Photo Credit: Mark Frohna
Merry Chris-Mess is the new holiday offering by In Tandem Theatre for those who choose to celebrate the Yuletide season with irreverent pokes and jabs at Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and plenty of bawdy humor with a twist of Milwaukee South Side “charm.”
For those who’ve seen the hilarious Scrooge in Rouge and the too-funny A Cudahy Caroler Christmas, playwright Anthony Wood (with additional material by Lee Becker and Sean McKenna) is back with a ’50s retro variety show of sketches, short films, mashed up holiday tunes and a parody of the Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life.
There’s something for everyone in this production. So, if hearing Santa croon about his lustful voyeurism in “Up on Your Roof” isn’t your cup of spiked eggnog, just wait. There are some very funny bits that stand out, thanks in large part to the talented eight-member ensemble led by In Tandem Artistic Director Chris Flieller.
Flieller immediately gets us in the holiday mood by bringing back his South Side blue collar character Stasch Zielinski to introduce the sketches, some of which elicit lots of well-deserved laughs. Sean Duncan and Zach Thomas Woods are the perfect odd couple as castaways on an island celebrating Christmas with very funny results. Ditto for Duncan as a Philip Marlowe-type detective playing a, yes, Golden Retriever in “It’s a Dogs Life.” On the hunt for a missing tennis ball, the ’50s noir-ish angle works well with the assortment of four-legged portrayals, especially with Flieller as an uppity society hound. (Director Jane Flieller makes this sketch worth the price of admission alone).
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The short sketch “Secret Santa Man” starts off Act II with a “Big Bang,” as Flieller plays a blond-haired crooner parodying the Johnny Rivers tune “Secret Agent Man” while Santa “dispatches” bad kids—permanently. The parody “It’s a Life” makes up the rest of Act II, and here we see the ensemble get a chance to play a variety of It’s A Wonderful Life’s beloved characters. Woods’ very funny Jimmy Stewart impersonation keeps the parody focused and engaging, especially with the surprise ending (nope, no spoilers here). So, if naughty Santas and belligerent elves are what you’re looking than this “Chris-Mess” is for you.
Through Jan. 6, 2019 at the Tenth Street Theater, 628 N. 10th St. For tickets, visit intandemtheatre.org.
