What I liked
The idea of a tongue-in-cheek Hallmark Xmas special played out IRL is delightful and ridiculous and I am pumped about the concept.
Stojic gives an engaging and lively performance. Jae is charming and adaptable, and the duo foil each other nicely.
The pivotal cell phone prop was BRILLIANT and I wish all of their props were made of cardboard! Not only novel, it could further shadow puppet intro/outro concept. The picture frame shtick- another triumph!
The puppet show is unexpected (and unfortunately, unseen beyond the front row. If there’s a way to raise the shadow box for the cheap seats (pop it on a box?) it would be worth investigating).
What I didn't like
Previews shouldn’t mean sloppy. The time spent in the dark is grueling. With so many short-short scenes and character/costume/element changes, un-farcical entrances and exits galore, the show begs for stronger direction, tighter edits, and an answer to WHY? Why this show? Why this extra plot line? Why is this two sentence exchange of a scene necessary?
I enjoyed the one time Jae switched into Stojic’s role, but if it happens once, shouldn’t it happen again, (and again) and perhaps opposite?
Mad libs style improv allows for a limited world of exploration; is the audience interaction, or for that matter, the whole writer’s room plot line needed? Very curious as to what that world adds when these two capable performers could ask for the suggestions at the top of the hour and then keep the audience in the Gingerbread world of the show. That kind of Xmas magic would cut the scene shifting down by a third and elevate the piece, and if they cut the swears they could appeal to a wider (and perhaps their target) audience. There’s so much fun potential here! Earnestly wishing this production their miracle.
My overall impression
A Miracle on Christmas Street has some of the best “will they/won’t they” scenes I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness. Wish the rule of three applied!
