A wild holiday ride

Key City Public Theater debuts new Christmas play

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Marley was dead to begin with. But his ghost was very much alive. Rattling chains, his ashen face floated down the stairs in a cloud of fog to stand in front of Ebenezer Scrooge and groan out the words, “I’m tired of performing ‘A Christmas Carol!’ ”

Wait. That’s not the line.

Oh, but it is. And what happens when three actors get bored of performing the Dickens classic, year after year after year?

A riotous, whiplash-inducing, 90-minute mad romp through every beloved holiday classic known to man.

Key City Public Theater debuted its version of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some),” on Nov. 23, and it will run in repertory with the Port Townsend holiday classic, “Spirit of the Yule” this season.

“This is the third year for ‘Spirit of the Yule,’ and we’ve firmly established that it is our holiday tradition,” said Denise Winter, KCPT’s artistic director and co-creator of “Spirit of the Yule.” “That being said, many of our subscribers have seen it, or are looking to expand what else they’re going to see from us. So the idea was to create two offerings. Something for those who’d like to continue to see Yule as part of their holiday tradition, and something for those who’d like to see something new.”

“Every Christmas Story Ever Told,” written by Michael Carlton, Jim Fitzgerald and John Alverez, tells the story of three actors who are tired of performing “A Christmas Carol,” so they embark on a quest: to perform every Christmas story ever told.

With help from the audience and a few surprise cameos, the trio – played by KCPT’s Nate Stosius, Tomoki Sage and Brendan Chambers – take the audience on a wild ride, from Whoville to the North Pole, from the streets of New York to Pottersville, and from a gameshow about the merits of fruit cake, to a breathtaking musical scene of every holiday song ever written.

“If you don’t come in ready for the holiday season, you’re going to leave singing Christmas carols,” director Bry Kifolo said.

With a script that leaves room for interpretation, Kifolo brought to the play some Port Townsend in-jokes and recent pop culture references, while also allowing each of the actors to showcase their individual talents, whether that be comedic acrobatics, a darn good Jimmy Stewart impression, or an adorably hilarious impersonation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

But putting on two Christmas plays at once, often switching from one performance to another night by night, does not come without its difficulties.

“It’s been a welcome challenge,” Kifolo said.

While directing “Every Christmas Story,” she is also performing in “Spirit of the Yule.”

“We’re delving into all these different stories and traditions,” she said. “It’s been fun to find out what Christmas means to all of us, and to all of these characters that we’re bringing to life.”

“Every Christmas Story Ever Told” will run Nov. 29 through Dec. 28. “Spirit of the Yule” will run Dec. 5-30.

Performances will take place at 419 Washington St. in Port Townsend on Thursdays through Sundays, with some Wednesday performances in December. Tickets cost $24 on Thursdays and Sundays, and $29 on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m, and evening shows begin at 7 p.m.

KCPT will have two Pay-What-You-Wish performances on Nov. 29 and Dec. 2, as well as two family shows, with special discounts for children on Dec. 15 and 19.

To purchase tickets, or find more information on special events and pricing, visit keycitypublictheatre.org or call the box office at 360-385-KCPT.