Editor’s note: “A Christmas Story” is no longer running, but it has become a tradition that youth correspondent Gus Richardson writes a review of SoL Theatre’s productions. 

I was lucky enough to attend the final showing of SoL Theatre’s “A Christmas Story,” and it was one of the better shows I’ve seen this year. It was full of funny moments balanced with genuine heartfelt sentiments. It’s one thing to act in a comedy, but it takes a lot of skill to execute real emotion in that same space. 

Now, to get more specific … The costumes were amazing (a consistent “thread” in SoL’s productions). The guises placed me directly into the universe of the show and also informed me about the characters and their personalities. Every outfit seemed as though a lot of thought had been put into it. 

Another fantastic aspect was the inclusion of musical numbers in the show. At multiple points throughout, a group of “carolers” would come on stage to perform schmaltzy ‘50s-esque covers of Christmas songs, which were all really well done. The singers in question absolutely rocked the socks off of the audience, and it may have been my favorite part of the whole thing.

Moving on, the visual humor was very funny. For example, early in the show Ralph’s dad gets into a tussle with the dogs next door; and when he comes in with the mail it’s clearly ripped and chewed. Then, near the end of the show, Ralph meets a mall Santa who has a massive tag on his back which reads “SANTA COSTUME.” It’s all very cute and very funny, adding more detail and charm to the show.

The real star of this show is the emotional vulnerability it represents. The story’s most compelling moments come when the family’s love for one another shines through; whether that’s Ralph’s mother coyly reserving information from his father, Ralph’s father secretly purchasing Ralph the BB gun he wants so dearly or Ralph’s parents both apologizing for the ways in which they upset each other at the end of the show. 

At the end, it becomes clear that “A Christmas Story” isn’t really about Ralph, or his parents or even an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and even tells time. Rather, it’s a story about love and how through stress, heartache and the scariest time of year (for some), we can make it through by loving one another and letting the people dear to us know how much we love them. 

For more information about SoL Theatre, visit www.soltheatrecompany.org