An official Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass and this thing that tells time built right into the stock.
Ralphie Parker wants one.
That’s the main plot point of “A Christmas Story,” a Star of the Day Production playing through December 8 at St. John’s UCC in Emmaus.
At first glance, that does not seem that dramatic.
But it is when seen through the eyes of nine year old Ralphie, who takes this very seriously. The play perfectly mixes nostalgia and childhood angst.
The story is based on the memories of author and radio personality Jean Shepherd, who grew up in Hammond, Indiana (Hohman in the play) during the Depression. Ralph (Brian McDermott) narrates and occasionally comes onstage to overlook the actions of his younger self Ralphie (Tanner Sheridan).
Ralphie lives with his mom (Rachel Williams), his younger brother Randy (William Oravetz), and his eccentric father who he calls the Old Man (Jerry Brucker). Although it is a loving family, Ralphie spends a lot of time trying to stay out of trouble, and surviving school with his friends Flick (TJ Seislove) and Schwartz (Jack Warnke). He tries to avoid the bully Farkas (Dan Vanarsdale), and his schoolwork for Miss Shields (Cindi Surovi) pales to that of his female classmates played by Annaliese Warnke and Brynn Clark.
The first act is steeped in memories of things lost in time, including Flit guns (to eliminate bugs), Little Orphan Annie decoder rings, rubber daggers, mail-in contests, and Doc Savage. You can still buy Simoniz car wax, however.
In the second act, Ralphie is scheming to get his gun, none too successfully, since nine year olds are not usually that good at outwitting their parents.
Does Ralphie get his rifle' You probably know the answer, but I won’t tell.
The large stage is set up nicely, with the kitchen and living room upfront. This production deserves points for including a huge, heavy vintage refrigerator. Other scenes take place on a raised area in the back, including a colorful recreation of the Santa area in Higbee’s department store.
Two hours and fifteen minutes could be a long time for a Christmas story, but director Kirsten Almeida keeps things moving at a fast pace.
McDermott is appropriately low key but quite engaging. Williams effectively combines exasperation with obvious love for her husband and children, while Brucker is a wonderfully self assured bungler who never loses his optimism.
The kids are uniformly excellent, with performances that never seem artificial and strongly recreate the complex world of childhood.
Even though it is likely that you have seen the movie and know the story, seeing it live makes you relive it in a different way.
Jean Shepherd's memories, which are the foundation of “A Christmas Story,” come alive here. The 1983 film has become a seasonal classic. The story has generated a musical as well as the play, and there is even a museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
Shepherd had a cult following as a radio storyteller, wrote for Mad Magazine and Playboy, and was rumored to be in line to replace Steve Allen on the Tonight Show. He was much more cynical in real life than his most famous story would indicate. In a way he was right, since he has been mostly forgotten except for this one work.
“A Christmas Story,” December 6-7 at 7:30 pm and December 7-8 at 2 pm, St. John’s UCC, 139 North 4th Street, Emmaus, $20.