An Irving Berlin Mixtape

Best Bits: The performance of "Shaking the Blues Away" was by far my favorite number of the night. Filled with toe-tapping energy from the very start, this performance made me want to throw the best Christmas party the world has ever seen. Plus, there's a whole jump rope section that's guaranteed to make you smile.

Target Audience: This is a show for the whole family to enjoy. Bonus points if you are a fan of classic musicals.

Breakout Actor: If I had the chance to give one note to this show, it would be "We need more Lila!" Actress Megan Sikora brought the vivacious humor and spot on dance moves to the performance. I loved every minute she was on stage. MORE LILA!

Final Verdict: The show absolutely gave a few sparks here and there but didn’t completely catch fire.

Roundabout Theatre Company brings holiday cheer to the legendary Studio 54 with its perky rendition of the beloved 1942 film "Holiday Inn". The movie, starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, brought us the nostalgic yuletide tune "White Christmas" and the stage delivery could definitely be a seasonal seduction to theater-goers this holiday season.

The story follows Jim (Bryce Pinkham), one part of a performing trio who decided to give up his showbiz shenanigans for the simple life of a farmer in Connecticut. Living the quiet, blue sky loving life proves to be a challenge when the farmhouse becomes too much to handle. But, with the help of a winning ensemble and a beautiful school teaching songstress, played by Lora Lee Gayer, Jim turns his home into a live performance inn, saving the day with the familiar "Why, let's put on a show!" plotline. The catch? The Inn will only be open on Holidays. Hmmmm... I wonder what they'll call the place?

Holiday Inn definitely has some notable performances. Stepping into Fred Astaire's tap shoes is 'High School Musical' Alum Corbin Bleu. He manages to take a character that could be considered one-dimensional and turn him into a loveable charmer that we couldn’t help but to root for. His standout numbers "You're Easy to Dance With" and "Let's Say It With Firecrackers" both made you sit up straight and lean a bit closer, taking it all in. The rest of the show plays like an Irving Berlin greatest hits album with notable treats like "Blue Skies" and "Cheek to Cheek". But even those memorable numbers failed to live up to the creative and vibrant shine that we love about Broadway.

There was something missing in the show. I kept finding myself going back and forth between thoroughly entertained and indifferent. One minute I'm charmed by the cute banter between Gayer and Pinkham... The next, I’m sitting through another energy dropping ballad. Another I'm clapping along as the amazing chorus give a thunderous tap performance... and the next, I'm wondering where the pizzazz disappeared to. We kept receiving little sneak peeks, teasing us with how amazing the show could be. While I'm pretty sure audiences will be charmed by this old-fashioned style musical, there was still something that kept the show from crossing the line of average to magnificent.

Reviewed by Makia Martin

Studio 54, New York City
Find me on Twitter: @newyorktheatre

View our show pages for more information about Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical, Studio 54.