VHS CHRISTMAS CAROLS Reaction - Ep. 64 of Musicals I Know Nothing About

Reacting to VHS Christmas Carol was pure joy. That's it. That's the tweet.
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❤ PATREON especially for you: / barbara2_0
📷 Instagram: @thatbarbara2.0
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🐤Twitter: @that_barbara
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***Copyright Disclaimer: none of the songs in this video belongs to me. This is a non-commercial video for entertainment purposes only.
#starkid #musical #reaction

[@Barbara2.0]

I only realised this version was called VHS Christmas CarolSSS when I was designing the thumbnail for this video, ok? I also clearly need to rewatch the original asap, don't come for me lol

[@WesleiOliveira628]

Still in the beginning so I don't know if you figured it out. But the first tale is an actual Christmas short story "The gift of the Magi", the second one is Little Match Girl from Hans Christian Andersen

[@kyler133]

My girl needed a Playbill so bad

[@Barbara2.0]

@kyler133 word 🤣

[@mattmclaren3067]

That moment when I realise the absolute BEAUTY of double casting Joey as Mr Fezziwig, the kind, fun boss Scrooge refuses to be to Bob...AAAAAÀAAAAAAH!

[@elizabethk007]

Also casting the same actors who play Jim and Della as Young Scrooge and Belle. Both are young couples in love but one pair is happy in poverty while the other falls apart due to greed

[@DS_Prince]

@@elizabethk007 Ánd double casting Brian as Fred and Tiny Tim (who Scrooge became 'like a second dad' for)!

[@mattmclaren3067]

Or Jamie Burns as a Spirit that brings both comfort and joy and foreboding and misery. Symmetry! Symmetry everywhere. Tigers could NEVER!

[@olgarivera9315]

Same. MattMClaren3067.

[@olgarivera9315]

Same. ElizaBethK007.

[@skittlespan]

I think they did a good job of introducing the fact that it was gonna be three stores and they are all public domain, it was said a bunch in the first song I think you were just too caught up in confusion to listen so you'd didn't get any of the set up LOL, but it's really fun to see someone else experience it because I also did the same thing the first watch

[@DS_Prince]

Okay I really need to say this: they didn't cut a single word from the previous versions of VHS Christmas Carol. It was always a sungthrough, one act show 😅

[@DS_Prince]

Also the Cratchits had 7 kids in the 2021 VHS Christmas Carol Live version, so they actually had fewer kids in this version lol. (Only 4 in the original 2020 version though)

[@Barbara2.0]

Well, I clearly need to rewatch it lol But isn't the original longer than 40mins? I feel like I'm going crazy now

[@DS_Prince]

@Barbara2.0 45 minutes, including curtain call

[@just_peachy3582]

There was a whole dance sequence that James did as Christmas present that was cut. That was the only thing cut, but the extra scenes added to connect all the stories together probably equaled it out timewise

[@sanders_billy]

Lol they didn't cut anything from the original VHS Christmas Carol 😊 the original is already about 40 minutes long, so the 1.5hr runtime makes sense

[@GazzaTF]

"They cut out all the dialogue!" "WHAT dialogue??"

[@luna732]

Being Danish, it caught me off-guard to hear "The Matchgirl" being a story you weren't familiar with, since I forgot that it might not be as mainstream outside my country, it being a danish tale lol It's a very sad story, especially for such a childhood classic, which is honestly very standard of a H.C. Andersen-tale. Though technically it's a New Year's Eve tale. After reuniting with her grandma, the story ends with a passage about the young girl being found the next day with a smile on her lips, frozen to death the last night of the past year. It's incredibly sad but she at least was granted a bit of love and warmth in her final moments, even if it wasn't actually happening.

