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Blue skies in Vermont - it's about time

By Robert Bethune

There's a song in "Irving Berlin's White Christmas," now on at the Fox Theatre, about unemployed generals. That unintended topicality is as close as you will come to anything that would shake up a very enjoyable evening of Christmas-y escapist fun. Couldn't we all use a holiday? Something about the prospect of double-digit unemployment leaves us kids ready for comfort. It's high time for a white Christmas.
Did you attend last year? It's the same high-quality show. Great dancing, sharp lighting, good singing, handsome set and costumes. The audio system ensures that no unprocessed sound reaches your ears, even if you're only nine rows from the orchestra. Same romantic plot, as predictable and as satisfying as the bedtime story that Mom told you when she sent you off to dreamland.
This show wants to be your very own Christmas ritual. It's a worthy candidate.
Jame Clow as big-hearted, square-jawed Bob Wallace, is clueless about women. Tall, striking Jill Paice as the elegant Haynes sister Betty, is too sure of herself – and clueless about Bob. Peppy, blonde Megan Sikora as peppy, blonde Judy Haynes, is mutually, totally clued-in about short, peppy Phil Davis, played by short, peppy David Elder. It's all "show-biz girls make good (the Haynes sisters), boys wind up with girls (Bob and Betty, Judy and Phil) and kids pour out their love for Dad in the form of Bob and Phil's old Army unit gathering to honor General Henry Waverly (played by David Ogden Stiers), a nicer version of Major Dad."
There's even an adorable little girl, Sarah Safer, as the General's granddaughter Susan.
The show goes to great lengths to find at least semi-logical ways to pull in as many Irving Berlin songs as possible, and then tosses us a full-out production number on "I Love a Piano" for absolutely no reason at all. And of course we sing along to "White Christmas" as the artificial snow drifts down on us all. The ritual is fulfilled, and so are we.

REVIEW:
'Irving Berlin's White Christmas'
Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Through Dec. 28. Tickets: $20-$100. For information: 313-471-6611 or http://www.olympiaentertainment.com.

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