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RUDOLPH THE RED­NOSED REINDOORS

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and for Los Angeles theatergoers that meansthe latest annual Troubies Christmas show at Burbank’s Falcon Theatre.

Last year’s A Christmas Westside Story mixed the music of West Side Story with the plot ofthe family film classic A Christmas Story. 2010’s The First Jo­el recounted that starryBethlehem December with the music of Billy Joel. And 2009’s Frosty The Snow Manilowrecreated the stop­motion animated TV classic with the music of Barry M—all of the abovewith the audacious flair, plethora of adlibs (or apparent adlibs), and sensational triple­threat performances that have become The Troubadour Theater Company’s stock intrade.

This year’s Rudolph The Red­Nosed ReinDOORS is no exception.

Like Frosty, Rudolph takes as itsinspiration a 1960s animated classic, in this case the longest running Christmas TVspecial in history, one which has been telecast every single December since its 1964debut. As for the songs, they are (if you haven’t already guessed) a Greatest Hitscompilation of Jim Morrison and The Doors.

As in Troubies shows past, ReinDOORs follows its source plot with cosiderable accuracy.Donner’s wife Blitzen gives birth to Rudolph, only to have Santa refuse ever to let the red­nosed buck pull his sleigh. A lovely young doe named Clarice is the only one to seeRudolph’s inner beauty, and a love story is born. There’s also an oddball elf namedHermey who just wants to be a dentist (a no­no for any self­respecting elf); a rambunctiousprospector named Yukon Cornelius, who’s in search of gold or silver; an entire Island OfMisfit Toys, including a Charlie­In­The­Box and a Bearded Ballerina; and a 12­foot­tallbeast known near and far as the Abominable Snow Monster.

What sets the Troubies’ ReinDOORS from theanimated ReinDEER is not just its Top 40 song list but its distinctively Troubies take on theclassic tale.

Since 2007, Steven Stanley's StageSceneLA.com hasspotlighted the best in Southern California theater viareviews, interviews, and its annual StageSceneLA Scenies.

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A videotaped Fritz Coleman sets the scene by predicting the worst winter storm ever. “I’mjust hoping that there is in fact a Christmas,” the weather forecaster remarks as Eric Heinlyand the onstage Troubies band launch into “Rider On The Story” and the show’s openingproduction number introduces Santa’s eight very distinctive reindeer via Molly Alvarez’simaginative choreography. (Later on, the front­hoof hand­jive as The Eight pull Santa’ssleigh proves another clever bit by the multi­talented choreographer­performer, who alsobrings Clarice to doe­next­door life.)

And it wouldn’t be Rudolph without narrator Sam The Snowman, originally voiced by BurlIves, but here brought to considerably raunchier, more sarcastic life by Paul C. Vogt,whose distinctively “low crotch” is but one the evening’s outrageous running gags.

As the Troubies would have it, Blitzen (Beth Kennedy) got her name from her habit ofgetting blitzed on Tab (the 1960s soft drink favorite), which she uses as her “epideeral”before giving birth to a red­nosed Rudolph, brought to charmingly wobbly­legged life bySteven Booth.

Unlike the TV original, Rudolph The Red­NosedReinDOORS is probably best appreciated by teens and above, since raunch and doubleentendres abound. Clarice is “the doe everyone wants to do.” Someone remarks uponseeing Rudolph’s nose, “Amsterdam called and they want the name of their district back.”Giant turds fall from the sky when The Abominable Snow Monster is around. (Then again,many of the more adult jokes may just whoosh over tiny tots’ heads.)

Also, unlike the ’60s classic, Rudolph The Red­Nosed ReinDOORS features a song listlikely to stir up memories of a very different ‘60s icon, the gone­too­soon leader of The(legendary) Doors. Among the Jim Morrison classics featured in this December’s Troubiesextravaganza are “Roadhouse Blues” and its catchy “roll, baby roll” refrain; “Love Street,”which becomes a lively Alvarez­choreographed tap number; “Hello, I Love You,” withrevised lyrics “Hello, Clarice, won’t you tell me your name?”; “Touch Me,” which hasbecome Clarice’s declaration of love (“What was that promise that you made?”); “Love MeTwo Times,” which turns into “Shove Me Two Times” as Rudolph and Hermey fight backbullies; the misfit toys’ anthem “People Are Strange”; Mrs. Claus’s big solo number, “Don’tYou Love Her Madly?”, belted too the rafters by Lisa Valenzuela; and of course “Light MyFire” and “Break On Through.”

