Based on the 1983 film, this play retains all the classic moments from the movie in a polished stage production
Miners Alley Playhouse’s production of A Christmas Story is a nostalgic blast from the past that delivers on all the key moments from the film and is elevated by a superb cast.
Not to be confused with A Christmas Story: A Musical by Joseph Robinette from 2009, this play was penned by Philip Grecian in 2000. Following in the footsteps of other holiday films hitting the stage (such as Elf, White Christmas, and It’s a Wonderful Life, to name a few), Grecian adapted the 1983 film to the stage and it has been a hit ever since.
According to the play’s publisher, Dramatic Publishing, there are 52 other productions currently playing across the United States! And it’s easy to see why this story is so popular across America. The plot is based on humorist Jean Shepherd’s childhood and his real-life experience growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s.
We follow 9-year-old Ralphie Parker (Nico Lish/Malcolm Mackay) in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mom (Shauna Earp-Ballinger), his teacher, Miss Shields (Colleen Lee), and even a department-store Santa Claus. Yet, despite Ralphie’s wish, everyone tells him the same thing: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” But he’s not giving up that easily; Ralphie’s got all sorts of plans to secure a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.
The audience hears the story from the perspective of Ralph (Tim Fishbaugh), the older version of Ralphie, who is reflecting on his childhood. For those who value fidelity in adaptations, Grecian’s play is highly faithful to the film. All the elements you remember from the movie are here: the family’s temperamental furnace; the school bully who torments him, Scut Farkas (Owen Roberts/Gus Rutherford); the boys’ experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; Ralphie’s dad (Damon Guerrasio) winning a lamp shaped like a woman’s leg and many more iconic moments from the 1983 motion picture.
As someone who has seen A Christmas Story quite a few times but has minimal nostalgia for the film, I wish the script had divulged slightly more from the film’s script (many scenes are line-for-line recreations of the movie). However, the crowd of 30-50-year-olds who had packed Miners Alley Playhouse cheered as the actors said lines from the movie and seemed to giddily be anticipating their favorite sections of the film.
Director Rory Pierce’s blocking uses the MAP stage incredibly well. He blocks actors with interesting variety across the stage and throughout the audience, stages seamless transitions, and makes you feel the stakes of the story for Ralphie. Pierce particularly excels at directing the fantasy sequences that occur in Ralphie’s mind, which strongly evoke a childhood sense of wonder and imagination.
Pierce is aided by the efficient scenic design of Jonathan Scott-McKean, whose homey set adds to the charm of the production. Scott-McKean smartly puts Ralphie’s bedroom and living room on a raised portion of the stage and leaves the center clear for Pierce to stage scenes outside the home. The back wall has a wooden window on it and is painted to look like a sparkly winter wonderland.
Fishbaugh is delightful as the show’s narrator. He’s tasked with delivering much of the story’s exposition and charismatically wins you over. Guerrasio and Earp-Ballinger have a playful dynamic as Ralphie’s parents that is incredibly believable. They are both a little stressed out but trying their best to do right by their kids. Lee scored strong laughs for her strong line readings and excellent reactions in her supporting role as Ralphie’s kind-hearted, but uptight teacher Miss Shields.
The kid parts are double-cast, so I can only speak to the actors I saw, but I was impressed with the performances and professionalism exhibited by the seven child actors. It was inspiring to watch these young actors perform so confidently and with so much joy next to the adults in the cast.
Pierce has done a nice job of translating the film’s classic moment to stage and the actors at Miners Alley Playhouse deliver excellent performances in a straightforward adaption of the source material. For those who are looking for their A Christmas Story fix this year but don’t want to rewatch the movie, I’d strongly recommend adding this play to your holiday to-do list.
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