In 1950s New York, Doris Walker juggles her job as a senior executive at Macy's department store with raising her daughter, Susan, by herself. Whilst Susan dreams of having a father and a brother, her determined mother is far more concerned with organizing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade – one of the biggest events in the Big Apple's annual calendar – and renewing Macy's deadly rivalry with the city's “other” department store, Gimbel's, in the run up to Christmas. Read more …
When her regular Santa Claus turns up incapacitated moments before the parade begins, Doris is rescued by the sudden appearance of a certain Kris Kringle, a genial old-timer who bears a striking resemblance to the North Pole's most famous inhabitant. Kringle's success as a stand-in Santa at the head of the parade leads Doris to offer him the same job in Macy's Christmas grotto. But no sooner is he installed than he starts to behave – well, strangely. And then he claims that he is, in fact, the real Santa Claus...
Now spreading a wave of love throughout New York - and creating harmony between feuding department stores - is one thing. But can Kris Kringle also convince a psychiatrist, a courtroom, and the entire state of New York, that Santa Claus is not a myth? And, in passing, make Susan's dreams come true?
Based on the classic 1947 movie, this musical by the creator of The Music Man and The Unsinkable Molly Brown is a sparkling celebration of the festive season, featuring the classic It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. A joyous, heart-warming show, this will be the perfect entertainment for the whole family this Christmas!
If this Musical doesn’t fill you with festive spirit, I’ll eat my Santa Claus hat!
In the year 2014, there are aspects of this show that seem more suitable for a post-show discussion than an uncritical round of applause; but Durnin and his company make a fine job of presenting the story, and of making its case for a little love, joy and faith, at the heart of our political and judicial systems.
The cast rise to the occasion with a wholesome vivacity in an all-singing, all-dancing display.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry from Friday November 28, 2014, until Sunday December 21, 2014. More info: www.pitlochry.org.uk