Cranky elf colors Santaland blue

The Santaland Diaries, which opened Friday night at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre Annex, is pretty elfin’ funny.

But if strong language offends you, don’t go. Instead, see The Gift of The Magi on the Rep’s main stage across the street — the “nice” production, as Producing Artistic Director John Miller-Stephany, who introduced the show, called it.

The “naughty” one, Santaland, a one-man show based on humorist David Sedaris’ experience working a seasonal job as one of Santa’s elves at Macy’s in New York City, is 80 minutes of adult, foul-mouthed fun.

Well, most of it is. Repeated use of the “r-word” and jokes at the expense of people with special needs caused this reviewer to inwardly cringe. Perhaps that seemed cuter back in the early 1990s when Sedaris first read his essay on National Public Radio; today it comes across cruel.

Still, Grant Fletcher Prewitt is precious in his portrayal of the curmudgeonly Crumpet the Elf, whether he’s tattling on his various Claus co-workers (“He acts as though Santaland is a singles bar”), flipping the bird during a dance to “Carol of the Bells” and threatening fussy children (“I said Santa no longer traffics in coal. … If you’re bad he comes to your house and steals things”).

Solo nonstop storytelling in the intimate setting of the Rep’s Black Box Theatre for that length of time is no small feat.

It’s no small “feet” either — Prewitt does it all while dressed in ridiculous candy cane leggings, a faux-furtrimmed green velvet jumper and bulky curled-toe jingle-bell boots.

The Santaland Diaries will be performed again at The Arkansas Repertory Theatre Annex, 518 Main St., Little Rock, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. today and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Additional shows, through Dec. 24, are at 7 p.m. Thursday, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 24.

Tickets are $15 (student rush — day of show) to $40. More information is available at (501) 378-0405 or TheRep.org.