For those who just want a break from all the Christmas cheer, The Santaland Diaries is the show for you. This one-man show is based on David Sedaris’ hilarious stint as one of Santa’s elves in a Macy’s department store. For the eighth consecutive year, Mitchell Fain alone holds the stage and keeps the audience laughing for an hour and a half in Theater Wit’s 12th annual staging of this play.
Fain drolly recounts misadventures involving bratty children, over-zealous parents, weird co-workers and strange Santas. Fain’s acerbic and irreverent performance is sure to delight cold-hearted Christmas-haters and even sentimental holiday romantics.
But a warning is in order for those who do love the season. You may not leave this show with holiday warm-fuzzies in your heart. There are times when this satire is politically incorrect and downright insulting. If that is not your preferred style of humor, then this show may not be for you.
The Santaland Diaries runs through Dec. 30 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: $24-$36. (Photo: Johnny Knight/Courtesy)