White Christmas

‘Tis the season to look back with nostalgia, and Irving Berlin’s classic musical fits the bill just as well as It’s a Wonderful Life. This live version should lift the spirits enough to prepare you for even the most gruelling Christmas shopping trip.

A glitzy cast and a 17-piece orchestra deliver a visually stunning show characterised by flawless choreography, gorgeous costumes and a legendary score.

Star turn Craig McLachlan is probably still best known for Neighbours, and although his accent does veer that way at times, his voice is a wonderful surprise, soaring through hits like How Deep Is The Ocean and Blue Skies without fault. He and Tim Flavin make a dynamic duo as wannabe Broadway stars Bob and Phil, with Flavin perfectly capturing the swagger of the 50s gent. As a double-act, their camped-up version of Sisters – 'Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man' - is so fun even McLachlan struggles not to smile.

Rachel Stanley and Kate Nelson are more than a match for them as the feisty Haynes sisters but it is Lorna Luft’s witty portrayal of Martha, the disgruntled landlady, who is truly exceptional, with impeccable comic timing and a great pair of lungs.

Essentially, this is a fun, high-energy, exuberant production, and then some.

The cast unites in a misty-eyed finale with the inevitable crowd-pleasers White Christmas and I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, as snow falls from the gods.

The story may be highly sentimental, the characters sickly sweet and somewhat shallow, but that misses the point. Only the Grinch could fail to feel the warm glow of its festive spirit.