Interview: Todd Waite Talks THE SANTALAND DIARIES

THE SANTALAND DIARIES, a one man show based on great American humorist David Sedaris' essay on his time as a department store Christmas Elf, is back at the Alley Theatre.

We talk to actor Todd Waite, the man in the one-man show.

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How is the run going? How are audiences reacting?

It's been such a joy! Knowing people really want to see the show is very gratifying to an actor, [Pauses] it gives you energy and makes you want to surprise and delight them.

The audiences have been wonderful, and as a result we've had several evenings with waiting lists-although there are still tickets available for all shows right now.

Also, even more than in other years, people seem ready to release their pent up cynicism in a playful, fun communal way, and laugh. [Laughs] And this is the show for it! [Laughs even harder!] (Although I hope it has heart at its core.)

How are you keeping your energy up? (I assume that not only is it a one man, one act show but that you still riff and react to the audience. Quick wit is exhausting!)

Well, I work out, and stretch, and make sure I sleep well, eat well etc., but that's a constant for actors. In the case of SANTALAND DIARIES, being so familiar with a script and with the different audience reactions, offers the great gift of relaxation-almost utter relaxation in this case. And with that comes a real listening to the audience, comfort with timing-even silence, which can contain a great deal of communication and let the audience speak. This takes less energy and yet engenders more from the audience, a win-win exchange.

It seems that with the popularity of productions like TUTS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE MUSICAL, and THE SANTALAND DIARIES, audiences are falling in love with holiday stories that have an edge. How would you explain this phenomenon (if, in fact, you think it is a phenomenon!)?

In difficult times (and the world is jangling right now) theatre becomes even more important, a space where people can gather 'round the fire, in a sense, and hear stories, and be moved together, and especially to laugh together and, you know, in serious times there is a radicalism in keeping laughing; it says we are who we are, and damn the torpedoes.

And people become smarter about the world, and they appreciate those works of art and entertainment that acknowledge the unsentimental truth about life. "Edge" is usually merely truth telling, and people respond to that right now. Wry humor, black comedy, naughtiness is an antidote to sentimentality, commercialism, and taking oneself too seriously. It feels fresh.

Is there a moment (or two, or three) in THE SANTALAND DIARIES that you can point to as among your favorites?

I like the overall opportunity the play allows for direct audience connection and those moments that encourage that I especially like. I like the dancing satire. Doing Billy Holiday is fun. And I enjoy the sincere Santa moment (because it's unexpected). But it's really the overall flow and change ups where one moment allows you the next. That I admire in Sedaris' writing.

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THE SANTALAND DIARIES. Through December 31. Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. $26-36. 713-220-5700. alleytheatre.org