“Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish- The Musical” reviewed by Julia W. Rath

Highly Recommended **** Sweet, delightful, and bright, “Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish—The Musical” is based on the book of the same name by Denise McGowan Tracy. A warm holiday story with cheerful music and clever lyrics by Tracy and Kathleen Butler-Duplessis, the musical was originally performed at the Greenhouse Theater Center in 2019 before a live audience and directed and choreographed by Zachary L. Gray. Back then, professional camerawork captured the live action on stage. The resulting 68-minute video recording is currently being streamed online and tells a well-crafted tale that will appeal to adults as well as children.

Narrated by the bouncy elf Twinkle (Lindsey Jane Bullen), the show focuses on Eleanor (Samantha Bonzi), who is a rag doll and the only remaining toy that still resides at the North Pole. It seems that Santa’s elves have previously crafted her, but no child has yet asked Santa to make her their Christmas present. Santa (David Turrentine) and Mrs. Claus “Cookie” (Erin Parker) insist that she is loved and wanted—and that is why she is part of their extended family. But Eleanor questions the truth of this. She feels bad about herself: with thoughts of being boring or unlovable and never good enough. Despite everybody saying how wonderful she is, she does not feel she truly belongs. What she seeks is a best friend and a home of her own.

Buoyed by the ebullient elves Sprinkle (Scott Gryder) and Sparkle (Kim Green), the action is seamless. Gryder’s animated performance would have stolen the show had it not been for the obvious problem with his microphone. Despite this, his unrestrained enthusiasm, keen facial expressions, and exaggerated movements make him a thrill to watch. He and Green make a great team, playing well against each other. Their lightheartedness is infectious.

Noelle (Sydney Swanson) and elves Shimmer (Claire Latourette) and Glimmer (Cara Chumbley) round out the cast, together with Noelle’s mother Holly (a smaller role played by Rohm).

All the vocalists are extraordinary, especially Bonzi and Parker. All the characters harmonize well, and the songs are great! The instrumentation that accompanies the singing is wonderful, thanks to David Fiorello’s musical arrangements and direction.

Costume design by Tatjana Radisic befits all the characters; some designs are exquisite and glittery; others creative and highly appropriate for the story. Wigs/millinery by Kevin Barthel are splendid and add to the character of the characters. Stage design by Kehoe Designs is simple, functional, and effective. Lighting design by John Kelly is nicely done as is sound design by Keegan Bradac. Make-up is striking and handled beautifully by Khaki Pixley. Graphics that bookend the 2020 video stream are charming.

A perpetual theme throughout much of children’s literature is that of children who don’t think they fit in with the families or their peers, and this story is no different. It is about a child’s need to develop confidence so as to succeed when they enter the larger world. Watching this show is not only amusing for all but can be of benefit to those young children who may feel bad about themselves or their family situation and don’t know how to express these feelings or deal with them. The transference of a child’s inner struggle onto a toy (in this case, the rag doll Eleanor) is the same technique that the beloved Mr. Rogers used in his famous TV neighborhood. In keeping with this philosophy, Mrs. Claus states, “How can any toy that has ever been loved been a mistake?”

This idea is elaborated on when Santa states that every child is a good child in their heart, although they may have to work at doing the right thing. But Santa’s administrative assistant Clara (Emily Rohm) interprets the “naughty and nice” list somewhat differently than her boss with an added nuance that will largely go over children’s heads. The underlying message, however, is that as children grow into adulthood, they will have to deal with all sorts of personalities inside and outside of the home. Each of these personalities can help bring out a different side of yourself.

Finally, Eleanor does get her Christmas wish… and now it is your job to find out exactly how dreams can make wishes come true. This heartwarming musical is well-worth seeing on your home computer—most definitely with at least one child present. Entertaining and exciting, it should become part and parcel of your standard holiday fare!

“Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish—The Musical” is produced by Denise McGowan Tracy and Eleanor Management, LLC. The family-friendly production is recommended for ages three and up. For more information on the show or to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.eleanorswish.com.

The video-on-demand stream is available through December 27, 2020. Streaming tickets allow for multiple views over a 48-hour period beginning with your first view. Tickets are as little as $25 and a perfect family experience.

Note that the 2015 holiday book “Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish,” written by Denise McGowan Tracy, and related merchandise can be purchased via the website https://www.eleanorswish.com.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish- The Musical”