“A limp revue of carols and Yule-themed pop songs...Headlined by three singers who have triumphed in reality-TV competitions...These performers can carry a tune, and in Ms. Glover’s case, quite a bit more...She is also the only performer on the August Wilson Theater stage whose singing and warmth fill the room...As safe as ‘Home for the Holidays’ plays it, there are still a few gasp-inducing moments.”
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“First there is the hazy concept...This tacky pop-up Broadway concert, the yuletide equivalent of a Halloween costume store, features a comically motley cast...Then there is the hazy singing: breathy, baroquely melismatic ornamentations, as though the vocalists were skating on thin ice and afraid to stay on a single note for more than a quarter of a second. And then there are the hazy stories...There are moments of pleasure...Mostly, though, it’s a clumsy affair.”
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"There is no shortage of impressive vocal stylings…There seemed to be a few distracting technical issues with the sound..There also doesn't seem to be an abundance of chemistry between the three headliners...I'm sure these can all be ironed out as the production gains momentum towards Christmas...Glover gives the most powerful and show-stealing vocals of the night...If you are a fan of Glover or just simply can't get enough of the Christmas spirit, then this is the one for you."
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“This seasonal pop-up concert on Broadway is one motley mix...A trio of TV reality show vocal contest winners shares top billing...There’s something missing — a star. There’s not one in the cast...Winning a contest doesn’t guarantee you radiate stage presence. Or that you can draw an audience to you...There are a couple saving graces, including the fine-tuned band...And a juicy ‘Joy to the Word’ ends things on the high note. In the end, the ‘Joy’ jolt is too little, too late.”
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“Expertly recalling the sort of entertainment you'd experience on a cruise ship or in a low-rent Vegas casino, 'Home for the Holidays' is a Christmas show only Ebenezer Scrooge could love...The competent eight-piece band and back-up singers do a better job of connecting with the audience than the so-called headliners, who come across like they're performing in front of a mirror. Judging by the glazed response from the audience, they might as well be.”
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“They're singing 'Deck the Halls,' but in 'Home for the Holidays,' the artless new concert, it's not like Christmas at all...This 80-minute riff-fest doesn't transmit the feeling of Christmas; in fact, it just makes us feel sad...A strange concert that desperately tries to win over the audience, only succeeding intermittently...It's Aiello's performance that's ultimately the most enjoyable...He's the one shiny bauble in a show that could use a lot more of them."
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“It doesn't take long for the lack of musical textures to make everything sound like background music. Tessero is billed as creative and musical director, so it can be assumed he's responsible for the staging, which usually consists of singers standing with hand-held microphones raised to their mouths, barely acknowledging each other's existence...Aiello reveals himself to be the most satisfying singer on stage. Why? Because he sings the melody and expresses the meaning of the lyric.”
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“’Home for the Holidays’ would best be enjoyed by fans of TV's ‘American Idol,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘America's Got Talent’….While pretty much the only thing ‘Broadway’ about it is the venue, it does offer up a pleasant (if decidedly schlocky) way to kick off the holiday season…This is one of those ‘it is what it is’ events…It is an opportunity to hear these decidedly talented singers, each with a different performance style, backed by a snazzy nine-member onstage band.”
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