Overfeeding the cash cow, ‘A Christmas Story, The Musical‘ in 2009 enlarged slightly upon the middle class time capsule of the ’83 movie. The 1940s Hoosier setting seems to have nothing to do with the war years, but all to do with bourgeois religion of greed (“Counting Down to Christmas“). Granted, “Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun” makes a showstopping appearance, but the emergence of existential angst (“Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana“) sticks out like a polio outbreak. When humanity rears “What a Mother Does” or “When You’re a Wimp,” it embarrasses us with the previously undiagnosed ingredients that have led America to mass murder and gender warfare. Most untainted and innocent must be “A Kid at Christmas.”
Also in the nobody asked for it category, ‘Elf The Musical‘ was the 2010 adapt of the 2003 film. Overearnest (“A Christmas Song“), overorchestrated (“Finale“), over the top stylings (“Never Fall in Love with an Elf“) smother the silly comedy of a hyperactive man-child who doesn’t fit in the world of fantasy (“Christmastown“) nor the world of fiscality (“Just Like Him“). Then again, the burlesque number about department store imposters “Nobody Cares About Santa” stands out.
