Miracle on 34th Street

Harry Pope (10Dec15): This review is on my facebook page Harry Pope and has been sent to the Eastbourne Herald. It will also be soon on www.b-c-ing-u.com. Please feel free to use any or all in future publicity. I really enjoyed the show. harrythewriter@btinternet.com Miracle in Eastbourne The stage musical of the famous movie Miracle on 34th Street is on at The Royal Hippodrome Theatre until Saturday – only five performances, so prepare to be enchanted at this Christmas story. Is there a real Father Christmas? Can his existence be denied? It might take two hours and a lot of singing and dancing to find out the answer, but the time goes so fast because you know you believe. Hannah Thompson is the juvenile lead, Claire Hawkins her mother, and Carl Lindquist the male love interest. Daughter Susan wants a dad, and Kris Kringle, who is hired by Macy’s New York department store to be Santa Claus, played by Danny Lane, makes her wishes come true. The scenery changes occur subtly, changing from outside Macy’s store with the parade passing by, to a living room. The second half courtroom was especially prominent, used to good effect. The movie was originally made in 1947, and in 1963 it was turned into a stage musical by Meredith Willson, who also wrote the Music Man. Some of the tunes reminded me of this, I had no idea that ‘It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas’ was a number, and there were two exceptionally strong second half numbers in ‘She Hadda Go Back’ and ‘My State, My Kansas’. This is a Paul Taylor-Mills production, and is touring round the UK. It is of a very high standard, with polished performances, strongly rehearsed, quality singing, excellent choreography, I have seen many musicals over the years and this rates very highly. There is a 40ft articulated lorry full of scenery and props to accompany the production, from costumes to courtroom. Be prepared for lots of almost real fake snow at the end, wonder what the theatre cleaner makes of it!