NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, Dec. 12.
PORT ANGELES — Mona the Snowperson knows how to thrive at the most difficult of times. This is one of those times. But Mona is staying positive and looking forward to the arrival of her little snowball.
Vixen is a reindeer. She lives to fly, and she’s in the final three in the Top Deer competition.
And Prancer? She wants to be Top Deer too. She’s ambitious, smart and, unfortunately for her career, level-headed and loyal.
They’re just three stars of “Santa’s Rumspringah,” the Nemesis Productions comedy opening tonight for a weekend run — and several helpings of improvisation — at the Port Angeles Community Playhouse, 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Nemesis, aka local performing artists Shannon Cosgrove and Naomi Alstrup, has dished up a Christmas production with highly irreverent flavor, and they’re spilling it onto the stage at 7:30 tonight and Saturday and finally at 2 p.m. Sunday. The show, for ages 13 and older, takes its name from rum-springa, the Pennsylvania Dutch word for “running around.”
Which is what they will do: the abovementioned reindeer, elves named Sprinkles, Minty, Cocoa and Nutmeg and of course Santa and Eloisa Claus. Santa’s version of running around is going on a juice fast, trying hot yoga on a paddleboard and spending time with Serenity, his personal masseuse and chef.
Yes, these characters sing, dance — and now and again invite the audience into their improvisational games. Those who make the funniest improv-inspiring suggestions will receive prizes.
But “keep it semi-clean,” the show’s program asks.
Tickets are $12 in advance for tonight or Saturday’s performance and $8 in advance for Sunday’s matinee, and they’re on sale at Odyssey Books, 114 W. Front St. At the door, admission is $15 tonight and Saturday and $10 Sunday.
Manda Lavin is Mona the Snowperson and the show’s “resident muse,” Cosgrove notes.
Playing the elves are Meggan Uecker — who doubles as Santa — with Leah Bauman as Sprinkles the head elf and Kristi Robinson, Shanzi Cosgrove and Freja Jarvegren-Uecker as the rest of the team. Tim Tucker portrays the Heatmiser, Curt White is the Announcer and Shannon Cosgrove herself is Eloisa Claus.
“There are Vegas showdeer,” she added: Alstrup, Joy Bell Teel and Jackie Purvis portray Vixen, Prancer and Blitzen while Ron Graham plays Rudolph.
“Maybe ‘The Christmas Story’ isn’t quite doing it for you this year,” the “Santa’s Rumspringah” invitation goes. “Come and join us.”
