High-tech effects help, but Rockettes shine brightest in Wang production

Countless Bostonians feel it just wouldn’t be Christmas without their annual excursion to “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes” at the Citi Performing Arts Center/ Wang Theatre. And even many of those who typically do not frequent the theatre admit, “I’d really like to see the Rockettes at least once in my life.”

Well, the wait is over with the arrival of the latest version of an extravaganza that can justly bill itself as “the # 1 live holiday production in the world.” The mesmerizingly synchronized dancers, flawlessly executing the intricate choreography (most of which is beloved from past editions), remain the principal attraction. But producers have boosted the wow-factor enormously by backing them up with the latest scenic technology, similar to that used in “Peter Pan” at City Hall Plaza. Boston is one of the few cities outside the Big Apple still capable of hosting this high-tech “Christmas Spectacular.”

On a 50-foot LED screen are projected constantly changing CGI backgrounds. Clouds drift past the brilliant moon in the opening snowy forest scene. Santa’s toyshop makes you feel as if you’ve been plunked into a 3D kid’s movie. And the mall experience of seeing multiple St. Nicks in one day is magically spoofed.

But it is the first act closer that leaves fans buzzing. The Rockettes board a 7-ton, 34-foot-long double-decker outside their Radio City home, and as the vehicle drives off, spectators feel they are following, twisting and turning along the streets, past St Patrick’s, through Central Park and end up –where else? – in Times Square where the Rockettes appear dancing from different angles on all the giant billboards–while fireworks explode!

Wisely, the eye-popping effects are not used in the precision marching number “The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” which along with “The Living Nativity” with its overdressed Three Kings and their entourages including four live sheep, a donkey and two camels, have been part of the show since its inception in 1933.

Other improvements include reworking the storyline of Act II, featuring a little boy who believes in Santa and his teenage brother who doesn’t. Of course, the latter has a change of heart after a visit to the North Pole, inspiring this Justin Bieber look-alike to belt out an up-tempo tune.

But the 18 artist/athletes still deserve the lioness’ share of the credit for the show’s global fame. They serenely sail through stylistically different routines ranging from tap in a mime version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to ballet in their teddy-bear take on “The Nutcracker” to their eye-high kicks throughout. Their toned figures were never shown off to more advantage than in the dazzling “Shine” finale where each dancer is garbed in little more than 3,000 Swarovski crystals.

The Rockettes’ 50-performance run ends on December 28. Ticket info at citicenter.org.