Edgy Christmas at Penguin Point with ‘Santaland Diaries,’ Phantasmagoria REVIEW
David Sedaris has been entertaining us with his biting tale of working as a department-store Christmas elf since 1992. His possibly true, likely exaggerated “Santaland Diaries” is onstage in a production by The Ensemble Co. at Penguin Point Productions.
There is a special resonance to “The Santaland Diaries” in Central Florida, a place where an awful lot of people don polyester elf costumes, or similar festive attire, and plaster on smiles to bring holiday cheer to visitors. In fact, the costume sported by Ryan Ball as Crumpet the elf would look right at home dancing down Main Street U.S.A. at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Sedaris’ one-man, adults-only story holds up well — the references to camcorders and long-gone (but not forgotten) soap opera “One Life to Live” notwithstanding. And the writer can certainly paint a picture, whether it’s a Santa who’s focused solely on his paycheck, or a fellow elf who’s too much into the job.
Ball has the charm to convey his character’s disbelief, dismay and displeasure with his job alongside a wry sense of amusement at the silliness of it all.
The one-act is paired with a second brief offering, Sedaris’ “Season’s Greetings.” It’s another one-person show, this time fronted by Rose LaMarre as a family matriarch writing the annual holiday newsletter to send to loved ones.
Both plays are directed by Tyler Adcock, who gets fine performances from his actors — though in this kind of comedy, he could have let them go even broader to illustrate their characters’ descents into holiday hysteria.
LaMarre tells a particularly dark story, but her forced jollity keeps the laughs coming as long they can. Death and racism pepper the story, and here’s a useful tidbit to remember while watching: Do you believe everything you read in your friends’ Christmas newsletters?
“Season’s Greetings” and “The Santaland
Diaries” run through Dec. 16 at Penguin Point Productions in Oviedo Mall; go to penguinpointproductions.com/tickets.
‘Phantasmagoria,’ ‘Christmas Carol’
A couple of Christmas shows are yet to come at Penguin Point. Phantasmagoria will bring its “Through a Christmas Darkly” to the space on Dec. 20 and 21.
This is a new show from the spooky storytelling troupe, and like the Sedaris plays, it cuts through the seasonal sweetness. As seen at Seminole State College, “Through a Christmas Darkly” more than lives up to Phantasmagoria’s larger shows. Here, John DiDonna directs seven performers, who tell some cracking ghost stories accompanied by a dance or two.
With only seven storytellers, each gets a chance to make a strong impression — and they do. Keep an eye on Stephen Rosario, whose face can eerily look as menacing as his voice sounds. (He also excels at gnashing his teeth, and how often does a critic get to say that?) Camille Vela’s voice has a delicious otherworldly quality about it, and Cherran Dea’s authority keeps everyone in line.
Olivia Tyndall is haunting in the evening’s best story, the tale of a woman terrorized on Christmas Eve. And a delightfully icky Krampus puppet is used to great effect. It would be fascinating to see what could develop with even more advanced technical elements.
Meanwhile, David McElroy is a troupe of one who takes on 37 characters in his 22nd year of performing “A One Man ‘A Christmas Carol.’” He’ll present the show, adapted from Charles Dickens’ classic tale, at Penguin Point on Dec. 22 and 23. Marylin McGinnis directs.