There’s Snow Time Like the Present

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, San Diego’s got it, if not on the street, then definitely on the stage.

You’ve got a sleigh full of choices, from the classic Victorian rendering of “A Christmas Carol” at the San Diego Repertory Theatre to the Lamb’s Players Theatre’s hat trick: It’s simultaneously presenting the turn-of-the-century “An American Christmas” and “The Gifts of the Magi” as well as “A Festival of Christmas” set in a fairy-tale medieval kingdom, each in a different theater.

You can’t go wrong with any of these. San Diego Rep and Lamb’s have been in the Christmas play producing business for more than 20 years, and the professionalism glistens like decorations on a designer tree. Even when you’ve seen the shows before and think you know the tricks, they’ll find ways to make you laugh and cry. These folks are mighty persuasive.

Director Javier Velasco gives the San Diego Repertory Theatre’s 21st annual “A Christmas Carol” a warm and intimate feel by bringing the action up close and creating a ring of Christmas lights at the Lyceum Theatre that link the stage to the audience. Douglas Roberts’ Scrooge has humor as well as depth; his journey from miser to redeemed soul is ultimately joyous.

* “A Christmas Carol,” San Diego Repertory Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego. Friday, 8 p.m., Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m. Ends Sunday. $29 with $7 off for youth under 12. (619) 544-1000.

With three shows running simultaneously, Lamb’s Players Theatre’s biggest competition is itself. The company’s newest and most intriguing offering is “The Gifts of the Magi,” a musical retelling of two O. Henry stories adapted by Mark St. Germain and Randy Courts.

St. Germain and Courts have done some tweaking with the original story, some to the good, some not. Director Deborah Gilmour Smyth elicits a winning performance from fifth-grader Bix Bettwy, who plays and sings the large parts of newsboy and narrator with persuasive charm. While the musical score is more pleasing than memorable, “The Gifts of the Magi” is a welcome alternative to more predictable holiday fare.

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* “The Gifts of the Magi,” the Hahn Cosmopolitan Theatre, 444 4th Ave., San Diego. Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 4:30 and 8 p.m. Ends Saturday. $14-$28. (619) 437-0600.

For 25 years, Lamb’s has been presenting “A Festival of Christmas,” a series of original Christmas plays by resident playwright Kerry Meads. Each year the production has a different subtitle. This year’s offering, “Once Upon a Time . . . “ is pure fairy-tale fantasy.

A princess from one kingdom was betrothed to a prince of a neighboring kingdom before their births 20 years ago. They have never met and now, the night before the wedding, the princess is dreading the event, which is scheduled to occur on Christmas Day.

It’s predictable, with the inevitable twists of mistaken identities as the princess (lovely Bettina Warren) and her funny, warring ladies-in-waiting Elsebethe (Sara Tobin) and Greta (Barbara Williams) escape, in disguise, for one last night on the town. But the charm of the Lamb’s performers, Meads’ witty characterizations and the clever turns of phrase prove irresistible.

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* “A Festival of Christmas: Once Upon a Time,” Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. Thursday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; matinees Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m. No performance today. $18-$28. Ends Sunday. (619) 437-0600.

Lamb’s Players’ “An American Christmas” is interactive theater at its most congenial. It invites the audience to share in an idyllic Christmas feast and celebration set in 1905. Mrs. Willa Ray Marshall (Deborah Gilmour Smyth) and 21 of her closest family and friends welcome patrons into her “home,” which just happens to be the grand ballroom of the Hotel del Coronado.

Carolers sing at 6:30 as the audience partakes of warm apple cider and canapes of shrimp, lox, beef and warm brie topped with apples and nuts. By 7 p.m., the Marshall “family” ushers patrons to their seats at elegantly set tables of eight, where people are urged to acquaint themselves with their neighbors.

The Lamb’s Players performers succeed in transforming the ballroom into a home and the audience into guests. And it didn’t hurt that the finale featured one of the most extraordinary dessert buffets, brimming with chocolates and creams and cookies and fruit-topped confections.

* “An American Christmas,” Lamb’s Players Theatre at the Hotel Del Coronado Grand Ballroom, 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado. Nightly at 6:30 p.m. except tonight. $49-$75. Ends Sunday. (619) 437-0600.

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Among other Christmas shows in town:

* “Forever Plaid,” Stuart Ross’ popular revue of a ‘50s singing group brought back to life for one last performance, features some Christmas songs, Santa hats and snow through the New Year at the Theatre in Old Town, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town. Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 5 and 8 p.m.; and Sundays, 7 p.m. continuing without the Christmas songs through Feb. 14. $20-$30. (619) 688-2494.

* “A Welk Musical Christmas ‘96,” a musical celebration at the Welk Resort Theatre, 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido. Wednesdays and Sundays, 1:45 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:45 and 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. through Jan. 4. $30.50 to $35.50 (includes dinner or luncheon buffet). (619) 749-3448.