Originally published by L.S. Media. December 30th 2012.
L.S. Media Rating *****
Cast: Aled Jones, Adam Cooper, Kerry Washington, Ken Farrington, Amy Ellen Richardson, Louise Bowden, Mark Dickinson, David Lucas.
Liverpool may not have had a White Christmas to end 2011; however there can be no doubt in anybody’s minds on how sumptuous and grand the performance at the Empire Theatre this year of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. The amount of joy it visibly put on people’s faces and even more so than the sight of a foot of snow outside your door on the big day.
Taking a break from the traditional offering of the much loved pantomime, which in recent years has had Henry Winkler and Pamela Anderson within its stunning cast, the Empire instead hosted one of the great film stories with song and dance routines galore and the chance for Liverpool audiences to catch one of the true multi-talented stars of our age in the guise of Aled Jones.
In terms of performances and the outstanding theatre the city has seen this year, it would be hard to exclude White Christmas from any list that the city’s audiences may draw up. From the costumes to the music, from the performers on stage to those backstage, everybody poured their heart into making this a genuine treat for theatre fans.
Alongside Mr. Jones was a team who matched the man step for step and song for song. Playing the part made famous by the great Danny Kaye was Adam Cooper, who in all the right places was his equal. During the stunning dance routine at the start of the second act alongside the adorable Louise Bowden, the energy and control Mr. Cooper showed was breath-taking and quite superb. Louise Bowden simply filled the room with exceptional movement all night. This was one couple who looked so comfortable in each other’s arms and poise that it was a sheer simple pleasure to sit back and watch on.
The star of the evening though was the incredible Amy Ellen Richardson as the other half of the Haynes Sisters. It’s rare to come to the theatre, any theatre and walk away thinking that you may have just heard and witnessed one of the finest female leads to come to Liverpool. Powerful, full of quality and the right amount of projection surely marks this young actor out as one who will go a very, very long way.
A musical with very few equals! A brilliant end to a fantastic year of theatre!
Ian D. Hall