HOLIDAY STAGE REVIEWS : ‘Peggy’ Returns in Time for Holiday

Indomitable ‘60s starlet Peggy Judy (Molly Brandenburg) just won’t stay down.

In her third comeback try, it’s Christmas in Laughlin, Nev., and Peggy’s broadcasting her “Peggy Judy Christmas Special” on “Channel 29, right next to the educational channel.” The show comes from the “starlight penthouse” of Laughlin’s Safari Inn motel (read Silver Lake’s Angels Theatre), and, like Peggy’s previous outings, it is not overburdened with taste.

The special does have a sponsor (with program apologies)--”celebrating the birth of Baby Jesus with Kraft’s Baby Cheeses.” Peggy’s Holiday Log, which she makes during one commercial, hopefully, has the Kraft people giggling.

There are also cheesy new acts to join Victor Gardell, who returns as Iglesias clone Julio Rodriguez-Rodriguez, whom Peggy found in a Mexican restaurant celebrating the new U.S.-Mexico trade agreement.

Comic Gary Loomis (Lee Magnuson) introduces the proceedings with smirking jollity. A puppet bit a la Ed Sullivan with Socko-Gigio doesn’t quite come off, but it’s short, and there’s plenty of time left for the stunning lack of talent of the Peggy Judy Dancers, who once again are the funniest part of the evening. A successful ex-Peggy backup singer, Lettie-Bang-Taylor (Charmaine Mancil) visits to make tacky Miss Judy envious--and makes the mistake of being honestly very good, putting the put-on in just the right light.

* “The Peggy Judy Christmas Special,” Angels Theatre, 2106 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake. Fridays-Saturdays, 10:35 p.m. Ends Dec. 19. $10; (213) 466-1767. Running time: 1 hour, 20 minutes.