This ‘Little Drummer’ goes glam for Troubies

If the Troubadour Theater Company ever runs out of pop icons, theatrical classics and iconic holidays to skewer, Los Angeles will be the poorer for it.

Christmas cheer in particular takes on a new dimension when spiked with an outrageous Troubies twist.

Last year it was “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Motown.” This year, the heart-tugging “Little Drummer Boy” -- the carol and the stop-motion animated classic -- is gleefully mangled into “Little Drummer Bowie” at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank.

Fronted by the company’s artistic director and clown extraordinaire, Matt Walker, wickedly spoofing David Bowie in glitter suit and spiky blond wig, this lavish, loopy rock fest also features a potent plus in the form of Joseph Leo Bwarie, heating things up as Ziggy, a misanthropic but glam little drummer boy.

Ziggy is discovered by Arab impresario Ben (Walker) and his sidekick Ali (wry Beth Kennedy), and soon he’s entertaining downtrodden taxpayers in Jerusalem as well as the Three Kings -- Don (Simon Yin), Larry (Timothy Groff) and Billy Jean (Rory O’Malley).

The not-so-wise kings, it seems, have been infused with dance-off fever while following a portentous star in the sky. Well, it’s not really a star. It’s a sort of miniature silver zeppelin with a faulty motor. As with any Troubadour show, flubs and groaners are built in.

Ziggy hangs on to his bad attitude until kings, shepherds and assorted loonies congregate for a certain miracle birth. And if you think you know how that turns out, think again.

It wouldn’t be fair to give away the surprise -- bad taste or brilliant satire, you be the judge -- but it can be said that, yes, once again Tiny Tim (Groff), who spring-boarded to more challenging roles after the Troubies’ spin on Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” plays a key role here.

Throughout, the company’s song-and-dance delivery cooks like crazy. Choreographed by Nadine Ellis, the multitalented actors and the first-rate on-stage band, led by percussionist Eric Heinly, rock the house as they work their way through a “best of” David Bowie songbook (“Golden Years,” “Changes,” “China Girl,” “Fame,” “Under Pressure” and on and on).

Dan Waskom contributes eye-popping stilt work as Joshua the Camel and eye candy as a “Risky Business”-era Tom Cruise. O’Malley and Walker hilariously re-create the Christmas duet between Bowie and Bing Crosby. Monica Schneider, meanwhile, shines as a remarkably forbearing Mary.

Merry political and social references abound: tax cuts for the rich, Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton, state budget woes, airport security, enriched uranium and mad cow disease.

And although Lisa Valenzuela’s role as storyteller hasn’t much traction, she deftly primes the comic pump as Cathy, the pre-show warmup librarian for the “Toluca Lake Adjacent Community Library Players” Christmas show, welcoming the audience with rib-tickling nervous caroling and chat.

Jeremy Pivnick’s lighting is spot-on; sound designer Robert Arturo Ramirez complements the rowdy rock concert vibe without ear-piercing decibels. Costume designer Sharon McGunigle clearly had fun with the cast’s bright motley, including Walker’s skintight gold “Major Tom” suit and Bwarie’s fake fur vest and “Aladdin pants.”

One more thing: Don’t worry about the elderly lady with the walker. She’ll be just fine.

*

‘Little Drummer Bowie’

Where: Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank

When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 4 and 7 p.m. Sundays

Ends: Dec. 23

Price: $30 to $37.50

Contact: (818) 955-8101, www.falcontheatre.com

Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes