the theatrical adaptation of this classic holiday film, delivering a hilarious portrayal of an American family’s typical Christmas joys and travails in small-town, Depression-era Indiana.
The play, written by Philip Grecian, transports audiences to the fictional town of Hohman, Ind., in the early 1940s. Ralphie Parker, a 9-year-old, readies himself for the most wonderful time of the year. The production is an adaptation of the classic film, which Jean Shepherd wrote based on stories from his book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash.
For the story’s protagonist, Ralphie, Christmastime is serious business. Ralphie has one thing on his wish list this year: an “official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot range model air rifle,” or simply put, a BB gun. He is willing to do anything it takes to make sure that BB gun ends up under the tree come Christmas morning.
Starting with Ralphie’s middle school antics, his friends Schwartz and Flick come running down the theater stairs in winter gear upstate New Yorkers in the crowd know all too well. Occasional fourth-wall breaks allowed the audience to become part of the plot.
The entire show is told as a flashback, narrated by the all-knowing adult version of Ralphie. Jason O’Connell plays Ralph, the grown-up storyteller guiding the audience through his younger self’s quest to get that BB gun for Christmas.
Ralph appears onstage alongside the other characters as he watches his childhood unfold. In some scenes, O’Connell steps into the fantasy sequences from young Ralphie’s imagination, blurring the line between memory and reality.
O’Connell and several other cast members bring steady comedic relief to the stage. The audience is rarely quiet, often erupting with laughter during every humorous moment.
Most of the cast is composed of young performers, including Gavin Lambert, who made his Syracuse Stage debut playing Ralphie. Lambert has appeared in more than 50 productions with local companies including Redhouse Arts Center, Syracuse Children’s Theatre and Chelsea Opera.
Lambert does not disappoint in his first Syracuse Stage performance. He blends Ralphie’s wild imagination with preteen anxiety and sharp physical comedy. Lambert comes from a family of aspiring professional actors, with two siblings who also perform locally.
This show is an essential holiday activity for the family. You’ll find yourself immersed in holiday cheer with the festive set design featuring ornaments, colorful lights, poinsettias, fake snow and a bright Christmas tree. The Parker family’s affectionate relationship, combined with the set design, makes this show a great source for memorable Christmas delight.
A Christmas Story relies on several props to deliver all the punchy jokes and comedic moments. How else would one execute the infamous triple dog dare scene without a makeshift flagpole?
The performers also use household items like Mother’s cooking pans and the iconic leg lamp. John Tufts, as Ralphie’s father, delivers a convincing performance as a cranky parent juggling tight family finances and an odd obsession with an inanimate object sporting a fishnet stocking.
Whether you grew up watching this nostalgic film every holiday season or have yet to witness the tale of an enthusiastic kid with dreams of being a sharpshooting cowboy, this play is enjoyable for everyone.
Hupp’s theatrical adaptation of A Christmas Story will run through Dec. 28 in the Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage on East Genesee Street. All evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. All matinee performances start at 2 p.m.
Tickets range from $35 to $90, with discounts available for students and groups. Patrons are encouraged to bring nonperishable food donations to performances of A Christmas Story as part of Syracuse Stage’s holiday drive supporting the Food Bank of Central New York.
is a contributor for The NewsHouse.