A Christmas story captures the charm of the original

review by Jeff Green | Dec 11, 2019

The North Frontenac Little Theatre production of ‘A Christmas Story’ captured much of the irreverent humour that has made the 1983 film of the same name such a popular Christmas classic.

The play is based on the movie, for which the characters and scenario are all lifted from the 1966 novel “In god we Trust, all others pay cash” by popular radio host/humorist Jean Shepherd.

Although fictional there are elements that are taken from Shepherd’s upbringing in northern Indiana. He had a brother Randy, there were kids named Shwartz and Flick registered in the school he attended as a kid, and in his radio broadcasts he sometimes referred to his father as ‘the old man’

The narrator or adult Ralph, in both the movie and the play, has a similar persona to Shepherd’s on the radio.

The success of the movie, and the production by the NFLT, hinged on creating a sense of nostalgia tinged with wit rather than caramel sweetness. The lead character Ralph, played by Llachlan Hammond, really, really wants a Red Rider BB Gun. He’s not a really good or a really bad kid, a really smart kid or a really heroic kid, he is just a kid who wants something specific for Christmas.

The production featured mostly young performers, supported by only three adults, Kelly Meckling, who played Ralph’s mother and also directed the play, John Stephens as the Old Man, and Brian Robertson as adult Ralph/narrator.

And, as so often happens, the kids stole the show. Although it was sometimes s struggle to get out the entire name of the rifle, Llachlan Hammond did a good job as Ralph, which was difficult because he was in most every scene and the play revolved around his quest. His friends, Schwartz (Bradey Merrigan) and Flick (Tristan Hammond) did fine work supporting his quest while dealing with their own concerns, which included submitting to Scut Farkas (Sloane Putnam) who was the picture of a nasty bully. The two girls, Helen (Anne Wooby) and Esther Jane (Jocelyn Tryon) were charming. Ralph’s brother Randy (Carmen Tryon) had a lot of opportunity for physical comedy throughout the play and took full advantage, and as the teacher Miss Shields (Hallie Hearns) did well to keep the students at bay during the classroom scenes.

Among the adults, Kelly Meckling was the voice of reason in the home as Mother, portraying a role that required much tolerance for both her husband and two sons. John Stephen had a great time portraying the Old Man as bombastic and foolish in equal measure, and Brian Robertson relished many of the double-edged lines in the narration.

The set design, by Brian Robertson and Jeff Siamon, and artistry/decoration overseen by Carol Pepper was very effective and versatile, helping to keep what is a rather long production to about 2 hours in running time, with a 15 minute intermission.