By DAWNE LEIKER
In “Noel: The Musical,” endearing characters, richly colored sets and stunning music brought a lovely story to life. Wednesday evening’s Encore show, with music by Irish film composer Liam Bates and book and lyrics by Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl) was a welcome departure from cliché Christmas shows.
I think we all know the sorts of Christmas shows I’m talking about: Someone in a gaudy holiday sweater narrowly saves Christmas; or a nasty, grinchy guy becomes not so nasty because … Christmas. My dad used to say it’s no wonder the mortality rate increases during the holiday season. His theory was that many folks just give up and succumb to death, rather than be subjected, once again, to “It’s a Wonderful Life” or “White Christmas.”
But, back to “Noel: The Musical.” The show, set in today’s London, centered on Noel, a young girl whose mother has gone missing. Noel befriends a group of homeless people and a rather depressed man named Nick. This depressed man, played by Todd Berkich, actually is Santa Claus, who left his position as gift giver to the world after the loss of Mrs. Claus five years ago.
If this sounds cliché, well, maybe it was. Just a bit.
However, I was struck by the depth of story-telling in the show’s lyrics. In the song, “Invisible,” performed by Edgar (David Johnson) the audience was confronted with the reality of society’s treatment of homeless individuals. “You think this is what I want from my life?” He sang, “I’m invisible. I’m everything you hope you’ll never be. So pitiful, so miserable, so downright invisible.”
In Johnson’s reprise of “Invisible,” he implored the audience, with a depth of emotion that felt very real, to connect with the humanity of those who we often refuse to even see.
Berkich’s portrayal of Nick, as well, was heartfelt, and his rich baritone voice was powerful, particularly in his solo, “This Man.” Nick eventually fell in love with Duchess, a homeless woman who had created a fanciful back story for herself.
Duchess (Tess Jonas), a dynamic and yet poignant character commanded the stage with her lovely pure voice. In addition, Noel (Jena Simmons) was delightful in her role as a sweet, yet determined girl.
As is generally the case with stage productions, lighting and set played a major role. The palate used wasn’t the garish greens and reds of typical Christmas productions, but subtle, rich purples, muted greens and black, which truly set the scene for a unique Christmas tale.
The Encore series will resume in 2019, with “Rent: 20th Anniversary Tour,” Friday, Feb. 1.