By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com
photo: Brian Gawne/The Gaslight Theatre
Helen (Heather Stricker) and Mark Grinsworth (David Fanning) are filled with the Christmas spirit in their midwestern neighborhood.
There's a brand new Christmas show playing at the Gaslight Theatre, one set in the 1980s on the outskirts of Chicago, with miles of tangled Christmas lights strung all over every home along this suburban street so proud of its deeply competitive Midwestern roots, especially during the mistletoed yuletide season.
Yes, we're talking about the “Gaslight Christmas Vacation!” co-written and directed by Katherine Byrnes and Mike Yarema. An electrifying experience full of blown fuses, ladders precariously leaned against second-story windows and – on the ground – people in a remarkable array of Christmas sweaters knitted with surprising holiday aesthetics.
Determined to have the biggest and the best public display of family togetherness and bright-hued outdoor lighting is the eager Grinsworth brood consisting of local hero and father-figure Mark (David Fanning), his wife Helen (Heather Stricker) and their teen son Gus (Jake Chapman).
Veterans of Gaslight's shows will know that when Mark early on declares enthusiastically “This will be the best Christmas ever,” it's going to be a rocky sleigh ride until the end.
First come the envious neighbors Rod Newrich (Todd Thompson), his wife and better half Karen (Erin Thompson) and their energetic teen daughter Stacy (Janee Page).
As momentum builds to the Big Holly Jolly Day itself, here comes the uninvited guest everyone will recognize, Uncle Teddy (David Orley).
Appearing as Mayor Finley, the leading official of their tidy Elmhurst community, and also sporting a tweaked funny-bone, is Chris Colombo.
“What do you call a poor Santa?” she asks everyone in general.
“Saint Nickle-less,” she answers with a laugh.
However, the blackest of hearts and most mean-spirited by far is the relentless land developer Danny Demarco (Jacob Brown). He wants to bulldoze all these sweet single-family dwellings to make room for a sky-high condominium so he can pull in some serious money.
Now, anyone can see all the cards are stacked against the unwary Grinsworth clan. But we are also at the Gaslight Theatre, home of genuinely true hearts and corny jokes. Not to spoil the plot or anything, but you will love the ending.
As for the Santa's Workshop Olio, it is a collection of nostalgic favorite songs and dances in a style taken from television's evergreen specials back when three national networks (in black-and-white) ruled the airwaves.
As for those olio jokes: “Santa, how much did your sleigh cost? Nothing, it was on the house!'
Gaslight Theatre's run of “Gaslight Christmas Vacation!” (daily through Jan. 1, 2023) is officially sold out. But if you want to get on the waiting list for tickets, phone 520-886-9428.
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