‘No Ho Ho’ in This Trio of One-Acts

“No Ho Ho in NoHo” is a no-brainer bill of three one-acts that distort holiday traditions without any grinchiness. At the Actor’s Workout Studio in North Hollywood, these comedies share a slightly warped sense of silliness.

“Wingless in Los Angeles” is an updated version of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Pepin Valera eschews the original’s small-town setting; his George (Dean Butler, giving a frenetic James Stewart imitation) is a rich Bel-Air architect whose angelic guide is former “roach coach” worker Chacho (Valera).

Valera’s script is a bit rough, and the snappiest exchanges are the voice-over conversations between the angels. Pamela Brull’s direction could be tightened. But there are enough well-aimed potshots at this town’s pretentiousness to make the story fun.

Joleen Lutz takes the seasonal biblical story and transforms it into a witty teenage Valley romance in her monologue “Mary and Joseph Sitting in a Tree.” In a scant few minutes she manages to involve a white Ford Bronco and the Bobbitts in this lurid tale of immaculate conception and a libidinous carpenter.

Dan W. Davis’ “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” is a whimsical tale about a neurotic woman (Julie Pop) who plans a party for 13. Her only guest is an escaped felon (Stevie Johnson) with a gun.

Trite, but pleasantly entertaining holiday fare.

* “No Ho Ho in NoHo,” Actor’s Workout Studio, 4735 N. Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends Jan. 11. $12. (818) 506-3903. Running time: 2 hours.