(Cover Photo: The CAST of Roger Bean's "THE WINTER WONDERETTES" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through December 22, 2024. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724   

"Just in time for a holiday, hit me with those out of the ballpark, happy and hallmark Christmas clichés!"

            - ("Cindy Lou") / Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Charles

Greater Boston Stage Company  

Presents a Holiday Favorite

"THE WINTER WONDERETTES"

A Festive Revue of 1960s Holiday Tunes!

Written & Created by Roger Bean 

Directed and Choreographed by Sara Coombs

Music Director Lea Peterson

Cast Includes: Talia Cutulle+ as "Suzy," Sarah Morin* as "Betty Jean," Lisa Kate Joyce* as "Missy," Pearl Scott* as "Cindy Lou."   

Additional Creative Team:

Scenic Designer - Rachel Rose Roberts; Lighting Designer - John Holmes; Costume Designer - Kelly Baker; Dance Captain - Sara Coombs; Sound Designer - John Stone; Sound Operator - Bryan Ward; Properties Designer - David Prescott; Production Manager - Casey Blackbird; Production Stage Manager/Master Electrician - Meghan Ward*; Production Assistant - E.D. Fitzgerald; Wig Designer - Kat Shanahan; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Consultant - Kira Troilo, Ast & Soul Consulting.

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. 

+Young Company Alum

Performances:

November 29, 2024 through December 22, 2024

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times) 

GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY, 395 Main Street Stoneham, MA. 02180

TICKETS: 

Box Office Hours: Mondays – Fridays, noon to 6pm Box Office # 781-279-2200 boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org

BUY TICKETS 

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

With a festive production, Greater Boston Stage Company (GBSC) serves up a holiday musical treat with Roger Bean’s musical revue, "THE WINTER WONDERETTES." 

For those who may not be familiar, there are four entries in the "WONDERETTES" series by Bean: 

There is the original “Marvelous Wonderettes,” the first sequel, "WINTER WONDERETTES," “Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns” and “Dream On.”   

There are those who do not appreciate musicals, in particular those musicals where songs simply occur as if appearing out of thin air, and yet the unseen band knows the full arrangement and the song proceeds with a chorus of voices and full choreography. 

That is exactly what happens here - and you know what? It works. 

Sure, it is hokey, corny and silly as all get out – but the characters, especially in this latest GBSC staging, are delightful and we have fun watching them perform. 

Another aspect that differentiates this series from other musical revues is the simple, relatable charm which Bean has imbued all four female characters involved. 

We feel as if involved in the lives of these four women who are singing their hearts out on some truly iconic and familiar songs.  

(Photo: Pearl Scott as "Cindy Lou" with the CAST of Roger Bean's "THE WINTER WONDERETTES" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through December 22, 2024. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

Set in the small town of Springfield (state unknown), the interactive and lighthearted experience includes many holiday musical favorites such as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Run, Rudolph, Run” and medleys of other classics. 

This entry of the series takes place in a hardware store in town and is performed by a quartet reminiscent of the Andrew Sisters performing many Christmas standards in four-part harmony and thoroughly entertaining the “staff” played by…the audience. 

The actresses here in the latest holiday offering of "WINTER WONDERETTES" use their impressive voices and comedic skills to keep employee spirits high.

Soon, they learn they must save the holiday party when the employees abruptly find out (spoiler alert!) they have been unexpectedly “sacked” by the company Santa and that the hardware store is closing. 

(Photo: Sarah Morin as "Betty Jean" with fellow CAST of Roger Bean's "THE WINTER WONDERETTES" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through December 22, 2024. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

The four performers making up the "WONDERETTES" quartet are Missy (Lisa Kate Joyce), Cindy Lou (Pearl Scott), Suzy (Talia Cutulle) and Betty Jean (Sarah Morin).

The ladies are entertaining at the annual Harper's Hardware Holiday Party, when “Santa”, the owner Mr. Harper, turns up missing. 

