By James V. Ruocco
In "Christmas on the Rocks," a wicked, shiny and delicious confection that arrives at TheaterWorks just in time for the holidays, theatergoers finally learn what actually happened to seven different child characters from their favorite Christmas stories, who, for story purposes, have now grown into adulthood.
Tiny Tim, for example, has become a bit more like Ebenezer Scrooge, a man he believes, despite inspired visions from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, actually had a very real psychotic break.
Clara, the beautiful young girl from "The Nutcracker," has not only lost her looks, but resembles Baby Jane Hudson from "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" That's not all. Her handsome Nutcracker Prince is having homosexual liaisons with her brother Fritz and loving every minute of it.
Zuzu Bailey, the little girl from "It's a Wonderful Life" freaks out every time she hears bells ringing while little Ralphie from "A Christmas Story," is still fascinated by pink bunnies, but has masturbatory issues in the bedroom. Meanwhile, his dad has died and mom has become a lesbian.
Then, there's poor, perplexed Charlie Brown. Snoopy, No. 4 has died. Patty and Marcie have joined the lesbian movement. Lucy is now his wife. Schroeder is "straight" and not "homosexual." And that Little Red-Haired Girl still remains in this everyday thoughts.
Finally, there's Karen, the little girl who brought "Frosty the Snowman" to life, then, once she became an adult, decided to melt him into oblivion. And let's not forget Hermey the Elf dentist who is not only happily and merrily gay, but claims fame and fortune has seriously destroyed "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer." PS: He also enjoys "riding" Rudolph.
Set in a local bar on Christmas Eve, "Christmas on the Rocks" dazzles, sparkles and cajoles with its decidedly quirky, offbeat, R-rated humor. One by one, each of the characters walks into a local neighborhood bar and pours his or her heart out to the understanding bartender using a delicious blend of cheeky four-letter words and sexual innuendo that prompts laughter (lots and lots of it) in all the right places.
Staged to perfection by Rob Ruggiero ("Next to Normal," "Rags"), "Christmas on the Rocks" never once loses its grasp on its acerbic silliness, storytelling, characterization and holiday cheer. This isn't a tale for kiddies. This production has been designed exclusively for adults who want to laugh hard as their beloved holiday characters shock and delight them with updated stories, revelations and pronouncements that nobody so coming. And therein, lies the production's enjoyment.
In the role of the Bartender, Tom Bloom makes his TheaterWorks debut. His portrayal is kind, cynical, understanding, compassionate and fraught with the kind of in-your-face honesty every bartender should have. He's the real deal, make no mistake about it. If ever you were to find yourself alone and distraught on Christmas Eve, Bloom's Bartender is the one you would want to meet up with. In each of the seven different stories, the actor perfectly captures the combination of compassion and vulnerability at his character's core.
The emotional centerpiece of "Christmas on the Rocks," however, comes from the wonderful and remarkable performances of Matthew Wilkas and Jenn Harris who play each of the different holiday characters so effectively and so believably, you never once get the same performance or characterization twice. Given Ruggiero's choice staging, insight and movement, each performer offers a star-studded turn every time he or she walks through the door. Their line delivery, expressions, body language and reactions and simply spectacular.
Remarkable, outright hilarious and contagiously gleeful, "Christmas on the Rocks" is a natural fit for TheaterWorks this holiday season. It's different. It's funny. It's refreshing. It's deliciously obscene. It's also unforgettable.
photos by Lanny Nagler and RJ LaRussa
"Christmas on the Rocks" is being staged at TheaterWorks (233 Pearl St., Hartford, CT), now through Dec. 23.
For tickets or more information, call (860) 527-7838.
website: theaterworkshartford.org
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