Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish-The Musical A New Holiday Classic!
2019 TOP CHILDREN’S PLAY
By Rick & Brenda McCain ChicagoNow.com|Let's Play
Escape the holiday madness and take a magical journey where delicious cookies, hot cocoa, and milk await your arrival from the North Pole to the Greenhouse Theatre Center in Chicago.
Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish is an old fashion Christmas story from page to stage brought to life with tons of glitter, glamour, sparkle, and shimmer. It is a refreshing new play by stage entertainer-turned-author and producer Denise McGowan Tracy.
Tracy's mission was to bring her family-friendly storybook character, Eleanor, to life for Christmas, based on her 2015 book with the help of composer Kathleen Butler-Duplessis.
Eleanor is a colorful and cheery musical that will warm your heart with pure delight. If you are young or old, Eleanor will put you in the Christmas spirit where you will 'BELIEVE' again. It's the best Christmas story we've seen and will surely become a holiday must-see tradition.
From the tiniest tot to grown men fighting back the tears, Eleanor offers hope for everyone. Set at the North Pole, we meet Eleanor, a rag doll (Samantha Bonzi), who is wrapping presents and helping to make cookies. She enjoys being with the elves, Santa, and Mrs. Claus; however, she yearns for a friend, someone that genuinely wants a doll for Christmas.
In today's world of electronics and eye glitter for little girls, Eleanor, the rag doll, is an old fashion toy. Where some children have grown too old to imagine playing with a doll, Tracy brings the magic of children everywhere back to life with this magnificent story of love and the need to be loved. This production, which is a little under one hour, was engaging, and is well-written. It's a pure delight.
Santa (David Turrentine), Mrs. Claus (Erin Parker), better known as Cookie and Lucille Lortel Award nominee Emily Rohm (Clara), the keeper of Santa's Christmas list, guided us through the story of Eleanor. Along with the help of the Elfs, the North Pole team prepared us for Christmas. Whether you were naughty or nice, Santa made sure you received a gift, because he never believed that any boy or girl was naughty.
However, Eleanor feels sad because every year, she feels like an unwanted toy no one wants to take home. Cookie reassures her that she is a unique toy they named after a significant woman in history, Eleanor Roosevelt.
Eleanor, who is holding out for someone who will appreciate her, learns she was created for a special child that changed her mind, so they kept her at the North Pole until someone special wanted her. Letter after letter came but nothing about a child who really wanted a doll.
However, this Christmas, her wish came true when a six-year-old girl named Noelle (Sydney Swanson), writes Santa a letter that she could get a doll to be her very own best friend, and Eleanor writes Santa for a best friend and a home of her own. The song, "Dear Santa," sung by Bonzi and Swanson will melt your heart and bring you to tears.
Eleanor is directed and choreographed by Zachary L. Gray, with music direction by David Fiorello. The musical moves fast (to hold the children's attention); however, it didn't miss a beat of excitement. The singing was exceptional, and the crew of elves is amazing, bringing a magical treat to the entire audience. The holiday dream team of Santa, Cookie, Clara, Sprinkle (Cara Chumbley), and Sparkle (Kim Green), and all of the elves, made this musical a joy to watch.
Emily brought comic relief as Clara; she was the North Pole Diva wearing white boots. She kept the younger audience engaged, and the duo team of Frankie Leo Bennett (Glimmer) and Claire Latourette's (Shimmer) took us through a series of pre-show exercises and games to get the audience involved and excited before the play.
The costumes were spectacular and dazzling, with just the right amount of glitter and shine. The North Pole stage featured oversized Christmas gifts and an incredible workshop, where all the Christmas magic was created, and an inviting kitchen Mrs. Claus made all of her delicious cookies and potpies.
Eleanor had a talented ensemble cast of 11 which included, Samantha Bonzi, in the title role of Eleanor. Singer, songwriter, and actor Lindsey Jane Bullen played Twinkle the Elf and Sydney Swanson in her professional stage debut as Noelle, rounded off this splendid cast.
Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish celebrates the true meaning of family. Love, friendship, and having hope in a time where hope for a rag doll looking for a home seems hopeless, where making a wish alone is nothing until you take the next step to make your dream come true.
This play brought a lot of memories back to my heart as I, Brenda, watched in amazement alongside the younger audience. I had a 'Raggedy Ann' doll that I cherished, who was my best friend when I was a little girl. Rick, who is an old softie, cried throughout the play.
Let's Play ' Highly Recommend' you check out this magical gem that will soon become a holiday favorite.
The Greenhouse Theater Center
New Family-Friendly Holiday Production
Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish- The Musical
Book By: Denise McGowan Tracy
Directed and choreographed by Zachary L. Gray
Music direction by David Fiorello.
Now Playing Through December 29, 2019