By S. Mayren
Lehi City Arts Council’s production of A Tuna Christmas at Lehi Arts Center in Lehi, Utah is a cleverly constructed comedic masterpiece that is sure to induce much laughter. Written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard in 1989, A Tuna Christmaswas originally the second in a series of comedies that all take place in the fictional town of Tuna, Texas. Howard and Sears toured the country to perform all four plays in the series, directed by Williams, and even released videos of the productions. The cleverest comedic device, and what really makes the Tuna series so much fun, is that all twenty-plus characters are played by just two men.
In this Christmas chapter of Tuna, we learn that there is a yard-decorating contest, a “phantom” who wrecks yard decorations, a mother trying to keep her family together against all odds, a young man on probation with the law, and a theatre director trying to stage Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol under the threat of having the lights turned off because the theatre is behind in paying the bill.
As the story unfolds, every character is given heart and place by the two actors: Michael Carrasco and Steve Poulsen. Through costume and voice changes, these two men brilliantly depict each person with individual voices and mannerisms in such comedic excellence that I honestly don’t know how they managed to keep straight faces the whole time. Each time a new character is introduced, the audience is once again thrown into fits of laughter. From radio DJs at the top of the show, to rivaling neighbor ladies, to the surprise winners of the OKKK Radio Yard Decorating Contest, and everyone in between, Carrasco and Poulsen never miss a beat as they tell the story of their town of Tuna at Christmas.
As for the director, lighting, and sound, the program lists these as characters from the play itself: Joe
Kamagra Polo, Bob Lipsey, Didi Snavely, and Arles Struvie respectively. This leads one to believe that it was, in fact, Carrasco who directed the play, and Poulsen who was responsible for lighting and sound. In any case, the production is wonderfully done. The small stage is used to capacity as the two actors filled every corner and use the space well to depict the story. I found it charming that many of the props – telephones, papers, oven mitts, etc. – are pantomimed instead of using real items. The sound design perfectly matches the pantomimed props as we hear drinks poured, doors shut, dogs barking, soda cans open, and a hair dryer thawing out meat.
One last element that really made the play is the dressers, the people responsible for helping with the costume changes, as well as puppeteering some side characters as they are voiced by the actors from off stage. They have a monumental task in keeping track of costumes and getting the actors changed quickly. Savannah Carrasco and Raeleigh Rust perform these duties flawlessly.
As a story about a small town, the characters and events may seem familiar to viewers. Truly this is a love story about letting go, embracing change, and allowing others to help you when they can; a story that we all need. The whole experience of A Tuna Christmas at Lehi Arts Center is definitely one that is not to be missed. There is some PG-rated language and themes to be aware of when considering taking younger viewers.
Lehi City Arts Council presents A Tuna Christmas, by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard, presented with permission of Samuel French, Inc. New York, New York.
Lehi Arts Center, 685 North Center Lehi, Utah 84043
December 7-21, 2019, 7:30 PM
Tickets
Contact: 801-369-8806, E-mail: info@lehiarts.com
Website
Lehi Arts Council Facebook Page
A Tuna Christmas Facebook Event
0 Comments