Review: ‘Holiday Inn’ at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace well worth checking into

The music of Irving Berlin. The singing of Bing Crosby. The dancing of Fred Astaire. In 1942, the film “Holiday Inn” had the kind of pedigree that movie studios salivate over. The song “White Christmas” was first performed – by Bing – in the film, and it went on to win the Oscar for Best Song.

Fast-forward to early fall of 2016. A new Broadway musical based on “Holiday Inn” debuts. “Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn,” with music and lyrics by Berlin, and a book by Gordon Greenberg and Chad Hodge, has previews and performances through mid-January, and is Tony-nominated for Best Choreography.

Now – at the end of 2021 into early 2022 – the Drury Lane Theatre production of the stage musical has arrived in Oakbrook Terrace, and I have scant reservations about this “Holiday Inn.” The end of the show – checkout time, if you will – will come much earlier than you’d wish.

The plot focuses on Jim Hardy (the multi-talented Adrian Aguilar), his best friend and musical duo partner Ted Hanover (Drew Humphrey) and Lila Dixon (Darilyn Burtley), the ambitious female singer featured in their act. Jim and Lila have been a couple for two years as the story begins, but when Jim proposes – and says they can quit show business for a more normal life at a farmhouse in Connecticut – Lila balks, saying, “I always wanted a real life – after I’m famous.” She accepts Jim’s ring, but when agent Danni Reed (Honey West) shows up backstage to pitch a six-week tour that ends at Chicago’s Pump Room, Lila’s eyes light up, and moments later, she and Ted are heading out on the road.

Meanwhile, Jim – anticipating Lila’s return after the tour – moves into the 15-bedroom Mason Farm, named after the family of the former owners. Linda Mason (played by wonderfully talented singer/actress Erica Stephan) is a schoolteacher who once thought of a singing career, but shelved it to return home when her mother ran off with a Fuller Brush salesman. With Linda’s salary, she couldn’t afford to keep the farm, but – with the encouragement of Ms. Fix-It Louise Badger (Danielle Davis) – she occasionally visits her former home of 20 years and its charming new owner, Jim, who unfortunately may be in over his head with unrealistic farming expectations and a lack of income.

Will Jim and Linda connect? What about Lila? When Jim invites his singer/dancer friends to help him put on shows at Mason Farm when they’re all available – only on holidays – will Ted help or cause trouble for Jim? Will the “Holiday Inn” be a success?

Those questions make this sound like a soap opera. It isn’t. It’s a very sweet, G-rated story with:

• Palpable chemistry between Jim and Linda due to sincere performances from Aguilar and Stephan;
• Impressive sets and projections (you’ll see a variety of Connecticut seasons beyond the farmhouse windows);
• Gorgeous costumes for every holiday from Thanksgiving to New Year’s to Valentine’s Day to Easter and Independence Day (kudos to costume designer Lynda Myers);
• Plenty of memorable Irving Berlin songs that run the gamut from big hits (“Easter Parade,” “Happy Holiday,” “Blue Skies,” “Heat Wave,” “Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” “Cheek to Cheek” and, of course, “White Christmas”) to those that perhaps only Berlin experts are familiar with (“Nothing More to Say,” “It’s a Lovely Day Today,” “Let’s Take an Old-Fashioned Walk”). The singing and dancing are excellent throughout the show, but I’d also like to compliment the Drury Lane Orchestra – it may only include five or six instrumentalists, but you wouldn’t know that based on the beautiful music provided under the direction of Christopher Sargent.

My only qualm has nothing to do with the show itself, but with the COVID-19 protocol in place at Drury Lane. Unlike many Chicago theaters, and Theatre 121′s shows at the Woodstock Opera House, you don’t need to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test – Drury Lane just asks that you keep a mask on. From what I saw at intermission, a number of children in the audience weren’t following that rule.

But as for the musical – unlike the hotel of the same name, this “Holiday Inn” isn’t open all year. Hurry to one of the final performances (it closes Jan. 9), because if you enjoy Hallmark-type movies or seeing actors, singers and dancers in top form, you have to check out “Holiday Inn.”

• Paul Lockwood is an enthusiastic singer, local theater actor, Grace Lutheran Church (Woodstock) and Toastmasters member, occasional theater reviewer, columnist and past president of TownSquare Players. He’s also a sucker for happy endings.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn”

WHERE: Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace

WHEN: Performances through Jan. 9

INFORMATION: 630-530-0111, DruryLaneTheatre.com; masks required in the theater