Theater Review: "Every Christmas Story Ever Told" at Phoenix Stage Co

The final performance of Phoenix Stage Company’s perennial “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) '' was presented at a Sunday matinee. The uproarious play was directed by Tim Phillips, who is described in the program as the guy who “told us when to do stuff.”

This riotous script was written by Michael Carleton, James Fitzpatric and John K. Alvarez, but the team encourages the cast and production team to use it only as a suggested road map. Improv easily makes its way into the action, and the various characters are open to interpretation. This show has been presented many times over the years at Phoenix Stage Company, first in Naugatuck in 2012, then in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021, and Phillips directed them all. During the pandemic, Phillips co-hosted the live podcast “Take Flight with Phoenix Stage Company.”

Instead of performing Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told -- plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical pop-culture, and every carol ever sung. This is a madcap romp through the holiday season.

Two of the cast members reprised the roles that they have played in all of the previous incarnations, Rob Richnavsky and Executive Producer Ed Bassett. The role that had been heretofore played by Ian Diedrich was bravely taken on by the talented Chris Evans (the other one.)

Evans makes his ECSET debut after being part of a long list of PSC productions, including the more serious “Dead Ringer,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Cliffhanger,” and “Rebel Yells,” The Glass Menagerie,” as well as the comedies “Lady Parts,” “Secondary Cause of Death,” “Fuddy Mears,” “Death by Fatal Murder,” and “Writer’s Cramp.” Evans chose to make one of the characters into Captain Kirk from “Star Trek,” and it worked very well.

The script has been stretched to include some more topical references that I don’t remember from precious years, including some acknowledgement of the celebrity that shares Evan’s name, the Broadway show “Hamilton,” “Love Actually,” and the actor who is “not Ian.” Despite the fact that I have seen this show at least once each of the years that the PSC has produced it, I still laughed my way through the two acts.

A special shout out to PSC Production Manager Lori Poulin (dubbed the “cat herder”,) the overworked stage manager of this demanding script, what she correctly calls a “holiday roller coaster.”

The ever-changing costumes were picked out by Bassett, a founding member of the PSC, and Poulin. The team was also in charge of the trunks full of props necessary for all of the stories told. Bassett designed the set that seemed a bit smaller in scale in order to accommodate a second level, built by Bassett and the director. Stephen Walters helped Bassett to paint the set.

Al Hathway was on hand, as always, to design the fun lighting and Bassett and Phillips “made noises” with the sound design. (I heard the recorded voice of Poulin in the second act.) The booth pirates (“yarrr”) included Phillips, Michael Calabrese, Shanelle Dupre, Hathway and Brian Elser. In fact, Phillips, his wife and volunteer coordinator Laurie Phillips, and Elser sang through the house announcements.

Before the final performance, Phillips posted that “after 10 years, 6 productions, and over 50 performances, I am bidding farewell for good to ;’Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)’”

He went on to write: “In 2012, I was chosen to direct this odd and funny Christmas show. Who knew it would turn out to be such a cult holiday classic for Phoenix Stage Company? I was incredibly fortunate to have an uber talented cast of Ed Bassett, Rob Richnavsky, and Ian Diedrich, and this year, adding THE Chris Evans to the mix. Over the years, the show has grown and adapted to the times and all the while, these guys have kept me in stitches and brought pure holiday delight to our audiences.” During the final performance, Richnavsky delighted in cracking up Bassett so that he had to take a minute to be able to continue his performance.

Phillps continued the post by expressing his gratitude to every person involved in this show’s longevity, including my name on the list. “But most importantly, to the audience members - those first timers and those who came back EVER time, your laughter gave us wings! It's been a wild and crazy ride and I wouldn't trade away a minute of it! ”

The director ended his post with a hint about the possible return of this beloved show.

“(Never one to say never, there is always the possibility that PSC may bring back this fun show, but if they do, it will be under new direction. Godspeed to that lucky individual!) It's been my honor to help put this on stage and my joy to see the results!” Here's hoping for a return.

This production was dedicated to long-time supporter Phoenix Stage Philip R. Ercoli, Jr. Nov. 23, 1941 - Oct. 21, 2022.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.