'Tis the Season for Irreverence: Santaland Diaries at Zach

Ah, the holidays. Sick of ‘em already? The Santaland Diaries invites you to commiserate with the dry, biting wit of David Sedaris, and shining performances by Meredith McCall and Espie Randolph, while Jason Connor accompanies on piano. The first act presents spicy, spirited carols that you’ve probably never heard before—but it’s safe to say that by the time intermission hits, you’ll be want to add “Let’s Be Naughty” and “Making Love Alone” to the Christmas music rotation. McCall’s sultry rendition of “Sarabaya Santa” is also notable.

In lesser hands, the ins and outs of Mr. and Mrs. Claus’s deviant rendezvous might feel a little, well, wrong, but the details ring juicy out of these performers’ mouths. Randolph and McCall let loose in these saucy musical numbers, fearlessly including shy audience members. If opening night was any indication, those reactions are a show in themselves. Songs are interspersed with lively monologues, including Sarah Vowell’s “The First Thanksgiving,” and David Sedaris’s uproarious “Six to Eight Black Men,” which Randoph thoroughly makes his own. Having embodied a few personas throughout the first act, he transforms readily into Crumpet, as it says on his elf uniform, relaying the chaotic and hilarious stories that take place behind the scenes at Santaland in Macy’s Department Store. McCall plays various banes of his existence, including a colorful and disturbing spectrum of uptight Macy’s parents, as well as his unpredictable boss.

Sedaris’s engaging knack for detail blends beautifully with these charismatic performances, and there's just enough spontaneity to promise that this particular night at the theatre will never repeat itself. Bits of the humor might be objectionable to some, but if you’re looking for laughs, you’re sure to find them here. Who knows? Santaland’s unabashed cynicism just might renew your holiday spirit.