T H E AT E R
BY RACHAEL CARNES
FEAR AND LOATHING IN SANTALAND
OCT mounts a delightful production of David Sedaris’
comic holiday materpiece
D
avid Sedaris is a masterfully droll storyteller, and his one-man play The Santaland Diaries, playing now
at Oregon Contemporary Theatre, is the perfect pairing for this heightened holiday season.
Let’s face it: 2016 has been a smoldering dumpster fire. Prince, Bowie, Rickman — that little
election a few weeks ago — even Thanksgiving couldn’t go unscathed, as everyone’s TV mom, Florence
Henderson, was called to the Brady Family Meeting in the Sky. Curse you, year from hell!
We need some laughs.
And we’re not looking for a Dickensian drubbing or an existential meditation on George Bailey and Mr. Potter
(because Mr. Potter just became president).
No, we want escape. And you’ll find plenty of good chuckles, guffaws and belly laughs right now at OCT.
Santaland, by Sedaris and adapted by Broadway heavyweight Joe Mantello, stars Colin Law as Crumpet the Elf.
Law’s Crumpet engages the audience with a cavalcade of personal humilities: From his first ignoble moments
applying to work as an elf at Macy’s Herald Square to the final frenzied hours of Christmas Eve, when increasingly
disgruntled shoppers queue up to glimpse “Santa,” Law brings unwavering energy and spot-on comic timing.
Sedaris’ penchant for poking fun at himself (and others) is delicious. And his legendary story — about being
young, broke and working as an elf — became an instant classic when it was first published some 20 years ago.
But it’s Law that animates this hilarious tale. He is so likeable, so relatable, that by the end of the play we don’t
just love Crumpet: We are Crumpet.
Director Craig Willis creates delightful momentum throughout the story, with lively blocking and quick pacing
that highlight the madness of the season.
Crumpet’s Santaland is a frothy set by scenic designer Amy Dunn, replete with green gumdrop trees and a
gingerbread house. Costumes by Kelly L. Keiler add to the schadenfreude. Lighting by Justin Feimster and sound
by Gabe Carlin punctuate the rhythm of the story with zaniness and real emotion.
That’s the thing. No spoilers, but underneath Sedaris’ hilarious commentary there’s a genuine holiday story.
Take an hour, bring your friends and family, have a laugh and share in this artful tale perfectly presented.
And for the record, my elf name is Cold Sore.
Santaland Diaries (intended for mature audiences age 16 and over) runs through Dec. 11 at Oregon Contemporary Theatre; $18-$30, tickets at octheatre.
org or 541-465-1506.
COLIN LAW IN OCT’S PRODUCTION
OF THE SANTALAND DIARIES
88th SEASON!
SOUTH
EUGENE
The Very Little Theatre
presents in STAGE LEFT:
The Trial of
Ebenezer
Scrooge
DAILY DELIVERY 4:30-8:45PM
Mon-Fri 11AM-9:30PM • Sat & Sun 9:30AM-9:30PM
BREAKFAST SAT ‘TIL 11:00 SUN. ‘TIL 1:00
80 E. 29Th & Willamette 541-302-6444
BUBBLE TEA • GLUTEN FREE ENTREES
The Trial of the Century!
Written by Mark Brown
Directed by Sarah Etherton
Dec. 2-4, 8-11
7:30 pm curtain; 2 pm Sundays
Tix: $12 General Admission
Box office open 2:00-6:00
Wed.-Sat., 2350 Hilyard St.
Tix on-line at TheVLT.com
541-344-7751
30
December 1, 2016 • eugeneweekly.com
DELIVERY AVAILABLE 4:30-8:45PM
Open Daily: 11AM-9:30PM
1308 Hilyard • 541-343-0165