Arts & Entertainment A weekly guide to music, theater, art, culture, books and more, edited by Karla Kane

by Sue Dremann | Photos by Richard Mayer t’s Dec. 22, 1947, a little over two years broadcast that in these cynical times will and three months after the end of World have audiences believing in the value of those War II. War-weary Americans have ev- same “intangibles.” ery reason to be pessimistic about the Directed by Allie Bailey, with Benjamin I future of humankind. But a Christmas Belew-Sakaguchi as musical director and tale is about to bring hope to millions Karen Law as assistant director and chore- of radio listeners: ographer, the play follows a script by Lance “Faith is believing when common sense Arthur Smith and original songs and ar- The cast of Los Altos Stage Company’s musical version of “Miracle on 34th Street” tells you not to. Don’t you see? It’s not just rangements by Jon Lorenz, commissioned includes (left to right) Daniel Zafer-Joyce, Mary Melnick and Bryan Moriarty. Kris that’s on trial, it’s everything he stands by the San Diego Musical Theatre to create for. It’s kindness and joy and love and all the the production. beverages while off-mic, much like they overpowering at times and swamped some other intangibles,” Fred Gailey, the attorney Los Altos Stage Company’s version has might have done in a real studio around of the singers’ voices. for Kris Kringle, aka, Santa Claus, says in some solid merits and some disappoint- holiday time. My favorite performance was by 13-year- “Miracle on 34th Street.” ments, but it’s still worth seeing. It faithfully Bill C. Jones (a regular at Los Altos Stage) old Venice Ella Mayor, who plays Susan The movie of the same name was released recreates a retro radio-broadcasting studio, is an affable, low-key Santa bent on valuing Walker, the spunky little girl who doesn’t in the spring of 1947, and it’s become a clas- right down to the sound booth, microphones the “spirit of Christmas” more than profits, believe in Santa Claus. Her performance was sic. But few people know that months later it and Foley instruments for realistic sound ef- sending customers off to other stores when full of spirit, and she is clearly going to be one was broadcast as a radio play on Lux Radio fects. An old-fashioned free-standing radio Macy’s doesn’t have what they want. But his to watch. (After her solo performance of “I Theater, starring some of the film’s same ac- is stage left and brightly-lit, vintage “ap- role, which was so prominent in the film ver- Believe in You,” veteran performer Jones, still tors: Maureen O’Hara as the cynical Doris, plause” signs cue the audience when to clap. sion, is largely pushed to the back of the set, in his Santa role, was clearly congratulatory John Payne as idealistic Fred Gailey, Nata- It creates the right ambiance for a live radio and that was deeply disappointing. What we when she returned to her seat beside him.) lie Wood as Susan and Edmund Gwenn as performance in the 1940s. want is Santa Claus, with all of his mirth, The period costumes, set and sound effects twinkly-eyed Kris Kringle. The actors — performing live from roundness and warmth. But we never get that. make for some of the production’s most in- Now Los Altos Stage Company has re- “KLASC radio” in Los Altos — sing adver- There’s no ho-ho-ho to this Santa Claus. teresting features, as do the old-fashioned jin- prised the radio play, staging a live musical tising jingles from the era in between snack- The only time we see him truly featured and gles about Lux soap, Tupperware and Camel version adapted from the 1947 Lux Radio ing and sipping wine and other alcohol-based animated is when his even-keeled mein gets cigarettes. The original musical numbers challenged by phony Macy’s psychiatrist didn’t have any standouts and were mixed Granville Sawyer, whom he clocks on the with other traditional holiday songs. That head with his self-crafted cane made from a wasn’t necessarily a bad thing; the audience reindeer-sled runner with a silver top. was clearly cheerful when the performers In a sense, it’s not Santa Claus who’s the broke out in something familiar, but they did main character in this play, but the radio per- seem a bit incongruous in the sense that they formance itself. felt like filler. The other actors dominate. Daniel Zafer- Still, I liked “Miracle on 34th Street,” the Joyce, who debuts at Los Altos Stage Com- musical. It had the right feel of a radio show pany in this production, has a fine voice and and it was uplifting. In an age when many the right look as a boyish Fred Gailey. people feel we’ve lost touch with those in- Bryan Moriarty switches deftly in various tangibles like kindness and love and joy, roles, including the pompous R.H. Macy and it just might be a balm needed for these Mr. Shellhammer, Doris Walker’s anxious fraught times. Q boss, among other roles. (Sadly, the hilarious Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be Mrs. Shellhammer from the movie doesn’t emailed at [email protected]. make an appearance.) Mary Melnick brings a spirited perfor- mance as the skeptical and jaded Doris Walker. One of the warmest performances What: “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live came from Vanessa Alvarez. She plays vari- Musical Radio Show” by Los Altos Stage ous female-character roles and brought the Company. most rounded and powerful voice to the stage. Where: 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Ken Boswell does a crisp job as radio When: Wednesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; announcer and Foley artist, creating the Sundays 3 p.m., through Dec. 22. sound effects, and he doesn’t get in the Tickets: $30-$38; $20 students. way of the other performances. The piano Info: 650-941-0551; losaltosstage.org. Venice Ella Mayor performs the role of Susan Walker, the Santa-skeptical little girl by Belew-Sakaguchi, however, was a bit at the heart of “Miracle on 34th Street.” www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • December 6, 2019 • Page 21