Goodbye November! Thanksgiving’s gone! Now every house in Havre de Grace has a plastic reindeer on its lawn. The season’s starting— I’ll give you proof! Tidewater Players bought a nine-foot dancing Santa for the HdG Opera House roof!* ‘Cause it’s almost nearly getting close to counting down to Christmas! It’s almost time to see their stage light up the town for Christmas! It’s something like fifteen-thousand and forty-two minutes away— before A Christmas Story opens on opening day! (December 9^th, 2022 in case you’re wondering!) Tidewater Players has an extra-special surprise in their production of the musical A Christmas Story— there’s a real father-son duo playing Jean Shepherd and Ralphie! In a TheatreBloom exclusive interview, we sit down with Bobby & Jude Mahoney (playing Jean and Ralphie respectively) and talk about the experience of being a father and son team working together on A Christmas Story.

Thank you both so much for giving us some time before today’s rehearsal! I know you’re both really excited about this project! So you’re Bobby Mahoney, and you’re Jude Mahoney, and Jude, how old are you?

Jude Mahoney: I’m turning ten on December 1^st. I’ll be ten when we open.

That’s so very cool! Now Bobby, you don’t have to tell us how old you are, but you’ve been doing theatre for… how long would you say?

Bobby Mahoney: At least twenty years. Over twenty years. A long time.

And who do you both play?

Bobby: So I play Jean Shepherd. He’s just called Jean Shepherd, he’s the narrator, but he’s basically Ralphie all grown up.

Jude: And I play Ralphie!

That’s fantastic! The father and son duo gets to play Ralphie and ‘older’ Ralphie. How neat is that? But what is it that made you both want to come out and do A Christmas Story?

Jude: Well I just wanted to get more experience under my belt. Little did I know this would be the most exciting and terrifying ride of my life!

That is so awesome, Jude. What about you, Bobby?

Bobby: My Dad passed this past January and this was his favorite movie. That’s why I wanted to be a part of it. Now I wanted to be in the ensemble. There’s someone in the ensemble cast who I wanted to be around to help out, so I figured I would just do ensemble. But they needed a Jean, and I was asked, and I said sure.

What’s it like to get to do a Father-Son duo in this particular set of roles where he’s basically you and you’re basically him just at very different stages of that character’s life? What are the feelings we’re having about that?

Jude: It’s amazing. All of my adult shows that I’ve done, that aren’t junior shows, I’ve been on stage with either my Uncle (Dickie Mahoney) or with my Dad. It’s pretty awesome.

Bobby: Yeah his first ‘adult’ show he did when he was three, it was Seussical. I was Horton and he was a Who, at Street Lamp. And then he was four and did Chip in Beauty & The Beast with Tidewater and I played Cogsworth, and now we’re here doing A Christmas Story. It’s great because we’re the same person. I get choked a lot. There’s the song that the mother sings… what’s it called?

Jude: “Just Like That.”

Bobby: Right. “Just Like That” and I start thinking about how Jude was two years old just a few minutes ago and how he’s growing up so fast. I get all choked up but it works out perfect because as Jean Shepherd, I’m looking at the mother at the same time and I’m having all these real feelings. And then of course at the end when Jean says, “my Dad got me that. That gift is from my Dad.” I’m just holding back tears. Somebody at rehearsal the other day said, “What is wrong with you? That is not that kind of moment.” And then she came back later and said, “I’m so sorry. You were thinking about your Dad when you were saying that line.” And of course I am. So I have to try and balance that out to keep the tears from overruling that moment. But it’s great doing this with Jude.

I hope you guys have seen A Christmas Story, the movie, especially since it was your Dad’s favorite, Bobby. What is your favorite part of the movie?

Jude: Oh wow. My favorite part is probably the bunny suit scene! Even though I’m Ralphie and should be hating that scene I love watching it.

Bobby: Of Fudge. That whole sequence with Jean’s lines about the mother of all dirty words, the F-dash-dash-dash-word and all that. Even when I was a kid I thought that was hilarious.

Jude, how are you similar to and different from Ralphie?

Jude: Unlike Ralphie, I’m a bit more cautious. And like Ralphie I do want a BB Gun for Christmas.

Oh wow. Do kids still even play with BB Guns in this day and age?

Bobby: I thought the same thing until we just saw a display of them the other day up at Tractor Supply. I would never have thought kids still play with them.

You learn something new every day, but the real question is- do those BB guns have this cool thing built into the stock that tells time?

Jude: No. I wish. But no. It’s probably just a BB Gun.

You gotta get a Red Ryder. Bobby, how are you and Jean similar and different?

Bobby: Jean and I are very different. Jean is a writer. I don’t like reading or writing. Jean is a lot more confident in his words and I’m a lot more self-conscious. I think when he makes a statement he just makes it and he’s fine with it. Me? I think about something four or five times after I say something. I overthink. It’s awful, it gets in the way of so many things. Like I’ll be thinking about this interview for days.

What’s your favorite part about Christmas?

Jude: I love to spend time with my family. And also, though it might be obvious, all the presents.

Um, totally. What better than presents? And you, Bobby?

Bobby: Seeing Jude open presents. Especially the ones from Santa.

That’s awesome. Speaking of the big guy, Jude, what are you asking Santa for this year other than a BB Gun?

Jude: So I do want a fidget spinner, possibly a red one. I’ve seen loads of kids in my class have one. And I’ve never had one.

And what about you? What are you asking for Santa to bring you?

Bobby: I have no clue. Honestly! And I have such trouble with this question every year, trying to come up with something. I love going out shopping for people for days. I will go out shopping and— “oh, I think this person would like this.” Or “oh that would be perfect for that person.” I love that part of it. But then somebody says, “What do you want?” And I just stare blankly at them with my mouth hanging open like “uh…”

What has been the most challenging thing about being Ralphie in rehearsal so far?

