Review: ‘Jubilation II’ a sweet Christmas revue

There are few better places to spend Christmas than Rudyville — even though it doesn’t really exist.

But in that imaginary place you will find Jubilation II: The Colors of Christmas, the seasonal music revue presented by Jubilee Theatre, which runs through Dec. 28.

The framing device for this soulful stroll through the holiday music catalog is that a young Rudy Eastman (the late founder of Jubilee Theatre) is staying up late to envision Christmas in the place he calls Rudyville. It is a fragile frame, and may not really be necessary. But it does give the music an excuse to happen, and that is all that really matters in this show.

The rest is exactly what you would expect from this company: a lot of carols, most familiar but a few that surprise, done in a style that fits the comfort zone of the cast.

Some of the tunes are performed as they are written, such as My Favorite Things and Stevie Wonder’s What Christmas Means to Me. Others are non-carols altered to fit the occasion, such as the Temptations’ The Way You Do the Things You Do, which is delightfully twisted into It’s Hard To Buy a Gift for You.

Most of the numbers, which are often supported with projections of the Motown greats who were responsible for the original versions, work on one level or another. Oris Phillips Jr. as Leroy and Liz Francisco as Mama M lead the way vocally, with some nutmeg-spiced support from the Supremes-like Silver Belles (Ja’Shaelyn Carmichael, Whitney Coulter and Lakesha Clark) — an alluring trio who think they can coax Santa down their chimneys by being naughty or nice.

There are plenty of standout songs and performances. A compelling, jazzy arrangement of Little Drummer Boy is among the best of the traditional carols offered. The parodies of the Tina Turner hits Proud Mary and River Deep, Mountain High are both hysterical. And Francisco provides some impressive Yuletide gospel-belting in the show’s second act.

Most of these numbers, in this show written by Jubilee artistic director Tre Garrett and music director Geno Young, are enhanced by their staging. Garrett’s direction keeps this train rolling on its tracks, and the choreography, by JuNene K, is both well-designed and well-executed.

That is not to say that every shot hits its mark in this warm-hearted effort. Some of the arrangements work better than others, and the voices are not as strong across the cast as they often are in Jubilee shows.

But this slight, easygoing revue has a sweet tone and a Christmas carol in its heart. And, this time of year, that is more than enough to carry the day.

This story was originally published December 10, 2014 at 2:50 PM with the headline "Review: ‘Jubilation II’ a sweet Christmas revue."