SANTA TOUCHED ME . . . AND NOW HE’S DEAD!

REVIEW: WHO KILLED SANTA?

BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO

Pour a glass of spiked eggnog and join the party! Who Killed Santa? is a campy, hilarious and provocatively festive adult holiday show with puppets that puts the ‘X’ in X-Mas. This West Coast premiere of Neil Haven’s play is brought into fruition for L.A. audiences at Theatre 68 in the NoHo Arts Center, a quaint 48-seat theatre where laughter is contagious.

Marissa Fennell, Rudolph; left, Rebecca Rose Phillips, Chastity; Jotape Lockwood, The Little Drummer Boy; & Katie Zeiner, Tiny Tim. Photo Credit: Marissa Fennell.

Directed by Ronnie Marmo the staging and direction makes for a perfect whodunit mystery: all the action is engagingly free-flowing—a nonstop musical mystery sleigh ride. With so many comedic moments in the material, Marmo engineers a superb balance of calculated moments and no holds barred caprice lead by the actors maneuvering the delightful puppets created by Libby Letlow.

The cast of seven is an outstanding group of actors that skillfully manipulates their puppets, creating roles that are nothing short of uproarious. The audience favorite is Frosty the Snowman (Jonathan Berenson) a goofy and aloof character that was always flailing about. Berenson creates an appropriately low muffled voice that characterizes the tomfool snowman.

Frosty The Snowman played by Peter Osterweil and Jonathan Berenson. Photo Credit: Marissa Fennell.

Steve, the Little Drummer Boy (Jotapé Lockwood) is an engaging character who is also the finest singing voice in the cast especially as heard in his featured number Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer sung in a booming operatic baritone voice. Rudolph (Marissa Fennell) uses a gruff voice to characterize the drunken reindeer offering many laugh out loud moments. Tiny Tim (Katie Zeiner) is an insecure, angst ridden English boy who is coping with his virginity throughout. The new addition to the cast of holiday characters is Chastity, the Little Drummer Girl (Rebecca Rose Phillips) who is a naïve, sexual figure full of girly giggles and dainty charm. Thomas F. Evans effortlessly goes from one kooky character to the next as he plays Santa Clause, the detective, the tooth fairy, and Mrs. Clause. Evans is the consummate performer whose characterizations are fully engrossing and unabashed.

Rebecca Rose Phillips, Chastity, The Little Drummer Girl, left; & Marissa Fennell, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Photo Credit: Marissa Fennell.

In addition to the mayhem and laughs that Who Killed Santa? provides, there are also undertones of satire of the spuriousness “cheer” that the holiday season avails year after year. This play even goes so far as to answer the question: what if Santa is just a symbol of our wanton consumerism? In that case, is his death really that bad? Furthermore, as this blue comedy takes us to Santa’s annual holiday party where beloved holiday characters cut loose with a cocktails and dirty jokes, while elves protest outside; we can’t help but wonder what a glimpse into the back rooms of factories, shopping malls and sweatshops might look like this holiday season.

Katie Zeiner, Tiny Tim, left, & Thomas F. Evans, Santa Clause. Photo Credit: Marissa Fennell.

WHAT ABOUT THE MUSIC DIRECTOR?

Although the show is all and all a play, there are some musical interludes in the form of traditional holiday tunes sung with alternate lyrics. These forthright musical interjections are a charming addition to the play and music director Jotapé Lockwood effectively prepares the cast, largely made up of straight play and film actors, to successfully perform the songs. These numbers include: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Baby It’s Cold Outside, Here Comes Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, The Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night, Carol of the Bells and even Lady Marmalade which served as the theme for the show.

So who do you think killed Santa Clause?—the choice is up to you in this choose-your-own-ending holiday whodunit. Who Killed Santa? is in town until January 2, 2016 at Theatre 68 in the NoHo Arts Center, so come laugh, sing, and be a little naughty, you’ll be glad you did. For more information and tickets click HERE.