By Amanda Knox

After seeing the ArtsWest production of Judy’s Scary Little Christmas, it’s tempting to limit myself to echoing director Troy Wageman’s prediction of what anyone would think after seeing it: “What did I just watch? Whatever it was, I loved it, and I don’t know what it means, but I will think about it…” and then calling it a day.

But I won’t.

I also won’t attempt to describe what this play is about, because it begs to be a surprise. What I can say is that it develops many grandiose themes: love, regret, living one’s life to the fullest, loneliness, forgiveness, bitterness… through many grandiose characters: Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Liberace, Ethel Merman, Joan Crawford, Lillian Hellman, Richard Nixon…

Instead, I want to tell you that whatever this play was, it was very well enacted and is definitely worth seeing.

Starting with what you see: the set is deceptively simple and well balanced for encouraging movement and interaction between characters around the stage. Once again it is evident that the scenic design went out of its way to have personality all its own with such details as a wall of stacked stone panels and portraits of Garland neatly and subtlety displayed throughout. The costumes are perfectly extravagant and character-driven: a green and gold dress resembling giftwrap for Ethel, sequined shoes, velvet vests and jackets, and enormous rings for Liberace, feathers and fur for Judy, a variety of ridiculous costumes for the ever-beaming ensemble members.

Even stronger than these tantalizing visuals are the portrayals by the actors donning them. Lisa Mandelkorn is all of the darling and jaded Judy. Brian Lange is a squeamish Bing. Kate Jaeger is a roaring and rowdy Ethel. David Caldwell is a cheerful and pitiful Liberace. Rick Pope is an awkward and insecure Nixon. Pat Sibley is a glaring and fierce Lillian. Ryan McCabe is a dangerous Joan. Joel Domenico, Jordan Jackson, and Bo Mellinger are a special force as the ensemble members, fully engaged in all the ridiculous and humiliating antics they are subjected to.

This play raises you up and tears you down. The ArtsWest production puts special emphasis on the good and bad of these characters, and the gritty friction between what is real and what is fake about life. Endearing, entertaining, confusing, and sad, Judy’s Scary Little Xmas is a must-see alternative to the Christmas classics we automatically fall back on during the holiday season.

Judy’s Scary Little Christmas will be showing at ArtsWest Theatre (4711 California Ave SW) from December 4th to December 28th. Show times are Wednesdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $17-$33 and maybe be purchased at the Box Office, by phone at (206) 938-0339, or online at http://www.artswest.org/theatre-plays/judys-scary-little-christmas/.