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SWOYERSVILLE —Scissors flashed through white fabric as Stephanie Orfanella, of Kingston, explained how to turn artificial flower petals into the kind of snowflakes the Music Box Playhouse needs for its production of “White Christmas.”
“If they’re too big, they’ll get stuck in the chutes,” she said. “If they’re too small, they don’t flutter enough.”
Lots of practice had shown Orfanella and fellow cast members Kalen Churcher, of Plymouth, and Rachel Crecca, of Mountain Top, how to get the snowflakes just right, and the trio worked diligently on a recent Friday evening to fill two large trash bags with plenty of white stuff for the holiday-themed musical.
Choreographer Linda Sipple, meanwhile, was going over a dance number with Karl Kleist, of Hanover Township, and Rachel Orehotsky, of Shavertown, who play Phil and Judy, the happily-in-love couple Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen personified in the 1954 movie on which the play is based.
“She’s doing a spectacular job,” co-star Dan Pascoe said as he watched the choreographer in action. “My boy Karl could not move like that before.”
In Music Box’s production of the musical, which runs Dec. 3-20, Pascoe plays Bob Wallace, a role many people associate with Bing Crosby. His character’s romantic partner is Betty Haynes, portrayed by Rosemary Clooney in the movie and played by Kristina Toussaint, of Dallas, here.
While the two characters don’t hit it off at first, they do have a certain awkwardness in common.
“Bob Wallace can be in front of 1,000 people, singing and dancing, and it doesn’t bother him, but he’s not so good with one-on-one,” Pascoe said.
As for Betty, who makes up half a vaudeville act with her sister, Judy, Toussaint describes her as “the older, more reserved sister, a little less secure in her talent. She really believes in Judy but not so much in herself.”
The musical showcases the big band sound, said musical director Ted Anderson, who counts himself as a big fan. “It’s in my bones. My parents got married in 1947 and I grew up hearing this music on the radio and when they played,” he said, noting his father played trombone and his mother played piano.
With songs such as “Blue Skies” and, of course, “White Christmas,” director Jim Parks said, the show has a lot of cheerful music and dancing to put audience members in a holiday spirit.
“It’s heart-warming,” agreed featured dancer Jade Arwen, of Mifflinburg.
Of course, the young romantic couples — the two sisters and a pair of ex-GIs — will eventually hit it off. Along the way, they’ll help out the veterans’ former general, who owns an inn that could use more business and perhaps a little snow.
With all the artificial snow cast members have made indoors, is there a need for any real snow outdoors? For atmosphere perhaps?
“As long as I don’t have to drive in it,” Orehotsky said.
