It has been a while since a stage play entertained me as much as The True Meaning of Christmas: From the Perspective of an Alien. Adapted from a short story by science-fiction author Christopher Laird, this holiday production mixes strong singing, sharp comedy and a surprisingly thoughtful message.
The Story
Xona Bari (Isis Damil), an alien woman, arrives on Earth at Christmas to visit her wealthy boyfriend, Monty Herrshoff (Nathan R). His home is covered in decorations, and Xona is baffled. She has come with news that could change both their lives, but before she can share it, Monty insists on showing her what Christmas is really about.
Xona is grumpy, painfully blunt and convinced that humans have lost the true meaning of the season, engaging in what she calls “blind folly”. What follows is a series of comic misadventures as the couple tries to figure out what Christmas means to each of them, including a scuffle with Santa (Santa Randyl) and a lecture from a funny, slightly annoying security guard (Rahim Shahid).
The Performances
Isis Damil is excellent as Xona. She is a talented singer and makes a difficult, prickly character genuinely funny and likeable. Her chemistry with Nathan R, also a strong vocalist, holds the show together.
One standout moment is Monty’s take on “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”, the song famously performed by Thurl Ravenscroft, recast here as “Ms. Grinch” to describe Xona. It is both hilarious and a clever way to move the story forward.
Direction
Christopher Laird also directed the production and does an impressive job of balancing comedy, music and the story’s gentle lessons. The pacing keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. After the show, I picked up the book to learn more about these characters, which says a lot about how well the play works.
Verdict
With its warm humour, memorable lead performance and fresh take on familiar holiday themes, this play has the potential to become a seasonal favourite, in the spirit of classics like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
