This holiday season, Arcade Comedy Theater invites audiences to join them for a night of debauchery with The Night Before Christmas by Anthony Neilson. Unlike the classic poem of the same name, The Night Before Christmas is a rowdy comedy for those who consider themselves permanent members of the Naughty List. Filled with crazy antics and hilarious characters, The Night Before Christmas is an unconventional holiday romp guaranteed to keep audiences laughing well after leaving the theater.
The play follows friends Simon and Gary, who find that an “Elf” has broken into Gary’s warehouse on Christmas Eve. Along with their friend (and sex worker) Cherry, they fight over the meaning of Christmas, Power Rangers, and whether or not the young boy they have tied up is actually the magical Elf he claims to be.
The show runs at Arcade’s own Comedy Theater in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. It being my first time in the theater, I was surprised by the small-scale but functional use of the space. There are ten to twelve rows of stadium-style seating for the audience, with the stage at the forefront. It’s a tight fit, but they use the space to their advantage.
The play itself doesn’t bank too heavily on costumes, sets, and props, as it mostly relies on the action and dialogue between the characters. That being said, I was impressed by what Arcade did with the space they had. The stage is set to look like a warehouse/office. They had a door at the back of the stage opened up that expanded the look of the warehouse. It wasn’t used often, but it worked well as a visual tool. They also used a screen at the top of the stage that was fashioned to look like a window that had full snow effects playing during the entirety of the show. I thought it was a nice touch that pulled the entire set together.
The Night Before Christmas has a small cast that pulls a big punch. John Feightner and Justin Vetter play friends Gary and Simon, the main protagonists (or perhaps antagonists) of the show. I was impressed by their English accents (shout out to Dialogue Coach Emma Hartman), and felt they did a tremendous job of carrying the show. Feightner was hilarious from the get-go, from his facial expressions to his line delivery. Vetter balanced out Feightner well by playing the cynical, hard-ass friend. They reminded me of characters you’d find on a 90’s British television show, which fits the vibe of this show perfectly. The Elf, played by Vanessa St. Clair, has few lines, but the ones she does have are so unexpected and random you can’t help but laugh. It was fun watching her facial expressions and her comedic mannerisms throughout the show. She delivered her lines in a unique fashion and I found her a joy to watch on stage. Cherry, played by Emily Welsh, not only had the perfect attitude for the part, but she also had the correct gait for the character as well. She could have easily been over sexual and dramatic, but she managed to make Cherry a person that you loathe, but can also sympathize with. This can also be said for the other actors in the production. The cast succeeds in making these characters seedy and relatable simultaneously. Their characters are greedy and narcissistic, but their heart still shines through, so you root for them regardless of their flaws. Kind of in the same vain as a show like, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. You know they’re terrible, but you love them in spite of that.
One of the impediments of this production was the gap between the British material and the American audience. What I mean by this is, British slang and references are used throughout the show that would only resonate with a British audience. Arcade was gracious enough to include a Glossary of British Terms in the program to try and fill this gap, but even then there were moments in the show where I felt a joke didn’t land because the audience (myself included) didn’t understand the reference. That being said, it’s not difficult to follow along with the show; the humor may have been enhanced if there wasn’t that gap present. Another drawback of the show, which I’m simply chalking up to opening weekend mishaps, is awkward pacing. The show didn’t flow smoothly, and felt choppy and uneven. While these were only a few road bumps, there were also awkward pauses where it was obvious the actors didn’t know what to do or where they were supposed to go next. However, this only being the second show, it can only get stronger from here on out.
If you and your adult friends (the show is recommended for ages 16+) are looking for a non-traditional holiday show to get you in the mood for Christmas, I would highly recommend checking out The Night Before Christmas. It’s a raunchy, absurd show filled with a talented cast of actors who will keep you laughing from beginning to end. So take the nearest sledge to Arcade Comedy Theater to find out if that Elf is really a magical Elf…or just a drugged out guy in an Elf costume.
The Night Before Christmas plays at Arcade Comedy Theater through December 21. For tickets and more information, visit Arcade’s site.
Jade Goodes is a graduate of Penn State University where she received her degree in English. While attending Penn State she became the Managing Editor for the school’s literary & arts magazine, Absence. Jade has been involved with the Pittsburgh theater community since elementary school, and has performed in many productions over the years. In her free time she enjoys reading and attending all the concerts she can.
Categories: Archived Reviews