"A Christmas Story," based on the award-winning and time-honored film, provides magnificent holiday entertainment in Northwest Indiana this December. Munster resident Charles Gessert directs Jean Shepherd's hilarious autobiographical tale.
Norm Boucher is phenomenal as Ralph, a nostalgic man who vividly recollects a 1938 childhood Christmas in Hohman, Indiana, when all he wanted was a Red Rider BB gun, despite everyone's warnings that "you'll shoot your eye out" with such a toy. Young Ralphie (played magnificently and with remarkable facial expressions by Matt Gerhardt) is a fairly typical kid. He and his friends Flick (played by the talented George Mokdessi) and Schwartz (performed by a delightful young actor from Highland- Leonardo Garcia) get themselves into a bit of youthful trouble by daring each other to do things. This kind of encouragement is how Flick once finds himself with his tongue stuck to a cold metal pole in the schoolyard.
Ralphie is the subject of a childhood crush by schoolmate Ester Jane (a funny part radiantly delivered by the adorable Olivia Marcukaitis). He is also one of many targets menaced by local bully Scut Farkas (a role delivered by the gifted Brian T. Johnson). More important to Ralphie, though, is his mission to receive a BB gun for Christmas.
After careful consideration, Ralphie unleashes a plan to convince his mother (played by Mary Ernster) and father - better known as The Old Man (and played by John Reeger) - that he not only wants but needs the gun. Hilarity ensues and before long the entire audience will be nostalgic for Christmases past.
Scenic designer Ann N. Davis and properties designer Stanlee K. Hodsden do a brilliant job of bringing the multi-tiered set to life. Whether showing a warm family home (complete with gooey oatmeal for breakfast), Ralphie's classroom, or Santaland at Goblatts department store, the stage moves through the play with the realism of a movie set. Colored lights by lighting designer Carl Ulaszek take us inside Ralphie's imagination each time he loses himself in thought - imagining possible situations or fantasizing about his alternate life as a cowboy just like the Red Rider.
"A Christmas Story" is delightful with wonderful acting and all the charm of the film. Families seeking a holiday activity will find what they're looking for at Theatre at the Center.
Originally published in The Chronicle in December 2006 as Jade Lee Culberson.
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