Arts: Finding hilarity in the holidays

BY EMILY JENNINGS

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

With decorations to put up, parties to host, gifts to buy and cards to mail out, who doesn’t get stressed out in December? “A Christmas Survival Guide” is in order—a production of Christmas classics and spoofs that will help you laugh away all your Christmas angst.

Performed by the Caroline Community Theatre, “A Christmas Survival Guide,” written by James Hindman and Ray Roderick, is filled with comedic vignettes and plenty of original music as well as classic songs like “Silent Night.”

“It brings fun into the Christmas season,” said CCT director Julia North. “There are parts that you watch and laugh at because you’re like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s me!’ And then there are parts that really make you think about the season, that are inspiring. It’s not all one or the other, it’s a good mix.”

The play opens Friday at 8 p.m., with another performance to follow at the same hour Saturday, and a matinée at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Following a loose plot that more accurately resembles a musical revue, each song is set up by a series of sketches, mostly comic. A narrator, voiced by Bryan Hall, leads five characters—played by Carmela Hofstee, Liz Collins, Ally Dodson, Justin Smith and Joel McCormick—through the Survival Guide as they search for the true holiday spirit, hitting hilarious roadblocks along the way.

Instead of the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” it’s “The Twelve Steps of Christmas”—to help you get over your holiday addictions. Take a frantic “Sleigh Ride” and experience a city-sounds version of “Silver Bells.” Represented are the naughty—“I’d Like to Hitch a Ride With Santa”—and the nice, “Little Girl Blue”; the heartfelt, “All Those Christmas Clichés,”; and the beautiful, “O Holy Night.” The songs are accompanied on the piano.

“A Christmas Survival Guide” is the second production to be presented in CCT’s newly constructed 80-seat black-box theater in the cafeteria of the old Ladysmith Elementary School.

What: “A Christmas  Survival Guide”

Where: Caroline Community Theatre, 7278 Ladysmith Road, Ruther Glen (formerly Ladysmith Elementary School)

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $10

Info: 540/842-6739; facebook.com/Caroline CommunityTheatre

Emily Jennings: 540/374-5477

ejennings@freelancestar.com

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