The 14th Annual Joe Iconis Christmas Extravaganza– Ribald Revelry
54 Below is festively decorated. Red and green lighting bathes the venue. Four carolers in bonnets move from table to table. Two elves, in fact, Mistletoe Munchkins (Sarah Al-Bazali and Bailey Forman) gambol through the club disseminating candy. Halo somewhat askew, Christmas Angel (Annie Golden), opens and closes the show.
Joe Iconis; The Christmas Angel
To say the Extravaganza is an immersive production minimizes the effect of 60 talented, gleefully crazed performers comprising Joe Iconis’s theater “family” (those who’ve appeared in his concerts and musicals). The merry band commandeers every corner of the premises with camaraderie; song, dance, sketches and choreographed mayhem, sometimes interacting with enthusiastic audience. Our heads swivel like Linda Blair in The Exorcist.
Fancy Tree, Katrina Rose Dideriksen , Mistletoe Munchkins, Mr. Macabee
Iconis explains he had a tough year – compelled to take a lot of less than viable gigs including one upstate just before this show. The company was returning by a bus that crashed in a snowstorm, survivors unknown. “I really needed to get together with my family,” he says sorrowfully. “Don’t let the smile fool you/I’m quite depressed…” Iconis sings, gesturing to unoccupied microphones. Three homeless urchins (Lauren Marcus, Morgan Siobhan Green and Jason SweetTooth Williams) straggle in and are allowed to stay because, hey! it’s Christmas.
The Urchins
As if things weren’t bad enough, landlord Cyril Von Miserthorpe (Will Roland) – think Snidley Whiplash – is calling in loans on 54 Below worth over a million dollars in order to build a block of apartments. Cyril is particularly bitter missing Rufus (Philip Romano) “who used to lick my face, but died at Christmas having run into the street after a rolling ornament.” His husband (not dog) later appears very much alive sinuously wearing a silk dressing gown. Flamboyant and pink “Fancy Tree” (Leonard Sullivan) mishears “fantasy” and, taking it as an invitation, also shows up. Tree has her own sad tale having been turned down by every window on Fifth Avenue.
Flashback Joe and Flashback Mom
Still the show must go on! “Joe’s Flashback” is a trio of songs dramatizing his early life. Fleeing a histrionic, discouraging mother (Jackie Sanders) the hero (Fashback Joe – Owen Smith) travels to daddy’s family in Jacalope Holler, West Virginia “where they appreciate art.” A squirrel, a reindeer, and a raccoon (while dancers tap in the aisles) are interrupted by mom’s arrival and a horrible accident wiping them all out. Guilt-ridden, Iconis keeps his family’s ashes in a hollow plastic candy cane.
Animals of Jacalope Holler
There’s considerable original material (Iconis can write to any theatrical moment) as well as Italian, Hawaiian, Jewish, and Spanish salutes to the season and a roster of standbys like “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Sleigh Bells,” and “Oh, Tanenbaum.” Katrina Rose Dideriksen sings the hell out of “Please Come Home for Christmas.” Bartender Mr. Macabee (Jeremy Morse) can’t resist the chance to sing.
Cyril and Krampus
Krampus (Lilly Tobin) – great costume, a horned anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern tradition, accompanies Saint Nicholas, oozes “Baby It’s Cold Outside” – to Cyril. A drunk, raunchy
Mrs. Santa Claus (Lorinda Lisitza) fronts a chorus of Jingle Sluts, stumbles, and gyrating, climbs on a table.
Santa and Sweet Baby Jesus
Santa (Jason SweetTooth Williams), depressed by competition from “Sweet Baby Jesus” takes a seat at a banquette while Iconis and company try to cheer him up. Jesus himself (Bill Coyne) arrives lasciviously
and literally stretched across the bar area wearing a loin cloth and shades. (There’s a miracle in the offing.) Mary Magdalene (Liz Lark Brown) – with a Yiddish accent – strips down to mini dress sequins to perform “Santa Baby” with her scantily clad backup boys. There’s even dancing candy!
Mary and the Boys
Needless to say, missing cast arrives, Cyril finds the spirit of Christmas, family is reunited, and everyone’s holiday dreams come true. The show is a love fest, also irreverent, salacious, silly, clever; a 2 1/2 hour musical, not a concert. Iconis sits behind the piano benevolently watching his creation like The Wizard of Oz. John Simpkins’ Hellzapoppin production is masterfully directed madness.
Ex·trav·a·gan·za: an elaborate and spectacular entertainment or production – which this was in spades.
Put me down for next year!
Photos by Alix Cohen
Opening: Rudolph, Mrs. Santa and The Jingle Sluts
The 14th Annual Joe Iconis Christmas Extravaganza
Written by Joe Iconis
Directed by John Simpkins
Choreography – Christine O’ Grady
Costumes – Brendan McCann
Produced by Jennifer Ashley Tepper
54 Below
254 West 54th Street
