"The good news is that the vocalists and the band are still terrific. But the show has also retained the flaws it had the first time around, and gained some new ones in the larger space...The score, a pop-gospel-jazz mix of original and classic songs, is the pulse of the piece. But when the music stops, the show feels like a 1980s sitcom crossed with an after-school special. Dream sequences are not as lucid as they were last year, and genuinely comic elements don’t pop the way they did."
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"The symbolism, like the plot itself, is more than a little heavy-handed…But if you can get past this, and the rather hokey framing device, ‘The First Noel’ is a powerful story that's anything but hackneyed. The writers don't shy from addressing genuine anguish that comes from a believable place…So compelling is all this drama that the score itself becomes, if not superfluous, then at least secondary…The lead cast members are all superb."
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"Each and every actor was simply fabulous…though there were moments between scenes of the different generations of the family that didn’t quite transition smoothly every time...There are many joyous moments with a good sprinklings of jokes, but the show's most powerful, hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck-raising moments come when the talented performers are belting out magnificent songs…Engaging, thoughtful, and powerful, 'The First Noel' is sure to fill your heart with seasonal joy."
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"‘The First Noel’ does a wonderful job of reminding us about the true meaning of Christmas…And if the story wasn’t powerful enough, it has all the bells and whistles a top musical should have. From an eclectic score to flawless dance sequences and melodious voices—there wasn’t a single moment that wasn’t fully charged and entertaining. This cast and production make a strong case that 'The First Noel' should be on the boards for many Christmases to come."
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"The plot is formulaically sweet, if a little predictable. But it’s not necessarily the story that draws you in…Throughout the show, the ensemble buoys the performance with choreography and musical numbers that can range from pop to gospel to Christmas carols...The ensemble helps make this show visually captivating…With a brilliant cast and a rousing repertoire, it’s a show that invites audience members of all ages to sing, dance, clap, and celebrate Harlem and the spirit of Christmas."
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"This good-looking, high-energy show is packed with vocal talent and propelled by a terrific five-piece band...It’s a memory play with music: pop, gospel and holiday...Calibrated to appeal to multigenerational family audiences, 'The First Noel' errs on the side of saccharine. But when the band plays and the singers sing, you’ll let the music move you anyway."
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"'The First Noel' is a story of healing and welcoming the hopeful message of the holiday season. The two outstanding features of this production are Broadnax’s innovative staging and the marvelous voices of this cast…'The First Noel' gives audiences a fine way to celebrate Christmas. By the end of the show, you may very well want to jump onstage to take part in all that hugging and kissing."
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"Christmas memories don’t get much more tuneful or joyously poignant than those found in the new musical 'The First Noel'…Beyond just being tuneful joys, the numbers sound terrific in the intimate space thanks to powerhouse vocals from both the principals and the ensemble…The show unfolds seemingly all around theatergoers, which makes it nearly impossible to not get pulled into the tale and its redemptive and happy ending."
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