Directed and choreographed nicely by Sara Coombs, the show begins with the perky "Mister Santa" followed by the "Rockin' Christmas Medley." 

Each of the talented foursome are given their chance to shine. Sarah Morin was extremely funny as the acerbic Betty Jean, especially when vying for leadership of the quartet either with Missy and Cindy Lou. 

A vocal highlight for Morin was during “O Tannenbaum.” Morin is funny interacting with the audience and especially as she serenades “Bob in Plumbing” (a member of the audience) with the amusing “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” 

(Photo: Talia Cutulle as "Suzy" in Roger Bean's "THE WINTER WONDERETTES" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through December 22, 2024. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

Elementary school teacher Missy, as played by Lisa Kate Joyce, is a multi-tasker, control freak and a world traveler. 

Joyce brings forth a marvelous dominance for Missy on stage, and especially in the musical numbers “This Christmas” and “Mele Kalikimaka” during the “Christmas Time All Around the World” medley. 

As the flighty and very pregnant Suzy, Talia Cutulle is simply charming and shines especially during the songs “Suzy Snowflake” and “Donde Esta Santa Claus?”

(Photo: Lisa Kate Joyce as "Missy" with the CAST of Roger Bean's "THE WINTER WONDERETTES" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through December 22, 2024. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

Pearl Scott as Cindy Lou has been given arguably the most layered character in the series and here has also been given the best song in the revue to perform. 

Cindy Lou performs the melancholy "All Those Christmas Cliches" in Act Two which feels somewhat "removed" from the remainder of Bean’s selections for this otherwise upbeat revue. 

Scott simply nails both the Cindy Lou character and the song, making it a stand-out moment. 

The humor in "WONDERETTES" and the inclusion of fun, casual and interactive moments with the audience is, ultimately, the show's greatest strength and has the potential to make the show unique with each performance. 

As a quartet, the strongest number of the revue is easily the first act's holiday classic "Snowfall" (written by Claude and Ruth Thornhill) where the harmonies really begin to gel with minimal accompaniment. 

(Photo: The CAST of Roger Bean's "THE WINTER WONDERETTES" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through December 22, 2024. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

The GBSC single set design of the holiday decorated hardware store was meticulously dressed and festive, equal to the strict attention to detail in the color palette utilized for each of the characters’ costumes. 

The unseen orchestra never misses a beat from the moment the show begins and, vocally, the cast of four, under the guidance of Music Director Lea Peterson, shines brightly during this holiday event. 

So, for a fun evening of holiday music and laughs, "THE WINTER WONDERETTES" from Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham continues until December 22nd, and is one holiday treat that should not be missed.

Coming up next at Greater Boston Stage Company will be "THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY" by Frank McCourt and Rusty Magee beginning February 28, 2025.

For tickets, contact the Box Office at # 781-279-2200 or at boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org

BUY TICKETS 

Approximately 100 minutes with one intermission.

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics

ABOUT THE SHOW

A Festive Revue of 1960s Holiday Tunes! 

The WONDERETTES are back! 

Rock around the Christmas tree with this festive extravaganza of 1960s holiday hits, all performed in “marvelous” four-part harmony. 

Enjoy timeless classics like “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” “Santa Baby,” “Winter Wonderland,” “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve,” “O Tannenbaum” and many more!

ABOUT GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY 

We bring vibrant professional theatre and dramatic education beyond the boundaries of Boston, featuring world and regional premieres alongside fresh interpretations of familiar work. Within this setting, we uniquely foster the artists of tomorrow by providing ongoing performance and employment opportunities to our company of current and former students. Located in Stoneham, MA.

GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY produces five Mainstage shows, presents a series of Special Events, and runs year-round classes, lessons, and fully staged productions through The Young Company for students in grades 1–12.

GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY  

395 Main Street 

Stoneham, MA. 02180 

Box Office # 781-279-2200 

boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org

greaterbostonstage.org