[@Ozloz]

I’m in Canada and have also known about it since I was tiny, I wonder how well known it is overall

[@luna732]

@@Ozloz That's very interesting. It's always hard to tell when it comes to H.C. Andersen's tales, since a lot of his are pretty known internationally but not all

[@Yellowjacket-z3h]

I am from Finland and was similarly shocked! I heard the story first time in like second grade and knew I would cry when I watched this

[@VeracityLH]

Hmmm, I'm American and I knew this tale in childhood. I also have an 3-inch thick old book of "classic fairytales" that this tale is in (a grateful mum gave it to me after I babysat her son for years). I remember being 7 years old - possibly the first time I heard it - and I cried for the rest of the day. So I'm happy to see her again at the ending of ACC. 💗

[@luna732]

@@VeracityLH Ah, I see! So it's more down to just Barbara specifically not knowing it. I was similarly really happy to see her at the ending of ACC, since it implies her fate changing, her story was always made me so sad as a child

[@elizabethk007]

Hearing Barbara say she isn’t familiar with the Christmas stories and then The Little Matchgirl tale comes up: 😬

[@RobertDPore]

I wasn't familiar with it either before seeing this. 👀 At least she gets to be with all the horses that got sent to that nice farm upstate.

[@Barbara2.0]

🥲

[@TiaMat99]

Kinda hilarious that you didn't realize that there were separate stories and started theorizing! They put the names for the stories that were in this in the description: The Gift of the Magi, The Little Match Girl and of course Christmas Carols. The first one is a well known story so I went into it knowing what was going to happen and it's my favorite. On the other hand, I was lulled into a false sense of security with Grandma Land and got gutpunched when Clark started singing Be The Light. Plus I love how they connected the stories in the end!

[@georges1991]

I feel like the one thing that gets said to people who think they don't need to watch this one is that there's two whole new stories!! I'm surprised she hadn't known that. Seemed she thought there were just a couple songs added to the original?

[@jazzmakingstuff5213]

also yeah the little match girl is played by the turkey boy, Ali Gordon, who's an old sk member though this is only her 2nd (3rd? if you count the 1st version of vhscc) show along with mamd. I got to see her perform at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of a musical improv troupe and she was awesome

[@DS_Prince]

@@jazzmakingstuff5213 She was also in Homecoming & Jangle Ball Tour!

[@timegrrrl]

I love the double casting in this show so much!!! I think it's so nice that Curt and Janaya play Jim and Della then younger Scrooge and Belle later to show how like Scrooge and Belle had what Jim and Della had before Scrooge changed. I also had no idea what any of the first stories were (I was VAGUELY familiar with christmas carol actually until i see the og live show) so YEAH LITTLE MATCH GIRL SURPRISED ME A LOT.... MY GOD... Also the og show never had any dialogue and entirely sung through!!! I don't know where you got the idea it did but it's always been sung through !! :^] it actually surprised me seeing the 2023 version is longer cause i didn't expect there to be new songs (even though I've seen the promotion pictures with the other stories 😅)

[@corinneeaglebridge]

My view on the three spirits is as such: the first one, yes, does most of the convincing. The second one is to tell him “this is what you’re missing out on, this is what you could have”. The third is an almost scare-him-straight tactic to lock him in: “you won’t lose any respect from people by becoming nicer, because they don’t have any respect for you in the first place. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, but only if you actually make an effort to change”. While yes, he starts changing with the first spirit, the first spirit isn’t enough to actually solidify the change.

[@jazzmakingstuff5213]

I didn't know the gift of the magi that well beforehand but the little match girl was something I read in primary school so congrats on getting to experience in real time the story that scarred eight year old me

[@Barbara2.0]

Lol trauma bonding ❤️

[@juneflwrs]

vhsccs is one of my favorite things starkid has ever made, so glad you got to see it while the show is live on youtube!! it’s such an underrated sk show which is so sad, because the musical clark made is so wonderful & everything about the show makes me so happy.

[@Barbara2.0]

Couldn't agree more!

[@hexonyou]

it IS really fun watching someone who isn't familiar with these christmas tales experiencing them for the first time. I recognized all of them so it kind of added an element of familiarity and fun but also kind of ruins the twists

[@Its_hatchetfield]

I was there in the audience the night they filmed this!! I ended up seeing it twice that weekend because of how much I loved it!

