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Despite Christmas rush, ‘Spectacular’ pretty good

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer Updated 10:43 AM Thursday, November 19, 2009

SPRINGBORO— “La Comedia Christmas Spectacular” celebrates the holiday best when it comes to what many people call “the reason for the season.”

The dinner theater’s Christmas show, now playing through New Year’s Eve, highlights both the secular and religious sides of the holiday. The first half is rather like “The Polar Express,” only without the train. In this half, a jolly but determined Santa (Chris Beiser) tries to convince a quartet of siblings that he’s the real deal. One sister believes quickly; the rest are tougher nuts to crack.

So how does Santa win over the skeptics? Through production numbers, of course. Some are fairly simple songs; others are elaborate dances based on everything from “The Nutcracker” to the Rockettes, called the “Holiday Belles” here.

This half of the show is somewhat uneven. The performers are charming, but the new songs drain the show’s energy; they can only pale in comparison to the classics, of which there are plenty, ranging from “Deck the Halls” to “Carol of the Bells.”

Luckily, those classics shine, thanks to inventive staging. The carolers often move in the aisles among the audience, and the dancers are especially fun in large groups, such as when soldier dolls all slowly fall in a line, like dominoes.

The second half segues from Santa to Christ as the show evocatively recounts the Nativity story. Told through a combination of scripture and hymns, this half of the show is very moving, with well-sung numbers and subtle staging that places the action in the background and the singers in the foreground.

Since it has to share some time with the Santa story to make the transition, the Nativity portion feels slightly rushed. It deserved more time.

But then, La Comedia is always in a bit of a rush to celebrate the holidays — its Christmas shows traditionally start well before Thanksgiving. With a show as entertaining as “La Comedia Christmas Spectacular,” that’s a good thing.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.