[The Free Lance-Star] ‘‘A charming ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ marches into Riverside”

GAIL CHOOCHAN - The Free Lance-Star

November 30, 2023

Jim Lawson stars as Kris Kringle in Meredith Wilson’s Miracle on 34th Street with Catherine Mayers as Susan Walker.

This holiday season, Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is taking audiences to one of the most Christmassy places in the country: New York City — 34th Street to be exact.

After years of putting on musical revues such as the “Riverside Christmas Spectacular” and “A Rockabilly Christmas,” Riverside is going back to the holiday musical. Several years ago, it brought “A Christmas Story” to the stage and now it’s eyeing another beloved tale.

Based on the much-loved classic film with a story by Valentine Davies, Meredith Willson’s “Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical” carries a heartwarming message as we dash into the chaos and commercialism of the holidays. The show invites us to take a breather and offers a reminder of the true meaning of the holiday season (although at the same time, it may unintentionally send a few of us to a certain famous department store).

In a well-timed move, “Miracle on 34th Street” opened at Riverside right before the Thanksgiving holiday; the musical itself begins with the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Marching band members, clowns, singers and dancers put on a show for spectators — not to mention a packed house Sunday afternoon — as massive old black-and-white parade images appear in the background, which better illustrate this New York tradition that rolls out thousands of participants. Scenic designer Christian Fleming and lighting and projection designer Weston Corey help bring the Big Apple to the ‘Burg, evoking these scenes of nostalgia.

“Miracle on 34th Street” centers on a young girl named Susan Walker and her hard-working single mother Doris, whose lives are forever changed by Kris Kringle, a kind-hearted old man who says he’s Santa Claus and has them believing again. However, his claim to be Jolly St. Nick lands him in the courtroom and it’s up to Doris’ neighbor-slash-romantic interest-slash-lawyer, Fred Gaily, to prove he’s the one and only.

Wonderfully directed by Patrick A’Hearn, the Riverside production has recruited a talented cast of 21 performers of all ages who bring this story to life.

Jim Lawson stars as Kris Kringle, who steps in for the Macy’s Santa in the parade after he’s been hitting the bottle a little too hard. And who better for the job than someone who knows the reindeer’s precise formation. With a honeyed voice, Lawson, who projects a warm demeanor, is a perfect fit as the man with a heart of gold, who encourages Macy’s to be a store with a heart as it sends its customers elsewhere for better bargains.

Elizabeth C. Butler is a terrific casting choice as Doris, the Macy’s events executive behind the parade who introduces Kris Kringle into everyone’s lives. Her character is so grounded in reality after being burned by ideas of Prince Charming and a happily-ever-after, that she doesn’t want her daughter’s mind filled with fantasies. After performances in “The Marvelous Wonderettes” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” it’s great to see Butler in this leading role. Her big, lovely voice shines on songs, such as “Arm in Arm,” a cute mother-daughter duet, and the moving solos “You Don’t Know” and “Love, Come Take Me Again.”

As her precocious daughter Susan, Catherine Mayers is a delight in this breakout role as a little girl who learns how to tap into her imagination and begins to dream for more.

Kevin Cleary delivers a solid performance as the charming Fred, a former Marine who’s set on being a bachelor but changes his tune as he spends time with Doris and Susan. His song “My Wish,” sung with Catherine, is a sweet moment.

Music director David Landrum leads an eight-piece orchestra through Willson’s musical, originally titled “Here’s Love.” Willson scored a big hit with his first musical “The Music Man,” and fans of that work will hear some similarities in “Miracle on 34th Street,” which also played Broadway but didn’t have quite the same longevity.

The musical’s lengthy first act is front-loaded with story, characters and songs, which make for a shorter, breezy second act. The soundtrack offers a mix of buoyant ensemble numbers and tender ballads plus a silly jingle about plastic toy alligators thrown in the middle.

The biggest song highlight of course is “Here’s Love,” superbly sung by Lawson, which captures the spirit of the season and “to treat everyone with love” (even the Yankees!). It’s an endearing tune that rattles off every possible pairing from opposite sides.

Although “Miracle on 34th Street” is one of those quintessential holiday classics, it’s not without some issues, like its dated references to women or inappropriate workplace behavior. Some may find it funny, and for some, cringe. The story takes place in a more innocent time, when social norms were a little different and everyone was neighborly. Back then, nobody would probably fuss over a single man chatting up a little girl, demanding her name, and taking her all over the city without her mother’s knowledge.

Despite these quibbles, “Miracle on 34th Street” is overall an enjoyable holiday treat that puts a familiar tale to music. Riverside’s robustly performed production is packed with holiday cheer and warmth, and all wrapped with a big red bow, literally.