Tolucan Times
November 29, 2013

Christmas 2 - A World Premiere.

By Pat Taylor

Written and playfully directed by Jeff Goode, with irreverent and outrageous Biblical characters and situations ... this is a wildly whacky ride! An accomplished and highly revered playwright, his quirky and offbeat imagination has no limits! His riotous hit play, "The Eight: Reindeer Monologues" has enjoyed over 500 productions worldwide. This one, also a "spoof," though hilarious at times, and well performed, just didn't play out as well for me. It all takes place 30 years after Jesus' birth. The ghosts of Nativities Past converge on Bethlehem to teach him the true meaning of Christmas. This script is political, raunchy, funny, bawdy, sweet, and certifiably insane, in turns. Nearly impossible for me to keep up with ... but I must say, the audience the night I went howled with laughter repeatedly! Jude Evans played Jesus with hysterical versatility, as did Anthony Backman as his kooky cousin, John the Baptist. Eliza Kiss was fabulously feisty as Maggie, and Franci Montgomery is a riot as a "boozing" angel. Trevor Eyster was lovably funny as Jonah the quirky Sheep, and Samantha Carro was precious as his Shepherd Lass. The remainder of the cast also gave convincing "off the wall" performances, in this menagerie of biblical maniacs. They are: Ellen Rae Littman, Morry Schorr, Marie Pettit, Brett Koontz, and Wayne Baldwin. The show is double cast, so you may catch the other group depending on when you attend. The whole shebang, while often hilarious ... was just a tad too frantic for my taste, but there are those of you who will undoubtedly love every zany moment! Creative Costumes by Samantha Carro, Set Design by Tifanie McQueen, Lighting by Maura Reinhart, and Sound by James Sharpe ... set the stage with whacky flair. Running through Dec. 22 at T.U. Studios in North Hollywood. For seats call (800) 838-3006 or go to SkyPilotTheatre.com.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Drive carefully, and enjoy the company of family and friends. Take a moment to count your blessings ... and realize that tho' "not perfect" ... life in the USA is a breeze when compared to many other countries. Ta Ta for now.