Ruth Williamson isn’t the only big Broadway personality in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, the splashy, kitschy, overblown confection of cheesy holiday cheer now onstage at Shea’s. (Sometimes good taste just isn’t the point!) James Clow, who last came to Buffalo as Captain Hook in Cathy Rigby’s first farewell tour as Peter Pan, is back!

Clow, who plays the reluctant romantic, Bob Wallace, has a glorious Broadway voice and gets to sing the title tune. His Captain Hook was remarkable, and his Bob Wallace is marvelously endearing—particularly in Act II, when the show finally finds its pace. On Broadway, Clow has appeared in Assassins, Wonderful Town, She Loves Me, and Blood Brothers. While he was the standby for the star in the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, he created a bit of Broadway history by performing in more shows than the featured performer.

Clow has played Shea’s a number of times, and if you’ve got a good memory, you might remember his performance as Clifford Bradshaw in Cabaret at Artpark, back in the golden age of Brother Augustine musicals. Buffalo’s Sammy Viverito directed that show.

Welcome back, James. May your days in Buffalo be merry and bright!