Humbug

Critiqued by Holly Bartges

CelebrationWorks offers a grand opportunity for an alternative breath of fresh air toward Holiday entertainment at The Vintage Theatre.

CelebrationWorks production of Humbug.

Opening to sold out houses, Humbug, directed by Sarah Roshan, comprises six original comedies written by six award winning playwrights, providing wondrous opportunity for real, honest laughter.

Humbug opens with On Rudolph by Mark Ogle. The scenario takes us into the bedroom of Claire (Hannah Marie Hines) and Bob (Andy Lacerte). It’s Christmas for the newly weds, and it’s their six months anniversary. Claire ready to celebrate the way most newly weds want to celebrate discovers all Bob wants to do is sleep.

Aha, she knows how to wake him up. Losing her flannel pajamas, she sleeks back into the room dressed in a Santa hat and a skimpy red negligee most Santas would freeze in within two seconds. Then again, considering Santa’s physique, Hines is far more appealing than any Santa could possibly be, Insisting it’s time to exchange presents, he gives her a practical gift far from her idea of “celebration”. Her present to him? Her. Calling him her “Reluctant Radish”, Bob reluctantly confesses he has a problem, calling her his “Cheddar Cheese Cracker”.

Dripping with young love, happily married sexuality, Hines gives Claire the eager, beaver let’s celebrate, and let’s celebrate now with a one-two punch, while Lacerte plays Bob with the right amount of hesitancy needed to tighten the story. Where does Rudolph come into the picture? Make reservations and see for yourself.

Carol Roper’s Holiday Hotel takes Dora Lloyd (Crystal Verdon and her husband Jasper (Dan Heister) to Mexico for New Year’s Eve. Not a lot is going on so they think. Verdon’s Dora delivers the not-too-happy “uncelebratory” mood. Lacerte brings to life the Mexican waiter who gives just the right spring to the required accent. In walks a strange forlorn girl. Fernando says he just found her on the beach and named her Viola. She doesn’t speak. Switching gears Hines provides a grand character of mystique. Sitting at the bar alone, she plays with straws, toothpicks, olives, periodically looking anxiously out the door. What is she looking for? Does she expect someone? If so, who? Attracting Dora’s curious attention, babbling constantly until two guys wander in, Grey (Brian Brooks), and Dennis (Peter Trinh). They’re gay.

CelebrationWorks production of Humbug at Vintage Theatre.

Dennis openly complains Grey refuses to tell his parents they’re together. To Grey’s parents, Dennis remains a roommate. Dora invites herself into their conversation, while Viola sits at the bar playing with whatever sits before her. Into computers, Grey, a staunch believer in UFO’s, just knows he’s about to see one. Well written, and tightly performed, Holiday Hotel holds interest and intrigue. Conversation flows naturally with good timing. Lights and noise outside grab everyone’s attention as the mystery infields. Although everyone is solid in this piece, Hines grabs the attention with her nonchalant actions, and mysterious air.

Heister, Brooks, and Verdon play out Ken Crost’s Mel’s Hanukkah Surprise. Jerry (Brooks) and Breena (Verdon) in a dither expecting partygoers any minute, and then Mel (Heister) pulls fast one. Oh no! The old man is dead. Wait a minute. What’s going on here? Yes, indeed there’s a surprise all right. The three pace the action in good steady rhythm.

Kristine McGovern’s The Humbug offers a touch of “Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus” in an unsuspected round about way. Heister imprints the making of an old senile man, Mr. Bothwell grabbing the heart and the smiles at the same time. Hines falls into the clerk’s role as Ashley with business like credentials. She does try to be kind, but business is business in the world of stores. Mrs. Madison (Verdon) throws Ashley for a surprise loop taking a 180 degree turn from Ashley’s approach. What is she doing and why is she doing it? This isn’t the way customer service operates. Sometimes wisdom knows when to let go of the business approach.

The Bi-Polar Express also by McGovern definitely should be the one to close the show. Hester’s expertise comes to the forefront as a very funny and very tipsy Santa. Heister is simply rich, amicable, loose as a goose, natural, hysterical, and more fun than a bowl of Christmas monkeys.

His elves, Hines as Titmouse and Trinh as Pipkin surround and support Heister with delectable opposing elfin characteristics. Trinh’s deadpan Pipkin plays well into Hines’ eager, bright-eyed Titmouse. Santa doesn’t think anyone needs him anymore. Down in the dumps he clings to his bottle for moral support even though Titmouse tries her dandiest to cheer him up. “I was born a fat old man in a ridiculous red suit,” Santa wants to know who would name a 250-pound beast Vixen or Cupid? It is Heister who brings the words to life, while Hines and Trinh mesh with Heister’s wondrous timing. This comedy, the way it is played out, is worth the price of the ticket and then some.

If Edward Crosby Wells’ playlet, Vampyre Holiday needed to be included, it should have been tucked safely in the middle instead of closing this most delightful alternative laugh-about.

Lacerte plays Santa skirmishing with Elfvira played by Verdon. It doesn’t work. Verdon’s attempt at sexy falls flat, and Lacerte moves as though a board has been taped to his back. To make it funny, Elfvira needs to ooze with come-on-baby sensuality, and Santa needs to play hopscotch over and around her come “hitherness”. Lacerte substitutes smoothness for choppy actions, and Verdon just isn’t sexy no matter how you cut it. Consequently, any desired humor escapes the spotlight. Fortunately, the “rambunctiousness” of Bi-Polar Express still resonates smartly.

For the six short playlets Roshan did an amazing job designing the set to fit the mood for each, flowing smoothly from one to another. Terri Fong’s costume design fed into each character particularly Titmouse and Pipkin. It isn’t clear, however, if Elfvira’s black, slinky costume was wrong for Elfvira or wrong for Verdon.

That’s neither here nor there. The overview of the six rollicking scenarios billed together make for a delightful laughable good time moment. It would be even better if there were just five, but it’s worth it to see Heister and Hines, in particular, explore their artistic expertise with a variety of characters. Verdon, Lacerte, Brooks, and Trinh hold their own, but this production belongs to Heister and Hines.

Humbug
Comedy Alternative to Traditional Holiday Shows
6 comedies by 5 award- winning Denver playwrights!
The Bipolar Express, (Santa needs his lithium)
Humbug by Kristine McGovern
Vampyre Holiday (Santa hires a blood-sucking nanny) by Edward Crosby Wells
On Rudolph (a sexy comedy) by Mark Ogle
Holiday Hotel, (New Year’s Eve in a Baja hotel with a UFO experience) by Carol Roper
Mel’s Hanukkah Surprise, (what has Mel’s father given him) by Ken Crost.
Directed by Sarah Roshan
Celebrationworks Theatre Company