By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com
photo copyright by Gaslight Theatre
From left, Jacob Brown, Kelly Coates and Erin Thompson stir up some Christmas spirit at Pop's Record Shop in Smalltown, USA.
This holiday season the mistletoe-packing gang at perpetually sunny Gaslight Theatre is taking us straight to Smalltown, USA. It's 1961 and all the kids are greeting each other with “Have a cool Yule,” all the best Christmas songs on the radio come with a rock 'n' roll beat to keep everyone dancing until New Year's, and when anyone says “Be there or be square,” they really mean it.
Yes, we are talking about Gaslight's own holly and ivy-tinged production of “A Smalltown Christmas,” written by Peter VanSlyke, adapted and directed by Kathryn Byrnes and Mike Yarema.
In Smalltown, the heartbeat of life for all the local teens is Pop's Record Shop, where good-natured Pop Porter ( David Orley) keeps an eye on things. But maybe he's been a little too good-natured. The shop's expenses have become larger than it's income. Alas, Pop has fallen way behind on his mortgage.
Now the cynical Mayor Dishwater (Yarema), who owns just about everything downtown, plans to evict Pop and close the beloved record shop.
Unbeknownst to any of the teens, the Mayor wants to buy up the whole town real cheap, then he can get a new highway to come through Smalltown, which will quickly turn into Largetown, and he (the Mayor) will make lots of money.
Even though the Mayor always wears a nice suit, we know he is the most dastardly villainous sort because he keeps shouting, “Christmas is ridiculous!” How dastardly is that?
But wait, all may not be lost. Pop's own daughter Rolinda (Kelly Coates) is the reigning Smalltown Holiday Queen. And even though she is quite popular, her heart belongs only to Hot Rod Lincoln (Jake Chapman), a Smalltown legend and race car champ.
Unfortunately, Hot Rod is still serving in the Army. Remember the compulsory military draft? Hot Rod had to do his duty like all the other able-bodied young men, So now we have to hope Hot Rod gets released from the service so he can get back home before its too late.
Rolinda's big competition at school is the snooty Tiffany Harker (Heather Stricker), a dyed in the wool conniving sort, whose boyfriend is the equally snooty and spoiled Reginald Dishwater (Todd Thompson), the Mayor's very own son.
Also playing a major role is local radio and TV personality Bunny Baker (Chris Colombo), her towering beehive hair style proving every day that she is always hip to all the haps.
Bunny Baker's Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party will host the contest to name this year's Smalltown Holiday Queen. So, of course, the Mayor wants to cancel that, too.
Well, Hot Rod does get released from the Army in time to make it home before Christmas. But all I can tell you is once Hot Rod dons his trusty Black Leather Jacket – and Rolinda puts on her red dress for the dance contest – you better sit up and pay attention.
The spirit of the 1950s has always been golden at Gaslight. This production continues that tradition, as well, with bouncy songs and enough positive energy to light your Christmas all the way back home.
Sealing the deal is Yarema in the aftershow olio. Truly a man for all seasons, totally disguised in a full-body green costume as The Grinch, Yarema proves his heart is not really three sizes too small.
Other cast members come on stage to perform a Christmas TV Special type of song list that includes “Suzie Snowflake,” “What Are You Doing New Year's?” and a show-closing “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
“A Smalltown Christmas” runs through Jan.7, 2024, with performances at various times Mondays through Sundays in the Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. Reservations are required.
Tickets (before tax) are $27 adults, with discounts available for groups, students, seniors, military, first responders and children age 2-12. For details and reservations, 520-886-9428, thegaslighttheatre.com or visit the box office, open daily 10 am-8 pm.
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