Holiday Inn by Irving Berlin is here at Covedale Center for Performing Arts just in time to remind us that sometimes we need to pause in the pursuit of happiness to just enjoy being happy.
For those who love holiday shows, you’ll love this show. For those who don’t, don’t worry; there’s still plenty to love. It has just the right amount of Christmas cheer, while mixing in entertaining numbers you’d love to see year-round.
Review by Christy Carson
Holiday Inn Story and Performance Highlights
We open with the crowd-pleasing “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” that sets up a theme we’ll see throughout the show: will the girl pick sweet-singing Jim (Cian Steele), or smooth-stepping Ted (Christopher Wells)? Right away, Steele and Wells’ vocal talent shine through and we know we’re in for a treat.
Jim’s ready to leave the show life behind and live on a quiet farm in Connecticut, but Jim’s best friend Ted and Jim’s brand new fiancee Lila (Maryne Conner) just booked a promising new gig. Thankfully, Jim convinces all of his theatre friends to help him move, in true musical comedy fashion. This creates a truly entertaining number for “Blue Skies,” where skillful choreography (Cassidy Steele) seamlessly falls into the chaos of unpacking and back into beautiful dancing again, all while the ensemble changes the set without missing a beat.
Soon after Jim’s friends head home, we meet a new love interest, Linda (Cammi Caldwell), and some loveable comic-relief, Louise (Annie Schneider). Cian Steele and Cammi Caldwell have great stage chemistry and sing beautifully together. Schneider truly is a joy to watch, bringing her role to life and energy to the room.
No spoilers on how and when, but Ted eventually makes his way to the farm too, and you’ll fall in love with Wells’ characterization and dancing. The whole cast has a great dynamic and talent to bring “Holiday Inn” to life that blends a heartfelt nostalgia with a modern rom-com. The story does feel a touch slow at times in between the bigger numbers, but the cast always brings it back with a show-stopping number.
Holiday Inn Technical and Design Notes
The set design (Brett Bowling) and projections make a big impression from the beginning. They help set the warm, nostalgic, yet larger-than-life tone. Bowling also does a great job distinguishing between each location and creating dynamic elements that the director (Tim Perrino) and cast incorporate into the story, like when the house falls apart.
Sound (Corey Meyers) at the beginning is a bit muffled when the ensemble starts “Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” but they resolve the issue fairly quickly. The lighting (Denny Reed) is very engaging and draws our attention, perhaps a bit too much at times with, but is generally effective to help tell the story.
The costumes (CLP Costume Team) are spot-on, bringing all the glitz and the glam of show-biz when we need it and the nostalgic warmth that fits the story when we’re back in Connecticut.
The Bottom Line (TLDR)
Whether you’re a fan of nostalgic Christmas shows or just love a rom-com with some fun song and dance numbers, Holiday Inn at Covedale has something for everyone. Beautiful voices, strong acting, fun dancing, and lots of laughter are all wrapped into this 2.5 hour show. Grab your tickets here!