[@professorrock4698]

I'm impressed that you figured out the Gift of the Magi plot without knowing it! I guess in hindsight it's pretty obvious but I also did not know the story beforehand and I didn't figure it out until the end. While I'm sure it is fun for most people who know the story already to see a new version, it was also fun seeing this as my first version of the story and not knowing what was going to happen.

[@elizabethk007]

I loved how they connected each of the stories together.

[@mattmclaren3067]

I don’t know if Jaime Lyn Beatty sacrificing vocal precision to lean into the squeaky, gym bunny voice is a shame or a treat. Either way, Jaime Lyn don't care. And that's why we love her. ❤️

[@Barbara2.0]

Absolutely right, Jamie supremacy!

[@mattmclaren3067]

@Barbara2.0 At this point, the only reason I'd ever want her to stop playing this role (with increasing cartoonish delight) is that, if this version becomes an annual thing and AJ or Dylan can't do it, I do want her to play Scrooge. Indeed, I want most Starkids to take a whack at this role at least once (Corey, Joey, etc) but Jaime as Scrooge sounds super interesting to me.

[@Ch1ll_0ld_Dud3]

It’s a wonderful treat

[@mattmclaren3067]

@@Ch1ll_0ld_Dud3 you're absolutely right. What was I thinking?

[@allisonbergh4429]

Hold up, have you not read The Gifts of the Magi?? It’s a classic! I love how they wove together the “three stories - all public domain” so they all get an extra payoff at the end 🥰 If you watch Meredith’s vlogs, they’ve got some great behind the scenes stuff about a lot of the shows she’s involved with. And she says this one is her favourite!

[@KatieWillems]

Meredith's behind the scenes vlogs are definitely worth watching! The dvd extras we all need 😁 so much joy

[@Yellowjacket-z3h]

I had never heard The Gift of Magi before, it was cool to hear that without knowing what would happen I had however heard Little Match Girl before and knew I would cry, so that was cool too seeing a new adaption of it Before watching the original, I knew the basic story of Chriatmas Carol but hadn't heard the original or seen any adaption as it isn't that famous where I live It was cool seeing that story knowing the basics but not everything My point is: Three stories, I had different levels of knowledge going into each one, it was an interesting experience, and a great one too!

[@VeracityLH]

Several members of StarKid have said this is their favorite show, and they hope to do it every year as long as they can.

[@Ch1ll_0ld_Dud3]

Been working for Mannheim Steamroller for decades.

[@sarahdyclon3093]

A detail I noticed is that on the backdrop the symbols for rewind pause and fastforword are present. Each symbol was highlighted at particular moments. The rewind was on when the ghost of Christmas past was onstage the fast-forward showed with the ghost of Christmas future and the pause showed right after the intermission but before the story started back up.

[@Barbara2.0]

I didn't notice that. So cool!!

[@TylerAven10]

I went and saw the show last year, and when I saw they were bringing it back, I made sure to get tickets again, was there last night, it was just as incredible the 2nd time. Been a starkid fan for around 6 years now, and getting to see them live is something I’ll never forget.

[@Kristyle187]

I saw this live last night! I’m lucky enough to live within 3 hours of in Chicago, so this was my second time seeing it in person. It’s honestly one of the best musicals I’ve seen live within the last few years. Clarke is such a talented composer, and watching the StarKid team give their all in these performances such a unique experience. I’ll buy tickets to this show every single year they perform it (as long as it remains within a reasonable distance from me).

[@Barbara2.0]

I would've loved to make this show my Christmas tradition 🥲

[@OtisLePoOtis]

Loved the reaction...! But I am a little confused because at multiple points in the video you refer to "cut dialogue" while I have never seen a version with dialogue at all-

[@fizzycolalizzie]

that's what i'm wondering too, i feel like the original was all sung too lol

[@Ozloz]

She just made a mistake, there was never any dialogue. By this reaction I assume she hasn’t watched the original in a little bit and just remembered there being dialogue when there wasn’t

[@Barbara2.0]

@Ozloz precisely 😅 Clearly I must rewatch it asap

[@Ozloz]

@@Barbara2.0 never a bad idea to rewatch VHS Christmas Carol

[@KingQueerio]

im so glad they released it on YT! I have always wanted to see the new version since it came out!

