Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Music: Mel Marvin; Book and lyrics: Timothy Mason. At: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St. Tickets: 800-775-2000; www.broadwayinchicago.com; $18-$55. Runs through: Dec. 16
A Very Luna Christmas
Playwrights: The Ensemble with Paula Ramirez and Abigail Vega. At: Teatro Luna at Luna Central, 3914 N. Clark St. Tickets: www.teatroluna.org; $20-$25. Runs through: Jan. 6
Ask someone the definition of a "holiday family show," and you might think of something like Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, now making its Chicago debut at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. But Teatro Luna producer Alexandra Meda introduced the final preview of A Very Luna Christmas at Luna Central as a "family show," too.
Let's just say that the ages of your family members will dictate which of these two shows you choose to see. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is definitely aimed at families with young kids, while A Very Luna Christmas is aimed more for families with teens or older.
Now Grinch will pique the curiosity of Chicago theatergoers since it has strong regional roots from its 1994 stage adaptation origins at The Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis and its later success at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre (where it was directed by Tony Award-winner Jack O'Brien, no less). The musical has a successful Broadway pedigree, too.
This stage Grinch features upbeat new songs by composer Mel Marvin and playwright Timothy Mason, who have structured the show as a flashback from the perspective of the dog, Max (a beautifully voiced Bob Lauder as the aged one, and Seth Bazacas as his younger self). And to appease fans of the beloved 1966 Chuck Jones animated TV special version, Albert Hague's songs like "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome Christmas" are interpolated in the production.
Also impressive about this Grinch is its flashy and Seussian-scribbled production design and the sheer energy of the performers. But also very apparent is its hard-sell relentlessness that can become exhausting during its 90-minute running time.
Just watch the performance of Stefan Karl in the title role. He's an amazing physical performer, knowing how to modulate his limbs and growling voice to great effect. But it's all calculated and rarely spontaneous, just like the rest of the manufactured show around him.
If Grinch can sometimes feel too hyped-up, then A Very Luna Christmas is way too undercooked. Teatro Luna is celebrated for creating smart and incisive revues of monologues, sketches and songs to tackle Latina issues, but A Very Luna Christmas comes up short as a family drama.
A Very Luna Christmas skimps on believable characters, age-appropriate actors and a satisfying dramatic arc to its depiction of a Latina family gathering. Directors Paula Ramirez and Abigail Vega really should have brought aboard a playwright to whip the show into shape from its cast-devised origins, because the script feels like it's in workshop phase.
At least A Very Luna Christmas is inclusive, with a lesbian couple in its family mix, but that isn't enough to warrant a recommendation. So choose your holiday family shows wisely.