Theater Reviews: Astroglyde2007, Polaroid Stories, Tango

 ASTROGLYDE2007 These five solo pieces succeed because of some wonderfully off-the-wall content, good writing, and humorous, energetic performances. Don’t be fooled by Matthew Sklar’s diminutive, nerdish appearance in “The Price of Right.” His script is far from nebbishy. Sklar plays a brainy fast food worker with a formidable command of science and physics, who tries to convince a not-so-bright buddy that UFOs and aliens don’t exist. Jana Wimer’s equally fine slice of writing embellishes her performance in “Rose.” With broom in hand, she portrays the mannequin in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride, who runs around in circles being chased by a pirate. The kick here is that she has a lot to say about her loftier ambitions and park gossip, among other things. Jessica Amal’s writing drags in some places in “Warts and All,” but she’s still funny as a neurotic witch with a serious case of career blues who wants to give other gigs a try. The devilishly demented “Here’s to Us” features Mark Hein as a thoroughly convincing mad-scientist type with a ghoulish method of keeping the women he loves around the house. Hein’s script is a piece of work. And for those of you fed up with obnoxious people and Harry Potter fans, the scary, wide-eyed Matt Kilo has the solution as he takes us on a murderous sojourn in “The Overpopulation Police and You.” ZJU THEATER GROUP, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., N. Hlywd.; Fri.-Sat., 8:30 p.m.; thru. Dec. 15. (818) 202-4120. (Lovell Estell III)

(Photo by Zombie Joe) (Click to enlarge)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Writer-director Jason Moyer updates the outline of Charles Dickens’ novella and fills it with gay attitude and Marjorie Lockwood’s inventive costumes to produce a charmingly queer holiday divertissement. Scrooge (Michael Taylor Gray), now the owner of a fashion house called S&M (for Scrooge & Marley), dresses in gothic black and tongue lashes his underlings and relatives alike for their Christmas sentimentality. Soon he’s visited by the gold-chain-wearing ghost of his old partner, Jacob Marley (Bobby Reed), who forewarns him of the appearance of three Christmas spirits. These are portrayed as a Sylvester-like disco queen (Ronn Jones), a party hunk (Matt Marsh) and the mute specter (Michael O’Hara) who points to Scrooge’s unlamented grave. It’s quickly apparent how easily Dickens’ piece lends itself to a gay spoof and, in fact, viewers are left wondering why Moyer didn’t go further and expand his 75-minute comedy. His changes don’t always fit, however. Dickens’ miser embodied the worst of mid-Victorian materialism, but the gay men whom Gray’s Scrooge bullies don’t seem to offer a spiritual alternative. Also, Tiny Tim has been replaced by the rather elderly “Uncle Tim” (Carl Moebus), whose pending death frankly doesn’t pack the kind of pathos that does a crippled youth’s untimely end. With some adjustments (director Moyer must speed some key moments, and a few actors need to tighten their deliveries) this seasonal show could become a perennial. CELEBRATION THEATRE, 7051-B Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru Dec. 23. (323) 957-1884. (Steven Mikulan)

A HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS This holiday celebration offers an embarrassment of riches. Clocking in at just short of two hours, with no intermission, it contains a few too many Christmas songs and celebrity impersonators, and way too much lame comedy. There’s a Laugh-In–style advent calendar featuring faux Goldie Hawn, Jack Nicholson, et al. A “Christmas in Hawaii” number pairs the “Hawaiian War Chant” with a rendition of “Silent Night” in Hawaiian language. A ventriloquist Santa and his rebellious dummy deliver “The Night Before Christmas,” Marilyn Monroe exhales “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” a zaftig Ethel Merman offers a rousing and vocally convincing rendition of “O Holy Night,” and a couple of ham-handed hillbilly comedians manage to shoot off Rudolf’s nose. A glittery Carmen Miranda delivers an updated version of “Jingle Bells,” about a ride in a “no-horse Chevrolet.” And a dynamite young lady satirizes Diana Ross, singing “The Little Drummer Boy.” Since the show had no program or credits, I was able to positively identify only Lori Berg, who delivers a suave and stylish “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” under her own name. Design elements include lavish, handsome costumes and elegantly simple sets. The show offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane for older audiences. ACTOR’S CO-OP, 1760 N. Gower St., Hlywd.; Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.; thru Dec. 16. (323) 462-8460. (Neal Weaver)

POLAROID STORIES Those well versed in Greek mythology, specifically Ovid’s Metamorphoses, will catch the literary/spiritual backgrounds to these stories. The uninitiated will still be treated to an intensely raw display of emotion, sexuality and violence as 10 skillful young actors descend into Naomi Iizuka’s deep and dense exploration of the youthful psyche. The setting is a fantasy skid row peopled only with young adults who thrive on storytelling. Whether speaking outright lies or painful truths, the characters, mostly representing mythological figures, interact closely, but rarely achieve real intimacy as they sink into their personal griefs and desire. Maria Markosov’s stark staging and sensitive work with the actors creates a depressing world, but one that is also irresistible in its desolate beauty. All of the performers are committed through each moment. Justin Patterson’s skid row set and the uncredited lighting perfectly support the piece’s somber atmosphere. ACTORS’ PLAYPEN, 1514 N. Gardner St., Hlywd.; Thurs. & Sat., 8 p.m.; thru Dec. 16. (323) 960-4484. (Tom Provenzano)