BWW Reviews: HAM FOR THE HOLIDAYS at ACT Outdoes Itself

Strengthen up those smiling and laughing muscles because the insanity of one of my favorite holiday show alternatives is back with "Ham for the Holidays: Fear the Bacon" over at ACT. And let me tell you, they have upped their game and outdone themselves. My cheeks are still aching from all the laughter as they turned in one of their best holiday shows to date.

All your favorites are back plus some new bits of insanity as Lisa Koch and Peggy Platt take your normal holiday fare and turn it upside down. If it's inappropriate they go there as we venture from a musically inclined women's clinic to an inept flight attendant to a reunion of superheroes all seen though the insanity filter that is Koch and Platt or "Dos Fallopia". It's an evening of absolute hilarity and joy strung together with the most bafflingly funny videos in between the sketches. And not to worry, we still get a visit from the Sequim Gay Men's Chorus as they proceed to meltdown from whatever drama has infused their ranks and Mama Euomi and her daughter Wynotta (a.k.a. The Spudds) are back and Mama has come up with the perfect Christmas show again as she presents her nativity prequel "Saturday Night Jesus".

Director David Hunter Koch has once again kept the pace of the show clipping along at lightning speed and nails the timing for this delightful ensemble. As usual Koch and Platt are joined by the hilarious Michael Oaks as well as their amazing musical director D.J. Gommels. And there's a new addition this year as the hunky James Knoll occasionally pops up in some skimpy outfit or another. The entire ensemble is completely hysterical. Gommels with his outrageous facial expressions manages to stay funny even when stuck behind his keyboard. Oaks takes on his several characters with ease and his face-off with Platt's aging flight attendant is comedy gold. And Knoll lends not only some welcome eye candy but also turns in some hilarity of his own especially as the newest member of the chorus.

But it's Koch and Platt that, as usual, walk off with the show. Mama is always wonderfully awful but I think that Platt has dialed up her offensive meter making her all the more wonderful. And Koch's talents seem to know no bounds as she goes from gut busting comedy into an introspective and beautiful medley and back again.

If you're looking for a break from the sweetness of the holidays and family invasions then do yourself a favor and take a trip over to ACT to catch the irreverence of Koch and Platt and you too can have sore laughing muscles. Which is why with my three letter rating system I give them a gleeful YAY with a little bit of "Oh no, they're not going there!" on the side. Oh and I must add, Thank you Zachary. Trust me, when you see the show, you'll thank him too.

"Ham for the Holidays: Fear the Bacon" plays at ACT through December 21st. For tickets or information contact the ACT box office at 206-292-7676 or visit them online at www.acttheatre.org.

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