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There are few shows in the area that accurately capture the spirit of Christmas. Some are too commercial. Some too somber. In this day and age, it's difficult to find entertainment that truly touches the heart. A Spectacular Christmas presented by Musical Theatre Heritage at the Off Center Theatre may just be one of those rare gems. Don't be misled by the name. This show contained neither spectacle nor grand display. There are no glittering ten foot tall Santas or rows of smiling chorus people. But what it lacked in spectacle, it made up for in authenticity.

Sure, I may be biased. I think MHT's founder and executive director George Harter has impeccable taste in music. I've been a fan of his radio program "A Night on the Town" since the sixth grade. He chose some great songs for the show, some great songs that are shamefully underplayed on the Christmas radio stations. Great songs with a decided bent towards film and show tunes, incidentally what Harter does best.

The actors used their own names, and the first act took place entirely in Harter's "home." Apart from some slight exaggeration for the stage, the performers played themselves. The set held a piano, a couch, a worn rug and a few lamps and chairs. Harter spent much of the act decorating the Christmas tree as everyone showed up at his house for a pre-show party.

In this act, Izzie Baldwin, a very talented singer and performer out of Stephens College, sings about Taylor the Latte Boy, who gave her extra foam in her coffee. Mandy Morris bursts into the room with gusto and sings about being Rich, Famous and Powerful. James Wright, prolific local performer with a new CD flying off the shelves, tells a story about his daughter at Christmas. The cast did some caroling amongst the audience, where Adam Branson, another talent from Stephens College, did a warming rendition of O Holy Night. Even MHT's marketing director Chad Gerit appeared and sang a number. All the while, Harter was quizzing the performers and sharing factoids about the songs.

Act two was "the show" the cast had prepared for in the first act, presented in the format of a radio variety show, with songs, stories and surprise performers. Decidedly more formal than the first act, it provided a nice contrast to keep the audience engaged. Piano player Jeremy Watson dazzled the audience with Linus and Lucy and James Wright did a killer Bing Crosby impression. The high point of the entire show was Harter's story about the angel ornaments he had as a kid. This story was told without ceremony, but was more beautifully honest than any performance piece could have given.

Let me try to sum up what I took away. To me, Christmas is not the dancing Santas, the decorations or singing the same holiday songs over and over again. Christmas is in the stories we all share, and the memories we have from when we were younger. It's in realizing that the few moments of genuine Christmas that we share with family and friends are worth all the commercialism and hype. This show made me feel that. And that's all I can ask.

REVIEW
Musical Theater Heritage
A Spectacular Christmas
Runs December 3-20, 2009 (Reviewed December 4, 2009)
Off Center Theatre, Crown Center
2405 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-842-9999 or online at www.mthkc.com

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