Husband and wife team up at Clear Space for musical production of 'A Christmas Story' Dec. 4-6, 11-13
Everyone knows the story of "A Christmas Story," that holiday classic about an average American family of four at Christmastime. Everyone can relate to the main character Ralphie, the young boy who desperately begs his parents for a special BB gun, but they warn, "You'll shoot your eye out!"
But not everyone has seen the staged musical version of this holiday treasure - complete with a dance number featuring that unforgettable lamp leg.
Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth will be running "A Christmas Story: the Musical" for two more weekends, through Sunday, Dec. 13, and part of the fun is casting a real-life married couple as Ralphie’s parents.
David Warick and his wife Amy Warick are no strangers to the theater world. David Warick is an equity actor, and a drama teacher at Sussex Central High School. Amy Warick is a frequent flyer on the stage, being featured in many shows at Clear Space and co-directing the Delaware Comedy Theatre troop with her husband.
The two of them have teamed up to sing, dance and act their way through the bulk of the holiday season. But, of course, playing a married couple on stage isn’t as effortless as it seems.
“Sometimes, I have to remind David and Amy about their real lives and their real relationship and help them bring that dynamic to their characters,”says Artistic Director David Button, who is directing the show. “They sometimes forget about the dysfunctional nuances that exist in every marriage and are an essential part of these iconic characters.”
Devon Lynch, one of Warick’s theater students at Sussex Central High School, plays Ralphie. He says “Working with the two has been a unique and wonderful experience. I am seeing a completely different and awesome dynamic from [Mr. Warick] now that we are working together as actors. They are both so amazing to work with, and they are always bound and determined to get all of their stuff right.”
Amy Warick has also really enjoyed the experience, saying, “I always love being on stage with David; we have a shorthand which helps us relate to each other more realistically on stage. So, playing husband and wife on stage is a true joy. I'm looking forward to finding fresh nuances each night during the run of the show.
“Hearing David sing always makes me happy,” she added. “He has two hilarious numbers that really showcase his voice, so that is going to be an extra treat for me.”
The show opened Nov. 27, and runs for two more weekends with shows at 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12 and 3 p.m., Sundays, Dec. 6 and 13.
Adult tickets are $30, senior tickets are $25 (60 and over), and students' and children's tickets are $15 (including college students). To purchase tickets, go to www.clearspacetheatre.org, call 302-227-2270, or visit the box office inside the Clear Space Theatre at 20 Baltimore Ave. in Rehoboth Beach.
