THEATER REVIEW : ‘Christmas Pageant’: Naughty, Nice and Silly

Revolving Door’s “1994 A Dolt’s Only Christmas Pageant,” at the Tribune Theatre, may be a little irreverent, but not more so than many others that have preceded them. Though the program calls the evening “A Dolt’s Only,” the flyers use the phrase “Adults Only.” The program is right, and besides, it says plainly, “If you are easily offended, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

There is nothing in the show to offend any but the most narrow-minded, and the only lack of taste is in the quality of some of the material. This is an acting company, not a writing company, and it’s well known that Santa rarely leaves both gifts in the same stocking, even at Christmastime.

Joel Beers’ play, “An Anti-Chri$tma$ Carol,” which makes up the second act, begins with a clever idea. A woman upsets her cynical husband by obstinately maintaining a cheerful attitude about the Yule season.

Of course, just like Scrooge, she’s visited by ghosts, but these try to whittle away her bubbling enthusiasm. It’s an inventive twist to the tale, but the whole is carelessly and unevenly developed. The humor flags through erratic placement of emphasis and, eventually, just too much silliness.

The first half is an olio of song, guitar and fiddle, a couple of cute blackouts and poetry readings aimed at the season. Gary Tomlinson’s “A Bankrupt Christmas,” read with enthusiasm by the author, is bankrupt verse, emotionally scattered and weakened by literary pathways that are pointless and scansionless.

*

Much stronger is Michael Mollo’s reading of Tom Rush’s “Potterville,” which sharply and intricately slices up the sentimentality of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and winds up sort of proving that “George Bailey was a chump / And Frank Capra was lying.”

There is a highlight that must remain a surprise, a very funny rendition of “Little Drummer Boy.”

* “1994 A Dolt’s Only Christmas Pageant,” Tribune Theatre, 116 1/2 W. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton. Tonight only, 8 p.m. $5. (714) 525-3403. Running time: 1 hours, 50 minutes.

A Revolving Door production of a Christmas program written by Steven Lamprinos, Steve Spehar, Michael Mollo and Joel Beers, with a Christmas play by Beers and Mollo. Directed by the company. With Gary Tomlinson, Steven Lamprinos, Shannon McDuff, Christopher Michael Egger, Erica Dewey, Joel Beers, Kara Knappe, Ambir Snezko, Chris Dalu, Robert Shirreffs, Bradley A. Whitfield, Nicholas Boicourt Jr., Michael Mollo, Steve Spehar, Nick Boicourt Sr., Slim Raiford, Chris Dalu. Lighting: Steve Spehar. Setting: Michael Mollo and Christopher Michael Egger.