If you've already watched A Carol for Two, you probably agree with fellow viewers who say the singing is fantastic but Brad, the eventual third wheel in the love triangle, is a very annoying character.
What you may not know is that the scriptwriter deliberately adapts a famous play to fit the framework of a Hallmark movie, and it's genius.
What is a Carol for Two About?
After moving to New York to make it on Broadway, Violette Wagner (Ginna Claire Mason) gets a job at Fiore’s, a legendary theater district diner, famous for its singing wait staff, who bide their time there, while awaiting that big break. Luck seems to be on her side when she gets a coveted slot, singing during Fiore’s annual Christmas Eve concert, which is attended by a who’s who of the theatre world. But her big opportunity turns out to be a duet with Alex (Jordan Litz), who has been less than welcoming, and believes she was only given the job because the owner of Fiore’s is a family friend. They're stuck with each other, though, since people have been plucked out of that show and put right on Broadway. As they rehearse together, Alex’s cousin, Brad (Gino Anania), takes an interest in Violette, and they begin dating but, unbeknownst to her, Alex has been feeding Brad information about her, Cyrano-style, to win her over. However, when Alex begins developing feelings for her as well, a love triangle ensues, and things come to a head when their deception is uncovered, which, in turn, threatens Violette and Alex’s big opportunity.
Ginna Claire Mason and Jordan Litz Are Real-Life Broadway Stars
A Carol for Two seems tailor-made for Mason and Litz, who are both Broadway stars. Mason has toured as Glinda in Wicked, while Litz has assumed the role of Fiyero in Wicked both on Broadway and the tour.
Mason shares with Swooon that the two sing live on set, and Litz writes arrangements and harmonies for them while actually playing the piano.
If you watched the movie and wondered if Mason and Litz were doing their own singing and piano playing, now you know!
Another layer to the story is that Alex had been working on a musical with his ex, but when she left, he felt like he couldn't finish it on his own. Violette inspires him, and he finishes it just in time for them to use one of the central songs for their performance in front of Broadway talent scout, Marty Levin. (This original song was actually written in 40 minutes by a friend of Mason's!)
You can listen to Mason sing the catchy tune, Who Knew It'd Be You This Christmas, with Jimmy Needham:
After saying he loved what he heard, Mr. Levin excused himself to take a call from Kristen Chenoweth--a subtle reference to Wicked, since Chenoweth played the original Glinda.
Mason points out that the movie isn't just about romance but about artists pursuing their passions and dreams. My favorite line from the movie is one Violette quotes from her dad, "It's never too late to be who you might have been."
Brad Is Like Christian from Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac was a French novelist and playwright from the 1600s who became the subject of a play by Edmond Rostand in 1897. According to the fictionalized account, Cyrano had an enormous nose, which kept him from pursuing romance.
Cyrano falls in love with a woman named Roxane, but he doesn't let her know because he thinks his nose ruins his chances. Roxane actually loves a man named Christian, but Christian is too tongue-tied to express his feelings, so Cyrano writes love letters to her, pretending to be Christian.
You can see how Brad's character parallels that of Christian. He doesn't listen to Violette and seems more interested in being liked by her than getting to know her. Alex, like Cyrano, tells him all the thoughtful moves to make to win Violette's affection, but since Brad's actions aren't from the heart, he makes several ridiculous blunders that lead her to feel like he's "two different people." When she learns the truth--that the loving gestures originated with Alex--both of their dreams come true.
You may have seen other modern retellings of Rostand's play. In 1987, Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah starred in the comedy Roxanne.
Peter Dinklage headlined Cyrano in 2021, and instead of a big nose, his short stature served the same purpose.
While Brad may seem chronically obnoxious, when you view his behavior in light of the Cyrano storyline with a Broadway backdrop like a Rostand play, it clicks!
A Carol for Two Gives You a Small Taste of Broadway!
The carols and Christmas hymns included in A Carol for Two are simply gorgeous, many of them pointing to the true "reason for the season." The singing staff at Fiore's diner makes the viewer feel like they are visiting Broadway.
The cast is incredibly talented, and the fusion of a Christmas movie with a Broadway play is integrated beautifully. It's a movie with a fresh feel from the standard holiday romcom, which earns it 4 out of 5 stars here at RomCom Review.
Let's hope Hallmark produces more future movies that will include such exquisite vocal talent.
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