Fain Commands 'SANTALAND DIARIES' With Elven Charm & Smarm

At one point during Theater Wit's mounting of David Sedaris' THE SANTALAND DIARIES, the delectably charming Mitchell Fain recalls a particularly slow afternoon in Macy's wonderland where an over-zealous Santa recited The Night Before Christmas sans an audience.

"No children. Just us."

This sentiment pinpoints the kind of evening one will experience at the Theatre Building's holiday offering.  Not at all a kid-friendly CHRISTMAS SCHOONER or CHRISTMAS CAROL, but then again, it never pretends to be.  No, THE SANTALAND DIARIES is an alternative gin-fuel yuletide holiday monologue for anyone who's over the manufactured "joy" of the season and into an ol' fashioned adult-aimed evening of comic storytelling.

As David, Fain tells the true story from Sedaris' past of one holiday season where being an elf in Macy's Santaland seemed to be his only source of income.  From there, the comically woeful story of Crumpet (David's self-assigned elf name) unfolds stitch by stitch, like so many of grandma's homemade Christmas sweaters.  What Fain and director Jeremy Wechsler have constructed is a non-painful holiday cocktail party where everyone can drink, only one person talks, and the stories are anything but boring.

As the antagonist, Fain balances a fine line between Mitchell Fain and David Sedaris, with a spattering of recent pop culture references thrown in for good measure.  His ability to propel into Sedaris' sardonically irreverent world allows an engaging openness to toss in the occasional ad lib'd one-liner - particularly towards those in the audience enjoying a good genitalia quip.

And let's face it, around the holidays, who doesn't?

What Sedaris' script lacks, if anything, is a sense of resolve or pathos towards any holiday human kindness.  David lashes out on the crazy shoppers as well as the well-intentioned tourist, never breaking down his jaded wall of mockery.  Though surprising in its no-holds-barred flow, it becomes refreshing to know everyone's on Crumpet's chopping block in SANTALAND, holiday season or not.

Illuminated by Mike Durst, Joey Wade's frosted & twinkling set (which evokes memories of Ralphie's ill fated kicked-down-the-snow-chute-by-Santa encounter) provides Fain a landscape to frolic, kvetch, & jingle his way through an ever-present feeling of winter wonderment and despair. Wechsler's pacing stalls at several moments and a few music cues seem off-kilter with no accompanying lighting shifts, but the evening is in the reliable hands of the refreshingly foul-mouthed Fain as he martinis his way through another holiday along side Stan.  I mean Satan.  I mean Santa.

THE SANTALAND DIARIES runs now through January 2, 2010 at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Avenue.  Tickets are only $24.  For tickets and information, call the Theatre Building Chicago box office at 773-327-5252 or visit TheaterWit.org.

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