The Santaland Diaries
At the Arts Club Revue Stage until Dec. 29
Tickets: 604-687-1644, artsclub.com
Ryan Beil, as Santas elf Crumpet, works his butt and curly-toed booties off in David Sedariss account of what really went on in Santaland at Macys New York department store in 1991.
What happened at Macys where Sedaris actually worked one Christmas, he suggests is happening all across the country: terrified kiddies, rude tweens and cocky teens sitting on Santas knee only because their mothers want the annual Picture with Santa.
First read as an essay in 1992 by Sedaris on NPR (National Public Radio), and expanded upon for the radio program This American Life, it was later adapted for stage by Joe Mantello and has gone on to be a seasonal favourite for theatregoers looking for something with little or no treacle at Christmas.
But a good radio essay does not necessarily a good play make. There are a lot of lighting cues and some big white cubes that Beil shifts around and around. On the plus side, there is one spectacularly good costume change.
The material is darkly funny. For example: what Santa in his right mind would ask a kid without a nose what he wants for Christmas? And which Mr. Claus would be surprised to hear from a drunk that he wants a blond with big tits?
And theres a tasteless episode about retarded kids that really should be pulled.
But otherwise there are lots of laughs especially early on when Sedaris, at the time an unemployed aspiring writer of 33, is delighted and devastated in equal measure to find he has landed the job as an elf.
I trust Beil and director John Murphy will continue to enhance the funny bits and by the time you read this, The Santaland Diaries might just be the thing to jingle your bell.
