Theater Review: 'Miracle on 34th Street' at The Arts at Angeloria's

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

The Arts at Angeloria’s is presenting their perfect holiday production of “Miracle of 34th Street.” Sold out performances continue through Dec. 3 in the small theater that is part of this unique Victorian venue in Southington which is beautifully decorated for Christmas, evoking the holidays of yesteryear.

This version of “Miracle on 34th Street” is based upon the 20th Century Fox film of the same name and is adapted by Mountain Community Theater from the novel by Valentine Davies. It tells the heartwarming story of a Macy’s department store Santa who claims to be the real Kris Kringle.

Artistic Director Lori Holm multi-tasks as producer, director and both set designer and builder, and in her spare time designed the charming virtual program. Her husband Ed Rosenblatt teamed up as the music director, who produced the accompaniment that mirrored the era. At the performance that I attended, Rosenblatt filled in at the last minute for a missing cast member and performed magnificently.

This version of the beloved tale is a play that is both comedy and drama, and the director has added carefully chosen musical pieces to enhance many important scenes. There are many familiar Christmas carols, with the harmony on “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” a highlight. Other songs are carefully placed, such as “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” and “Smile Will Go a Long Way.” The music director correctly notes that: “The play itself is touching enough, but the music will reach even deeper into your heart just in time for the holidays.”

The cast is made up of talented local performers, all of whom give strong performances. Tony Lamberto (“Nuncrackers”) is a delight in the role of Kris Kringle, leading the cast with a wonderful twinkle in his eye. Nicole Zolad (“God of Carnage”) is a beautiful Doris Walker and what a treat to see Nick Rapuano, a Connecticut actor, director and producer of stage and screen, in the role of Fred Gayley.

Lilly Wood, a seventh grade student at Depaolo Middle School, returns to this stage to play Susan Walker perfectly. Helen Malinka is strong in the role of Shellhammer and Diana Bruenn is just as good as Sawyer, the Macy’s store counselor. Cliff Gibson is a wonderful Judge Harper and sings “Golden Days.” Leann Crosby returns to this stage to wonderfully portray Attorney Mara and Rick Beebe of Hamden stands out as Mr. R.H. Macy.

Aaj Desai, Te Craft and Quinn Carson are three great Christmas elves. Strong ensemble members who step up to play smaller roles include Heidi Bass-Lamberto, Peter Weidt, Felix Allen, Jennifer Alexandro, Oriana Sworden Liz Wood, Joe Passaretti, Jennifer Passaretti, Maggie Catanese, Eric Chubet, and Isabel Catanes.

Technical direction is by Eric Carson and Larch Purinton. Holm’s set design is transformed by the cast members to bring the numerous locations in 1948 New York City to the postage stamp sized stage in the black box. There are even clever pull down window shades for the windows.

Choreography by Liz Wood is charming and fits the small stage. Costume designer Kim Turret worked hard to coordinate the period ensembles, with historically accurate furs, hairnets and millinery.

The artistic director writes: “Whatever your holiday is, I send each of you wishes for quality time to reflect on your own faith and/or spiritual journey, quality time with loved ones, and quality time for you to spend in service to a greater good in your community or in the world. May we all find the clarity to unite in that which binds us together and not that which divides us.”

The show runs just under three hours with an intermission. Next at the venue will be “Meshuggah-Nuns,” the fifth show in Dan Goggin's Nunsense series. Tickets are on sale now and remember that “Miracle on 34th Street” sold out two weeks before opening night. angelorias.ludus.com

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.
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