'MIRACLE ON EASY STREET' Cast gives creative performances

Unique arrangements of the usual songs are highlights of the show.
BY L. CROWVINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- If you are one of the many people who look forward each year to the annual production of "Miracle on Easy Street" at Powers Auditorium, then you won't be disappointed. This year's production is filled with the usual songs, dancing, and corny skits, set amidst holiday lights and decorations. If you have never seen the show, then this weekend is your chance.
One thing that makes this performance unique is that even the familiar songs are done in creative and unfamiliar ways. For instance, the guys sang a '50s "doo-wop" version of "White Christmas" complete with James McClellan and his great falsetto. He and the girls sang a very fast rendition of "Jingle Bells" accompanied by somersaulting and leaping dancers.
McClellan and Illa Willis sang a beautiful arrangement of "Little Drummer Boy," combined with "Peace on Earth" in one of the more serious and touching moments of the performance.
Comedy
But most of the moments in this show are definitely not serious, especially when Todd Hancock takes the stage, and this year he has a little side-kick, five-year-old Evan Collins, making his debut in the Charlie Chaplin-style skit, "Hats Half Off." Wearing rags and trying to escape the cold, they come upon a shop with hats on sale, so they begin trying them on, and the results are hilarious, not only with the hats, but with the accompanying music and sound-effects. First they try on cowboy hats, until they step in something that smells. They trade in those hats for sombreros, and stage a bullfight. We hear the theme to "Chariots of Fire" as they put on red bands and become marathon runners, then move on to "2001: A Space Odyssey," but Hancock got his helmet stuck, and had to "unscrew" his head to get it off.
Rocking on
The sounds of the '50s and early '60s kept popping up throughout the production, and "Run, Run Rudolph" was another fine example. The Easy Street Dancers rocked around the stage, with a great light show in awesome colors, adding to the visual delight.
And those dancers just seem to get better and better. Both the teen dancers and young adults kept the energy moving for the whole performance. One of the neatest numbers was the "Toy Soldiers," as the dancers, dressed in red and white suits with big, black bucket hats, alternated between stiff-legged marching and limbered-up tapping, in a very entertaining routine.
Tradition
As always, Maureen Collins had lots of fun inviting children up on stage to join in the sing-along, as the audience joined them in "Happy Birthday," "Jingle Bells" and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," which welcomed a stage full of dancing Santas.
And since the real Santa couldn't make it, his cousin from Memphis, Elvis Claus, rock-and-rolled to his swooning fans, singing "Santa Claus Boogie" and "Blue Christmas," accompanied by dancers in glitzy red and green, and a team of cheerleaders.
And these are just a few of the highlights. The whole show is jam-packed with music and fun, without a dull moment. What is really amazing is the level of excellence, not only from the professionals and older kids, but right down to the little ones, who did some impressive songs and dance, and even some wonderful solos.
The show runs at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: (330) 743-8555.