Theater Reviewer
On an evening when I couldn’t have been more exhausted or less receptive, Winter Wonderettes made me happy. I hadn’t laughed so hard or so much in years.
Roger Bean’s wildly popular The Marvelous Wonderettes got its auspicious start off-Broadway and in regional theaters over a decade ago. It is only natural that a Christmas show was in its future. As a sequel, Winter Wonderettes certainly lives up to the original. It is that much fun.
Here the female foursome have reunited as the entertainment at the Christmas party for the employees of Harper’s Hardware, where Betty Jean (Julie Dixon Jackson) has worked since high school. Old chums Missy (Misty Cotton), Suzy (Bets Malone), and Cindy Lou (Lowe Taylor) join Betty Jean to sing harmony so tight, it seems a mockery that they ever had to beg for the gig. Of course, that disconnect is meant to be a part of the back story’s charm.
Now visualize bouffant hairdos created, of course, through the use of way too much hairspray (remember hairspray?), and dresses of turquoise, lime green, hot pink, and bright orange satin with dyed-to-match shoes (remember those?). Glasses-wearing Missy is super hot for her newlywed husband Bill. Ditzy, cartwheel-turning Suzy is pregnant. A humorless Betty Jean has no ability to loosen up when things don’t go as expected. And sexy Cindy Lou’s air of superiority frequently irritates the others.
So while waiting for an increasingly tardy Mr. Harper to arrive as the company’s perennial Santa Claus, the Wonderettes extend the show any way they can. They decorate and they sing stories of personal Christmas memories past. They do an audience sing-along and bring a few dubious but ultimately cooperative audience members up to participate on stage. All of it is done to fabulous, and often hysterically funny, choreography while these uber-talented ladies perform all of your favorite Christmas songs to that awe-inspiring four-part harmony.
A rather mean-spirited practical joke by Mr. Harper notwithstanding, the show is as upbeat as they come. Sure they’ve stolen lots of ideas from Forever Plaid— from the dorky gags and the bittersweet childhood memories to the trivial bickering and the donning of adorable color-matched fur-lined capes (the Plaids had dreamt of plaid suit jackets)— but Winter Wonderettes still holds its own unique charm.
Creator Bean directs the show for Musical Theatre West, and live music is provided by an on-stage three-man combo with musical director Daniel Thomas. Ever-so-creative choreography is by John Vaughan.
Some might find the show too silly, while others may think it suitable for chicks only. But if you liked The Marvelous Wonderettes and Forever Plaid, you’ll love Winter Wonderettes. The inspired performances of the Christmas songs alone— some better known than others— are well worth the price of admission.
Musical Theatre West’s Winter Wonderettes continues at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 4350 E. 7th Street in Long Beach, through Dec. 18. Performances are Fridays (12/9, 12/16) at 8pm, Saturdays (12/10, 12/17) at 2pm and 8pm, Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2pm, and Sunday, Dec.18 at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased through the MTW box office at (562) 856-1999 x4 or online at www.musical.org.
