THEATER REVIEW : ‘The Legendary Christmas’ Offers Rollicking Good Time

The look is low budget, the lighting person was clearly a last-minute replacement at a recent performance and the actors are elbow to elbow on the tiny stage, but never mind: Actors Alley’s production of “The Legendary Christmas,” at the El Portal’s Lab Theatre, is a rollicking good time for young audiences, with a lesson in giving attached.

In David C. Field’s comedy, directed by Joe Ochman, with catchy music by Michael Silversher and Clarence Patterson, the North Pole is being fed-exed, E-mailed and faxed to death. Santa (Leo Weltman, looking the part), fed up with commercialism and “purchase orders in triplicate,” takes a powder.

Big Momma Nature (Desiree Dargan) is not pleased and calls the other “legendary characters” together to find a replacement.

Will it be the scheming Halloween Witch (shades of Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas”), the zany Easter Bunny, the growly March Lion, the Stork, the Tooth Fairy, Jack Frost, the Sandman or the wise April Fool?

Or will Santa regain his Christmas spirit and will the others learn to be happy with who they are?

The latter is the case, of course, as the lowly April Fool shows Santa (and the audience) how important hope can be to those who need him the most.

Despite some uneveness in execution, the nonsense hums along, highlighted by Patterson’s rhythmic narration as the Man in the Moon, Desiree Dargan’s rich gospel voice, the wackiness of Myracris Ocenar’s lisping Tooth Fairy and Alex Glas’ fashion-conscious Easter Bunny.

A suggestion for the Sandman, however: If the lighting person misses a cue, glowering up at the booth lends a Scrooge-like chill to the show’s cheery mood.

* El Portal Lab Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, Tuesday-Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Through Thursday. $7.50-$12; (818) 508-4200.