Santasia a multimedia Holiday farce
Listen to this articleIt starts before the official curtain with a series of often hilarious video clips projected on a screen center stage; then Santa arrives and the show begins.
It is a steady stream of skits punctuated with personal stories from each cast member about something very memorable in their Christmas experience. Each skit varies from massively hilarious to, “…did I really just see that?” One of the very best elements of the show is one skit that masterfully mimics the Broadway mega hit Hamilton. That alone was worth the price of admission.
Andrew J. Hillis, Lon Gowan, Shaun Loeser
Another very well done skit that was extremely enjoyable to me, but I think it could be offensive to some very sensitive Christians. It mimics The Jerry Springer Show and the key guest is Mary, yes THAT Mary and she is clearly very pregnant. Having established here pregnancy and her still intact virginity Jerry next brings on to the show Joe a/k/a Joseph. It takes a funny look at the whole virgin birth issue which some Christians would I am sure find offensive. But outside of that box it is very funny and really not in any way an attack on anyone’s religious faith.
All in all it is farcical satire delivering a lot to laugh at. It is rapidly becoming an annual cult classic with a 16 year history in Los Angeles and a Critics’ Pick in each of those 16 years; and it is very unique.
It was written by Brandon Loeser, Shawn Loeser and Lon Gowan all of whom also perform in the show.
“Santasia” runs now through December 25th at the Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. Show times are Thursday, Fridays and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. It runs approximately 90 minutes without intermission and is inappropriate for young children. Ticket prices are $27 when purchased online in advance or $40 at the door, so do plan ahead. Reservations and tickets are available online or by calling 818-990-2324.
Photos by Michael Duisenberg
Top photo: (L – R) Lon Gowan, Richard Lee Warren,
Brandon Loeser, Rusty Locke, Andrew J. Hillis and Shaun Loeser
Ron Irwin was born in Chicago, Illinois a long time ago. He served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, became a trial lawyer, TV and radio host, CEO of a public company and once held an Emmy. He never won an Emmy he just held one. Ron has written and published twelve books. His most important book to date is “Live, Die, Live Again” in which Ron tells of his early life and his unexpected and very temporary death in 2012. That experience dramatically refocused his life and within the pages of that book Ron reveals how he achieved a much healthier life, ridding himself of Diabetes, Cancer and Heart Failure. Now Ron enjoys writing about many things including health topics, travel [he has circled the globe several times], adventure, culinary experiences and the world of performing art. Ron’s motto is “Live better, live longer and live stronger because it feels great and annoys others.” Contact the author.