Welcome Home For The Holidays Review - Retro Variety Show

eric 5 — Welcome Home for the holidays castg - photo by Ken Jacques

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By Kathy Carpenter

Welk Resort Theatre presents Welcome Home For The Holidays. Done in Variety show fashion. Directed by Larry Raben, & Noelle Marion. (How perfect is that?) The show brings you Marshmallow Kisses and Holidays wishes. All the joy and effervescence you need to fill you to the brim with holiday spirit.

Sean Tomas Kiralla, Luke Harvey, Eric Martsolf,, and Jacob Caltrider – photo by Ken Jacquez

I love Variety shows and never missed an Osmond Christmas special. Eric Martsolf, is our host. The show takes place in an isolated cabin, where the cast is rehearsing for a live broadcast. In real live Martsolf plays Brady Black on Days of our Lives. (Wish I watched.) He is like a light haired James bond, Smooth, suave, and debonair.Not to mention he can sing.

The stage is decked out in festive attire, and the show features a lot of red. Besides Eric, the show features four guys and eight women, plus the piano player. With everyone getting their moment to shine by being featured in a song or two, Allen Everman is the piano player, I loved the two classic songs he sang I’ll Be Home For Christmas, and Christmastime is Here, in his rich baritone voice. The only two not featured, Martin Martiarena,playing Bass , not quite invisible with his red and green plaid Christmas vest, and Mike Masessa on Drums and Percussion, whom I could not see as he was blocked out by the piano.

Over forty songs, familiar and unfamiliar jolly, sweet, and everything in-between. Bethany Slomka, whom I recognized from Hairspray performed he perfect song for her personality, I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.Misty Cotton Joined Slomka for a melodic duo as they sang “Happy Days are Here Again.” Everyone has fabulous voices that’s why they are there. To help us ring in the holidays with their beautiful songs. Sean Thomas Kinalla, I knew could dance but you can add singing to his master list. Erin Vanderhyde, I saw her as Trix in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and loved her back then, nice to her again. Erica Marie Weisz, this was a far cry from Morticia, Erica’s voice is so sweet and pure. Loved you and Eric doing ” Baby it’s Cold Outside,”) such a fun number.

Eric Martsolf and Erica Marie Weisz = photo by Ken Jacques

My favorite overall number was “The Little Drummer Boy.” Eric sang, they dimmed the lights, and had drumsticks tip tapping and glowing in the dark. Of course I also love the tapping, you can’t have a variety show without tapping.

The rest of this fantastic cast creating this wonderful escape to wonderland is Jacob Caltridger, Leslie Stevens, Kya Cafaro, Luke Harvey Jacobs, Shirley Johnston, and Andrea Williams.