Get that Fishnet Stocking off that Lamp
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
If you’re a fan of the 1983 movie A Christmas Story, then you’ll love the updated improv version now being presented at the Globus Theatre south of Bobcaygeon. A Christmas Story is the perennial favourite of those who have an off-beat sense of humour when it comes to Christmas movies. You know the story: it’s the 1940s and little Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. The story is narrated in the voice of the adult Ralphie and we hear of all the horrible things that happen leading up to Christmas. His father gets that hideous leg lamp, his friend Flick freezes his tongue to a rusty flagpole, Ralphie is forced to wear bunny pajamas, and Santa sends him down the slide without listening to his request.
The improv crew at the Globus Theatre gathered all the plot twists from A Christmas Story and brought it up to the present day, inventing their own crazy sequel, that entails (spoiler alert) not one, but two murders! And there is a need for theatre goers to solve those murders.
Ralphie is now an adult; in fact, he’s middle-aged, but still bearing a striking resemblance to the original movie’s Ralphie. Ralphie is throwing a Christmas party and invites all his old friends, including little brother Randy, buddy Flick, another buddy Schwartz, and Randy’s girlfriend Delia Dill. And throughout the course of events, Ralphie’s Inner Voice narrates the story.
It’s typical of Globus’s murder mysteries, such as some you may have seen recently: The Great Cottage Catastrophe; The Great 44th Fowler’s Falls Fall Fair Disaster; Murder at the Match: A World Cup Murder Mystery, and The Great Palm Tree Beach Tiki Bar Tragedy. It’s up to the diners to solve the murder(s) while enjoying a delicious buffet dinner with a myriad of choices, and mouth-watering desserts.
I can’t reveal any more without spoiling the plot. Or for all I know, the plot could change with each presentation, as often happens with improv. But I can tell you that many of their usual murder mystery cast members are back in this show, and if you’ve seen them, you know there will be plenty of laughs. If you’re a fan of the movie version of A Christmas Story, then you’ll enjoy it even more.
There is a strict dress code in place. Be sure to dress like a character from A Christmas Story, or at least wear fishnet stockings and an ugly Christmas sweater. OK, wear whatever you want, the dress code isn’t that strict.
A Christmas Story …of Murder continues at the Globus Theatre, Lakeview Arts Barn near Bobcaygeon, until November 25. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office at 705-738-2037 or 1-800-304-7897 or visit https://www.lakeviewartsbarn.com/globus-current-season
Photo: Conner Thompson as Randy Parker and Ashley Comeau as Delia Dill in A Christmas Story…of Murder.
A Christmas Story…of Murder
Improv entertainment provided by James Barrett, Conner Thompson, Dave Pearce, Kerry Griffin, Ashley Comeau and Chris Gibbs.
Globus Theatre in the Lakeview Arts Barn, Bobcaygeon
November 18 to 25, 2023
Reviewed by Mary Alderson