The SantaLand Diaries, Presentation House Theatre, Dec. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2 and 8 p.m. For more information visit phtheatre.org.
Sometimes to find your own humanity you have to kick out Tiny Tim’s crutch.
So says Bill Allman as he explains part of the motive behind his latest theatrical venture, The SantaLand Diaries.
“You need to deflate some of the seasonal traditions in order to find the genuine emotion behind it,” notes the director and producer of the somewhat sardonic yet witty play on now until Dec. 17 at Presentation House Theatre.
The SantaLand Diaries is loosely based on author and American radio personality David Sedaris’ employment as a Macy’s department store Christmas elf. Originally written as a short story, it was adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello, best known for his work on the Broadway play Wicked.
Allman read the short story years ago and saw Sedaris perform different material at the Vogue theatre this year. Although Sedaris didn’t read from The SantaLand Diaries during the Vancouver show, Allman was impressed.
“I looked at the audience’s reaction and went, ‘Oh, well, as a producer I can tell you this is gold.’”
When the idea was floated to mount a production of The SantaLand Diaries, Allman was keen to bring the story to local audiences mainly because of the humour.
“One of the great things about this piece is we all find ourselves laughing consistently throughout it,” he says, but warns it’s a departure from traditional heartwarming seasonal fare. “This has some edge to it, this has some bite. It’s a backstage pass into the secret lives of elves.”
However, although the tone is somewhat cynical, it’s not all bah-humbug.
“Every single Christmas story has a little redemptive quality to it,” says Allman. “It’s a dark Christmas comedy with heart, which is why it works and I think is what attracted me to it.”
It’s a tricky business balancing a sarcastic script; too much sarcasm and it may come across as plain mean. But Allman says as a writer Sedaris has a gift for knowing exactly where to draw the line.
“And as experienced comic types, Alan and I know exactly where the line is,” he adds, referring to actor Alan Marriott who stars as Crumpet, the main character. Marriott shares directing duties with Allman, who says the pair work well together because of their shared professional history, such as co-writing two musicals, including Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen (with Kevin O’Brien), which has run at Presentation House Theatre over Christmas since 2013. After working on the sweet seasonal tale, Allman was interested in tackling something a little less sugary.
“I like that it’s not traditional Christmas sweetness. I like that it’s emotional insulin for the sweetness overload that we get at this time of year,” says Allman.
During the course of the show, Crumpet the elf experiences a journey of sorts to find where the good is as he faces both the light and dark side of the holiday season.
As well as being attracted to the material itself, Allman felt some camaraderie with the lead character. Many years ago, during his “checkered employment history,” Allman enjoyed a brief stint as a costumed mascot called Admiral Quackers, a big duck with orange tights.
“Kids punch you and you develop a bit of a rapport with the other mascots who are in the same fairs and the same parades as you are, and you all have these dark little stories that you tell each other,” he recalls of the experience.
But while lifting the cheery veneer of Christmas (and the world of mascots) is part of The Santa Land Diaries process, it is perhaps not the end goal.
Although he doesn’t want to give away any spoilers, Allman says this about the show: “The audience will come out having laughed themselves silly and still feeling Christmas is pretty cool.”
The show also features musical flourishes throughout by multi-instrumentalist Sandra-Mae Luykx, who also appears in a variety of supporting roles.
The SantaLand Diaries is on now at Presentation House Theatre through Dec. 17. The show is not recommended for kids.
Tickets: adults: $25; seniors (65+): $20; students (with valid student ID): $20. Tickets can be purchased online at phtheatre.org, by phone at 604-990-3474, or in person at the theatre, 333 Chesterfield Ave., North Vancouver.
