"Beef & Boards Christmas" is spectacular

Review by Terry Franklin Phillips Sr.

Ironically, the word “spectacular” is not in the Beef & Boards Christmas show title this year. But it should be, for the 2005 edition is without doubt the best Beef & Boards Christmas show my wife and I have seen in the eight years we have attended the company’s productions.

The show is better conceived, better executed than in years past.

Kenny Shepard and new mom Deb Wims serve as masters of ceremony this year.

We have watched Deb grow in her abilities over the years and it’s nice to see she finally has a part that fits her. No one believes for a moment that she is as dumb as the part she plays on stage in this production and her voice is wonderful. She is a charming hostess.

Santa Claus has a reduced role this year. He and Mrs. C. are no longer on stage together. She has a red hat society meeting to attend – she is an original member, you know! Santa appears mostly in a video connection via satellite to the North Pole (Deb thinks it’s a “cellulite” hookup because the camera adds 10 pounds to his image).

Back again are many of the seasonal songs we have enjoyed over the years, including an entire section devoted to Jesus’ birth.

Standouts include Gerald Atkins and Lauren E. Robinson. Gerald sings with everything he is – down to his very soul and Lauren’s powerful voice can probably be heard on 86th Street. They are wonderful!

Linda’s favorite is Gerald and I confess to looking forward to seeing Teresa Diehl perform. She is a wonderful actress, but her legs get the workout in this Christmas show as she dances in many of the numbers.

No Christmas show is complete without giving God His praise and it’s great to see Beef & Boards does so each year.

It’s a wonderful production – don’t miss it!

On the Web:
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, Indianapolis: http://www.beefandboards.com