The Santaland Diaries

Capital Stage tends to prefer hitting the funny bone over the sentimental heart of the holidays. It does so again with a second production (the first was last year) of humorist David Sedaris’ hilarious The Santaland Diaries, adapted for the stage from his NPR essay of the same name by Joe Mantello.

This year’s show features Aaron Wilton as the would-be soap star who arrives in New York without a job and finds himself making it through the auditioning process to be an elf in Macy’s Santaland seasonal store. Taking the nom de elf “Crumpet,” he then details—in elf garb and with hilarious effect—the rules, regs, practices and pitfalls of elfdom.

Even when he’s deadpan, this guy is funny. But it’s not a show for kids, what with the discussion of bodily functions and backstage shenanigans at the North Pole. In fact, you’ll never look at a mall Santa Claus the same way again.

Of course, it helps that Sedaris always relates his real-life experiences in the funniest manner possible—and Sedaris fans won’t want to miss this show—but The Santaland Diaries really is the antisentimental approach to the holidays, with a bit of heart. There are sections of the show that will confirm every bad thought ever experienced about our fellows, but there are also parts that make us glad that—despite his elfier-than-thou moments—people like this lead our children through their holiday moments.

The full-on holiday fantasy set, designed by Cap Stage’s producing artistic director, Jonathan Williams—and the audience really did gasp when it was revealed—includes a working train set, a luxe Santa throne and all the trimmings from a high-end department store Christmas display. “Helper elves” serve as stagehands, making for a seamless production that moves at a manic pace, thanks to director Peter Mohrmann.

The Santaland Diaries is a great show for those of us who like a bit less sugar and a bit more spice in our holiday fare.