What could be better for spreading Christmas cheer than that great story about Kris Kringle winning a court case and validating his claim to be the \u201creal\u201d Santa Claus?<\/p>\n We\u2019re in luck. San Diego Musical Theatre revives last year\u2019s popular musical version of the old 1947 Lux Radio Hour broadcast of \u201cMiracle on 34th Street\u201d through Dec. 24 in its new home, the Horton Grand Theatre.<\/p>\n Adapted by Lance Arthur Smith, and with original songs and arrangements by Jon Lorenz, \u201cMiracle\u201d is a great way to start the season.<\/p>\n The play is done like a radio show, the kind that also has a live audience. There are lights on either side which occasionally light up to cue the studio audience (you) when it\u2019s time for \u201capplause.\u201d<\/p>\n On Michael McKeon\u2019s wonderfully detailed set of the radio studio, surrounded by the lit windows of tall New York skyscrapers behind it, Cris O\u2019Bryon plays radio personality Alex Mialdo, who hosts the play. (He also plays a mean piano and does the Foley effects.)<\/p>\n The problem starts when the Santa who is to march in the Macy\u2019s parade shows up drunk, and Macy\u2019s events chair Doris Walker (Janaya Mahealani Jones) has to find a replacement. An old man with the right look appears and is hired on the spot. This is Kris Kringle (Tim West).<\/p>\n Doris doesn\u2019t even believe in Santa, and has inculcated that attitude in her young daughter Susan (an adorable Cassidy Smith) as well.<\/p>\n Santa is handed a list of overstocked toys and asked to push them to the kids. But marketing\u2019s not his bag, and Santa has another idea: send moms to the store that has the best item wanted at the best price.<\/p>\n When Mr. Macy finds out, he\u2019s elated because this policy has produced oodles of goodwill for the store. Soon enough, Macy\u2019s biggest competitor Gimbels decides to do the same thing, and before you know it, they\u2019re in a publicity shot together. Christmas really is magic, you know?<\/p>\n But meanwhile, Kris is having trouble being accepted as Santa. Kids have no issue, but adults (including Macy\u2019s psychologist) are calling him a crazy, deluded old man. Someone suggests that Kris move from his retirement home closer to town, and he moves in with lawyer Fred Gailey (Matthew Malecki), who lives down the hall from Doris and her young daughter Susan. Soon Fred and Kris become good friends and all four discover a lasting bond.<\/p>\n But Kris gets into another row with the psychologist, bops him with his cane and ends up in a holding room at Bellevue. Soon Santa finds himself in court, having to prove that he\u2019s Santa. Of course, his roommate Fred is his attorney.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a delightful story, wonderfully directed by Brian Rickel and portrayed by this talented and experienced cast (all except two are returnees from last year).<\/p>\n West\u2019s Kris Kringle is new, amusing, kindly and winning \u2014 exactly what I\u2019d want in a Santa. His new protege Susan is cute, smart and knows a Santa when she sees one.<\/p>\n Lorenz\u2019s music \u2014 especially the modern, close-harmony versions of Christmas carols \u2014 add a contempo touch to this sure-fire holiday favorite, and SDMT\u2019s production is guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face.<\/p>\n![\"Kris](\"https:\/\/missionvalleynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/web-MAIN-MiracleHighRes-1.jpg\")
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