[@yee-raplantar-maximoff4318]

It's only avaliable for a limited time but it's there so I'm enjoying it while it lasts :)

[@ruzachan]

Meredith has a good vlog channel on KZbin, I recommend it, it has a lot of BTS.

[@pcwkid76]

I want StarKid to keep revising this musical and every time they do, I want a new review from Barbara.

[@Barbara2.0]

I'm here for it!

[@theaterkween5791]

With the match girl, her song reminds me of Little Red from Into the Woods when she sings, "Mother said straight ahead, not to delay or be misled." I believe that might be what you were thinking of.

[@theaterkween5791]

i typed this and then you got it two seconds later LMAO

[@TarunoNafs]

The house from outside you window has windows that opens upwards! That's so cool.

[@VeracityLH]

I'm glad I got to watch this with my daughter before it finished its limited time on the SK channel.

[@jessicalukasik511]

So I saw this live and when the match girl lit all of the matches my friend legitimately thought the reason she died was that she set herself on fire

[@hanonondricek411]

VHS Christmas Carol is the preferred holiday version I will watch (although I will also accept Muppet Christmas Carol and Christmas Carol Goes Wrong. I love that they extended the show into an optional 2-act and joined them together giving the extra ensemble more to do. The Future Ghost's haunting beautiful wail turning into his name is amazing. The resolution of saving the Match Girl and paying forward Gift of the Magi were clever touches as well. I do agree that I liked the original staging with the magic special effects screen in traverse/runway staging like a cabaret/club concert which was cooler, but it's neat to see how flexible the show is. Barbara, if you haven't seen Peter Pan Goes Wrong (by the Cornley Drama Society crew who did Play That Goes Wrong) there's an excellent televised BBC version of the stage show you'd probably love - it's a musical adaptation with a turntable and flying that, as expected, goes quite poorly.

[@vpong15]

Felt like you were a bit too excited for this one and missed a few lines that gave more context. Also, when you said you didnt know the matchgirl story 😬

[@oliviarivera3680]

Have you ever done “sunset boulevard”? If not the cast recording from the newest revival is amazing and has sooo much dialogue so you get a lot of the plot. Love these videos

[@DS_Prince]

I literally dropped everything I was doing when I saw this pop up

[@irumadaimaou]

Ngl it's kinda weird but funny to see some people not being familiar with the first two stories, specially The Little Match Girl.

[@G3R0George]

Barbara can you react to Tuck Everlasting, Kimberly Akimbo, and The Notebook? Three shows orchestrated by John Clancy (+Carmel Dean in the last). Clancy did Fun Home and Mean Girls and since you commented on the orchestrations in those videos, you'd love these three! I think Kimberly Akimbo most of all!

[@mb-sb5ever]

Anyone else think future's harmony sounds like the 'i am chorn' melody

[@codasinger5298]

BARBARA!!!!! You've gotta check out Seussical the Musical if you haven't already! I'd love to hear your thoughts/reaction to one of my most nostalgic and favorite musicals out there, been jamming out to that show since I was a baby. Yet another show that sounds silly, but goes WAY harder than it has any right to!

[@DeathnoteBB]

STARKID

[@four_girls_in_search_of_awesom]

Anyone else get traumatized by Disney’s Little Match Girl short?

[@four_girls_in_search_of_awesom]

You should react to Scrooge, it’s a musical film from like the 70s. So good, but I’m totally biased cuz we used to watch it every Christmas

[@TarunoNafs]

Oh my goodness, the classical literature references are getting lost... I don't think they're disguising anything about the stories, because the audiences (supposedly) already know the endings.

[@גלעדסוירזנסקי]

If you haven't yet, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check out Chicago. I love the 2002 movie the music in this musical is incredible. It's centered around 1930s chicago. Also check out Anastasia

[@helenavara9783]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@sanityisrelative]

WATCH CHAIN HAIR NO!

[@four_girls_in_search_of_awesom]

Tiny Tim getting progressively weaker with every show shouldn’t be as funny as it is to me

[@jaroddraycounty]

Lol this is confusing to watch cuz she comes across like she knows what shes talking about, but is wrong about everything. The opening song literally says they're telling 3 stories. They cut dialogue? Hating Priceless is a hatecrime lol.

