I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

“White Christmas,” the musical of love and snow, or rather lack thereof, is revived at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood from Nov. 22 to Jan. 1.

Starring Brian D’Arcy James as the love-lost humbug Bob Wallace, Jeffry Denman as Phil Davis, his ladies man partner, Anastasia Barzee as Betty Haynes, the female equivalent of Bob Wallace, and Meredith Patterson as Judy Haynes, the female equivalent of Phil Davis.

Davis and Wallace are old army buddies. Ten years after the end of WWII, they are famous singers, and they get a letter from another old army friend telling them to team up with a group he knows, the Haynes sisters. Phil and Judy hit it off right away, and trick Bob into going to Vermont to perform with the girls. Bob was looking forward to a warm Christmas in Miami, but instead was tricked into a white Christmas in an inn in the snow. But when they get there, the temperature is 79 degrees. All the customers leave, and Bob plans to as well until he finds the owner of the inn is his old army general. He plans to put a show together in five days and get his division together for a reunion to cheer up the general and maybe even fall in love with the girl of his dreams.

This show is great. It is an elaborate show with great lights, sets, and songs. “Blue Skies,” “Count Your Blessings,” and “White Christmas” are some of the better known numbers from the show, which was made into a movie in 1954 starring Danny Kaye as Davis and Bing Crosby as Wallace. The stage production is great, and a special treat is that snow not only falls onstage but off and into the audience. The tickets are $25 to $87, and it is worth every penny and more. Performing every night except Mondays from now until Jan. 1, with matinee performances Thursdays, Fridays or Sundays. A must see for the Christmas season. I give it 5 out of 5.