Date: Fri 11-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

TheatreWorks-Geib-reindeer

Full Text:

THEATRE REVIEW: A Good Reindeer Story For The Grownups

(with cut)

By Julie Stern

NEW MILFORD -- You say you're tired of Tiny Tim and It's A Wonderful Life and

Miracle on 34th Street and " Santa Claus Meets the Waltons" ? You say you've

had it with heart-warming sentiment and spiritual uplift and "O Holy Night"

droned in Muzak as you choose your chips 'n dips at the Grand Union, before

going to stand on line for your Furby?

Well then maybe TheatreWorks New Milford's production of Jeff Goode's "very

black comedy" The Eight: Reindeer Monologues will be just the thing to cut

through the seasonal schmaltz. But be forewarned: this show is not for

everyone.

A timely comparison might be made with this week's movie at Edmond Town Hall

in Newtown, which is screening There's Something About Mary. If you've seen

that and thought it was funny -- rolling-in-the-aisles funny, as my family did

-- then you'll probably be delighted with the reindeer.

On the other hand, if you found Mary to be crude, lewd, vulgar, in bad taste

and astoundingly explicit, then no doubt you will find the New Milford

Christmas show to be offensive, and it would be better if you didn't go.

The premise is that one of the three female reindeer in the famous pack of

eight has accused Santa Clause of sexual harassment. Before the official

inquiry into the charges begins, each of the eight delivers a dramatic

monologue on the subject of what it is like working for "The Fat Man."

This format depends on sharply drawn character delineation, and director

Jocelyn Beard achieves this with the help of a highly talented cast. Ranging

from Steve Manzino as the macho Dasher (the guy who leads the pack, dressed in

flannel shirt and a hard hat) to Steve Faiella as Comet (the ex-punk rescued

by Santa from a life of crime), and from Jonathan Ross as "Hollywood" Prancer

(who still seethes over the fact a silly animated film about Rudolph stole the

thunder from his own great epic) to Marty Fay as Donner (Rudolph's father, who

was embarrassed by his deformed son and grateful to Santa for taking him off

his hands), the male reindeer tend to rationalize Santa's behavior as

unimportant in the face of the great job he is doing.

The only exception is Bill Hughes, as Cupid, the only openly gay reindeer, who

can tell you a thing or two about Mr Claus and his dreadful wife ("Why do you

think she is called Mrs Claws?" )

The does have a different tale to tell, ranging from Patty Geib's loyal

Blitzen who is ready to quit her job and walk in support of her abused sister,

to Heather McNeil as Dancer, the ethereal ballerina who has a very

down-to-earth grasp of what goes on in the workshop, to finally the tough,

brassy victim herself, Suzy Pettibone as a most unvirginal Vixen, who defends

every woman's right to walk and dress as she pleases without having guys

assume she's "asking for it" and taking that as license to force themselves on

her.

If all this conjures up memories of a certain Miss Jones and an executive

office, then perhaps you haven't been paying enough attention to foreign

policy and the economy. Remembering its 1994 production of David Mamet's

Sexual Perversity in Chicago, TheatreWorks has never been shy about testing

the limits of what the censors used to crack down on.

If sexual explicitness doesn't offend your sensibilities, The Eight is a very

clever, highly entertaining show, appealing to cynics and curmudgeons

everywhere. Bring an unwrapped toy or a non-perishable food item to be

distributed to local charities and get $2 off the price of your ticket. But

don't bring the kiddies.

(The Eight: Reindeer Monologues continues through December 19, with Friday and

Saturday evening performances. Call TheatreWorks at 350-6863 for ticket

reservations or other information.)