[@conorbryan289]

Yeah - doesnt research the basic premise of the show, or the 3 stories its based on, talks through the whole thing and misses the context, then complains about not knowing what's going on. Maybe it's a younger person thing. Growing up in the nineties there were a dozen different versions of each of these stories to read or watch.

[@corinneeaglebridge]

@@conorbryan289​​⁠She just misremembered stuff from the og VHS Christmas Carol and misread the title (she didn’t see that it said “carolS”). Putting this on a “young person thing” is kinda rude imo. She just wasn’t familiar with Gift of the Magi and Little Match Girl. Surprise surprise, those stories aren’t 100% universal (I personally wasn’t familiar with gift of the magi when I first saw vhs Christmas Carols) She just misread the title (thus assuming it was just vhs Christmas Carol again with a different cast) and misremembered some stuff from a reaction she did 2 years ago. Nothing wrong with that, and she’s acknowledged it in the comment section

[@ForeverDegenerate]

@Barbara2.0 The first female lead was Janaya, the girl that plays Belle in Christmas Carol. The second female lead is Ali Gordon who plays Vanessa in "Me and My Dick." She was also "Turkey Boy" in Christmas Carol, but, as you noticed, they replaced "Turkey Boy" with "Matchstick Girl" for this version to tie all three stories together. And, yeah, the two added short stories, unfortunately, requires familiarity with the stories themselves to have context. I wasn't familiar with either story going into this so I was kinda lost like you. I would also like to point that you said the exact same thing about "Priceless" during your reaction of the Original Live Show and you did the exact same thing with your hands. At this point, you should just admit that you love the song. 😁 As others have said, they didn't cut anything from Christmas Carol. The entire concept of this project, if you'll remember from the original, was to be a Narrative Album aka an Album that tells a full narrative through song. The original live version of this had musical transitions because Clark realized that just going from song to song wouldn't work for a stage performance. So he wrote new transitions for the stage production. This version, it seems like, instead of having fully separate transitions, he actually reworked the transitions to incorporate them into the beginning of the next song. Doing that saved a bit of time and that's, probably, why it felt a bit rushed to you. I have to agree with you, though, that the Original VHS Christmas Carol Live was better. It was better paced and better cast. Of course, the casting for this one wasn't entirely their fault as they had to recast people who couldn't make it. Still, as good as AJ is a Scrooge, I prefer Dylan. I will say, though, the decision to expand this into a "Universe" was brilliant and I love the new additions from the two added stories. By the way, did you see Team Starkid's announcement that they will be offering Digital Tickets for this year's Christmas Carols? This year they're putting it on in Chicago and they have a new Belle (who will presumably also be the first female lead) because Janaya couldn't make it. They also have two new understudies so we'll probably see them appear in the show at some point. Curt has some BTS up from the rehearsals if you're interested. The shows are currently underway and run through the weekend. So I assume the Digital Tickets will become available, like, next week some time.

[@Barbara2.0]

Not you calling me out for pretending to not like Priceless LOL

[@DS_Prince]

@@ForeverDegenerate The 2020 version also had transitional songs, though they weren't released on the album. Most of them were different than the ones from 2021 and beyond though.

[@olgarivera9315]

I Know It's Not Christmas Yet. But. Watched This Musicals. I Don't Know How Many Times. I Love Them. My Favorite Songs Are Hair And Watch, Cold Cold Streets, And Christmas Electricity. Two Of My Favorite Actors Are In Here Joey Richter And Jaime Lyn Beatty. Not In Here Darren Criss And Joe Walker Also My Favorites.

[@Socaldudeman]

I know your gimmick is reacting to shows you haven’t seen…. But a little research will save us all from your constant easily answered questions. Also you miss so much of the context while you’re thinking aloud over the lyrics.

[@jonathanlopez6953]

Thank god that they axe the speaking and focus on the music for Scrooge…

[@DS_Prince]

@@jonathanlopez6953 There was never any dialogue in there