Nightingale troupe retrains irreverence on holiday season
By MICHAEL SMITH 12/9/2004
Natalie Clark (left) looks through Santa's toy bag while Greg Mize robs him at gunpoint in Nightingale Theater's sketch comedy show "Snowballs." RIP STELL/Tulsa World
Nightingale Theater and its writing collective offers "Snowballs," a night of holiday-themed sketch comedy aimed at punching Santa and all things Christmas a bit below the belt.
As an alternative to sugar-sweet traditional shows of the season, this is something for those not easily offended.
What else would you expect from the troupe that last December offered "The Reindeer Monologues," a pitch-black comedy about Santa Claus accused of sexual harassment, or that for Halloween premiered "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Musical"?
"Most of this is pretty irreverent, and most of it's pretty lighthearted in tone," writer John Cruncleton said. "That said, I told my mom to not come see this show."
The show that opens Thursday night consists of 22 sketch pieces, ranging from sentimental to shocking, all inspired by the holiday season and written by Matt Leland, John and Sara Cruncleton, Lynn Kelsey, Joseph Gomez, Greg Mize and David Jefferis.
Dale and Heather Sams, Natalie Clark and Jae Wilson also perform -- and local band Milktruck jams and plays incidental music -- in what pretty closely resembles this group of friends gathering to play in someone's living room, "but with a few more costumes," according to John Cruncleton.
"I see this as 'Saturday Night Live' without the TV censors," he said. "But some of this is going to be challenging, both in a comic way and to conventions and just what an audience might sit still for and accept.
"I really wouldn't be surprised if there were places in the show where people got up and left. It's provocative material, but not anything that will make you feel bad. I don't know whether we have to reassure people of that or not. We're having fun here."
"SNOWBALLS"
Who: 50 Swats sketch comedy
When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 16-18
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth St.
Tickets: $8, 583-8487 [As of February 2007, 633-8666]
NOTE: This play contains adult themes and language.