Theater Review—

‘The Perfect Christmas’ Is Entertaining At Spinning Wheel Inn

By Julie Stern

REDDING RIDGE — The Spinning Wheel Inn has begun its annual Christmas dinner-show, featuring the usual crew of talented performers who have been doing this together for more than twenty years.

It isn’t actually theater in the usual sense, but more a leisurely meal interspersed with musical numbers, tied together by a story line. In this case, Cynthia Rhodes, a suburban mother whose only son, J.J., is studying in London for the year, resolves to combat her empty nest blues by inviting her sister, brother-in-law and nephew over for a “Perfect Christmas.”

She has planned a tightly choreographed holiday weekend, replete with caroling, ice skating, tree decorating, wassail cups, roast goose, and more, only to have everything go wrong that possibly can: collapsing tree, freezing rain, undrinkable wassail, burnt goose, sullen nephew. And yet…

Sitting at tables surrounding a small stage and piano, the Spinning Wheel guests begin with an appetizer and salad course. In our case it was an excellent cream of carrot soup with pumpkin seeds floating in it, along with a house salad nicely dressed with an easy vinaigrette, and a basket of warm rolls.

While these were being deftly cleared away by the friendly staff, the performers gave us the first act, “Christmas Eve,” in which Jon and Cyndy struggled to make the tree hold together, while Gabe and Jennifer arrived with their son, Chris, who clearly wished that he could be back at college, rather than going through the motions of holiday ritual.

However, this was really just a frame on which to hang the first four songs, beginning with “Oh Christmas Tree” and ending with “Do You Hear What I hear.”

The actors disappear, and on comes the main course, a choice of three entrees. We were offered steak and ale pie, winemaker’s chicken, or shallow poached salmon filet, hearty fare for a chilly November day.

In the second scene, “Later That Night,” the problems start to pile up, and the group performs five more numbers, ranging from “God Rest Me” (Jennifer slipped on the ice while caroling and sprained her ankle) to “O Holy Night” sung by the two sisters as they remembered Christmas from their childhood. The best piece here though was an Elvis inspired arrangement of “Blue Christmas” which had the audience enthralled.

After a pause for a crème brulee , the show concluded with a very comic rendition of “Twelve Days of Christmas” and the cast leading the entire dining room in a medley of the most popular carols.

As I said, this isn’t theater, but it is entertainment. The performers who appeared on the day we went (there is a rotating cast, since there are as many as three shows a day) have absolutely beautiful voices, and it was a treat to enjoy them in the intimate setting of the dining room. Beth Bria as Cyndy,  Mark Holleran as Jon, Tracey Marble as Jennifer, Peter Randazzo as Gabe, and Mike L’Atrella as Chris work really well together, and give it their best effort.

In addition, Charles Wade did a humorous turn as the philosophical piano player Cyndy hired to make the holiday celebration “perfect.”

(Performances continue daily – including two shows on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – until December 28.

Admission is strictly by advance ticket purchase. Call 203-825-3006 or visit SpinningWheelInn-CT.com for full details and reservations.)