Alternative Wonderlands : Sedaris’ ‘SantaLand’: Bright, Not Merry

In a holiday season in which theatrical offerings include such big-budget productions as South Coast Rep’s perennial “A Christmas Carol,” the Old Globe’s new “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” as well as the upcoming Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Universal Amphitheatre, many smaller theaters are presenting alternative interpretations of the Christmas spirit.

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‘Tis the season to be sour in a double bill by public radio commentator David Sedaris, “The SantaLand Diaries” and “Season’s Greetings,” at the Coast Playhouse.

“SantaLand,” the longer of the two, is Sedaris’ wry tale of working as an elf in Macy’s Santaland during a desperate holiday season, a staged adaptation by Joe Mantello of Sedaris’ essay of the same name. Gusts of humor arise from the juxtaposition of the store’s cheery facade and the staff’s irreverence and backbiting, which occasionally creep into public view.

Evan Gore’s dry delivery provides comic contrast to the set’s suggestion of winter wonderland and to his elf outfit’s garish colors--designed by Isaac Mizrahi, no less--but his assigned movements are a bit stiff.

The curtain raiser, Sedaris’ “Season’s Greetings,” is less successful. Supposedly a troubled family’s holiday form letter, read aloud by the mother, it’s juvenile in its attempt to shock, though it might work better in print. Several women rotate in the role, reading the script while wearing a bathrobe, accompanied by a TV set with an image of a flickering fireplace and sometimes awkward sound effects.

* “SantaLand Diaries” and “Season’s Greetings,” Coast Playhouse, 8325 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends Dec. 20. $20. (323) 650-8507, (323) 660-8587. Running time: 1 hour, 25 minutes.