Expect contemporary references to the “fiscal cliff,” Honey Boo Boo, and Mitt Romney, thelatter still in the script because, we are told, “this was written in September.” Expect playson words like “placentia” for “placenta.” (“You mean that small town south of LosAngeles?”) Expect hilariously unexpected ad libs, as when Rudolph’s antlers accidentallyfell off in an action sequence and Walker quipped that “he flew right out of his antlers.”

And expect too some of the most sensational triple­threat performance around withTroubies guru Matt Walker in charge—and sure to repeat last year’s Scenie win for BestDirection Of A Troubies Show.

Booth’s adorable Rudolph, KyleNudo’s delightfully lispy Hermey, and Mike Sulprizio’s brawny Yukon Cornelius andDasher could hardly be (or sing) better. Alvarez makes for the winningest doe around asClarice, backed by fabulous fellow does Liz Beebe, Suzanne Narbonne (who doubles as

Solo PerformanceSouth BayVentura CountyWest Side/Beverly HIllsWOW!

As editor of StageSceneLA.com, Steven Stanley is one ofLos Angeles' most prolific theater reviewers. He is also theauthor of Moroccan Roll, and an ESL instructor in theEnglish Language Program at California State University,Los Angeles since 1979. (read more)

photo credit: Eric Schwabel

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Vixen and the Bearded Ballerina), and Darrin Revitz (also Cupid and a Misfit Doll). Vogtsegues hilariously from his recent star turn as Edna Turnblad to Rudolph’s sassy snow­built narrator. Kennedy is brilliant as ever as the always sloshed Blitzen, and it wouldn’t bea Troubies Christmas show without Kennedy’s inimitable Winter Warlock. As Santa, aninspired Rick Batalla once again proves himself the Troubies’ Ad­Lib King, and Santa’sMrs. is another delicious Valenzuela gem. Other winners in the big Rudolph cast are BriceBeckham (Prancer and Foreman Elf), Andy Lopez (Little Elf), and Dan Waskom (Comet,Bomi, and Tall Elf), the latter of whose Abominable Snow Monster is a wonder of athleticmoves—on mile­high stilts no less. Last but not least, Caroline Gross’s Circus Aerial Elfexecutes flight choreographer Ameenah Kaplan’s gravity­defying aerial moves toperfection (as does Booth’s Rudolph later in the show).

Musical director­drummer Heinly and his bandmates Kevin McCourt on keyboards, JackMajdecki on guitar, and Kevin Stewart on drums are as good as it gets.

Big design kudos to Sharon McGunigle’soutrageously imaginative costumes, Jeffrey McLaughlin’s colorful set, and JeremyPivnick’s stellar lighting, which includes black light and strobe effects. Other first­ratecreative elements are Jon Campbell’s sound design, Julie Ferrin’s associate sounddesign, and Rachael Lawrence’s vocal direction. Corey Womack is stage manager, MikeJespersen is technical director, and I’m told that the special thanks offered in the programto Steve Collins are for Rudolph’s bright red nose.

Though no Troubies holiday show is likely ever to top last year’s Best Ever A ChristmasWestside Story, Rudolph The Red­Nosed ReinDOORS carries on an illustrious year­endtradition with flying colors. Sorry, make that flying color. (You know which one I’m talkingabout.)

Troubadour Theatre Company, Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank. ThroughJanuary 13. Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00, Sundays at 4:00, with an addedshow at 4:00 on Saturday December 22,added shows at 7:00 on Sundays December 9, 16, and 30 and January 6 Reservations:818 955­8101www.FalconTheatre.com

–Steven StanleyDecember 7, 2012Photos: Chelsea Sutton

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