Jude: Memorizing lines! Since day one that has been the biggest thing! But I think I’m doing pretty good. Yesterday, when we were running Act I, I didn’t say ‘line’ once, so I’m coming around pretty darn good!

What about for you, Bobby?

Bobby: I am terrified. Lines. I’m terrified. It’s not like Jean’s part of the conversation… he just inserts himself here and there! So, same with Jude, it’s the lines. I’m not used to being a narrator. I’m used to being in the scene, not explaining why things are happening. Jean Shepherd is a writer. He is definitely a writer, just based on some of the words he uses! And I’m not a writer! It’s a lot of words. But it’s a big acting challenge.

What’s your favorite number that you get to do in the show?

Jude: I would have to say “Ralphie to the Rescue” and or “Before the Old Man Comes Home.”

I actually really love “Before the Old Man Comes Home.” That’s a duet between Ralphie and Randy, right? Who’s playing Randy?

Jude: My friend Timmy (Timmy Phelan) who is ironically two years older than me. I’ve been around Tim since his first show. Last year we did Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr. and I was Yukon Cornelius! And Timmy was Clarice’s Dad.

That’s really cool that you two have done shows together before. What’s it like this time getting to do a show with your friend who is now playing your brother?

Jude: It makes sense because we’re best friends but I do not like the sibling rivalry part because we’re not like that.

Bobby: Well you don’t know what it’s like to have a sibling, so…

Jude: Yeah. I’m an only child. But like my Dad— he’s one of three.

Bobby: Yeah… I’m one of three. And Dickie (Director Dickie Mahoney) actually had to tell Jude, when he’s coming down the stairs with Timmy and as Ralphie & Randy they’re doing the “did not! Did too! Did not! Did too!’ bickering back and forth, he had to say “Jude, you’re delivering it all wrong.” Because he was being so nice about it.

Jude: Timmy is also one of three! He has an older sister and a younger brother. He’s the middle child.

But that has got to be such a cool experience for you and for you to get to stretch your acting muscles, learning what it’s like to have a sibling and then fight with them.

Jude: Yeah it’s fun.

And Bobby, we know you have at least one brother…

Jude: Yes he does. Twin brother and an older sister.

Bobby: So I’m the baby-baby, technically. By 19 minutes.

That’s pretty cool. Somewhere a while back I asked one of you about your favorite song, and I think Jude answered his. What’s yours, Bobby?

Bobby: My favorite song in the show? “Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana.” I love that song so much.

Why do you want people to come out and see A Christmas Story?

Jude: Because they will love to see how much hard work all of the cast has put into it. I honestly think the show is coming along really nice and I can’t wait for people to see it.

Bobby: Well, everybody knows the story of Ralphie already. It’s the same story but it’s told in a completely different way. Instead of Jean just being the voice, you see him. He’s walking around in the scenes, moving around the people. The story is timeless to me because it’s been around at least as long as we’ve been here. I just want us to be able to bring that holiday moment live to everyone who sees it.

What have you learned about yourself doing this?

Jude: I’ve learned that even without confidence that you can hit those high notes like I’ve done in “Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun.” With the help of my Dad!

What about you, Bobby? What are you learning? Because this is not your first rodeo, cowboy, but you’re never too old to learn.

Bobby: It’s not, and I am learning. I’m learning how to get out of people’s way because you’re not supposed to be there. Because Jean’s not actually supposed to be there; he’s invisible. But me, Bobby, is not invisible. I’m physically there. So I’m blocked to do something and someone comes by, and I’ve got to figure out how to take a couple of steps back or move stage right or stage left and not have that disrupt what’s happening. So that’s new for me. It’s not something I think I need to do again. I mean I love the show, and I love the character. I love the involvement and the ability to flashback. I would give anything to be able to flashback and just hang out with my Dad for a day. It’s a very emotional show.

Do you have a favorite Christmas song that’s not a part of this show?

Jude: Probably either “Feliz Navidad” or “Jingle Bell Rock.”

What about you, Bobby?

Bobby: I don’t really have a favorite one. I like “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” But that’s not really a Christmas carol, that’s more of a church song? I remember seeing, back when I was 16 or 17 at a dinner theatre up in Delaware, this man sing that song. It was the end of their Christmas show and he was just this powerful baritone, and he just belted the whole thing out and from that point on, that has just been my go-to Christmas song. Even though you can’t find it anywhere. I will tell you, my other two favorites are “Dominic the Donkey” and “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”

Jude: It’s ironic that those two songs, “Dominic the Donkey” and “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” those are probably my two least favorite Christmas songs.

What’s your favorite Christmas cookie?

Jude: Chocolate Chip.

Bobby: Gingerbread.

Anything else about the overall experience with A Christmas Story?

Bobby: It’s great getting to have the whole family experience, me and Jude and Dickie. Because when we’re not in theatre, everyone is wrapped up in their own lives so we don’t always get to see each other every day. When we’re doing theatre together, we get to see each other two and three times a week and then every day for a whole week towards the end. It’s wonderful.

If you had to wrap up the A Christmas Story experience in just one word, what’s the word that you would use?

Jude: Gun!

Bobby: Family.

A Christmas Story plays December 9, 2022 through December 17, 2022 with Tidewater Players, in residence at the Cultural Center at The Havre de Grace Opera House— 121 N. Union Street in historic downtown Havre de Grace, MD. For tickets call the box office at 667-225-8433 or purchase them online.

*Tidewater Players has not actually (at least not at the time of the publication of this article) purchased a nine-foot dancing Santa for the Havre de Grace Opera House roof.