Playwrights Stacey Kaser and Alison Kelly both hate Christmas. So, they decided to write a comedy about it—to the delight of audiences at its successful world premiere last season. Returning to the Arts Club November 16 and running to December 24, the production has seen a few changes since its first run.
The story is centred around Alex (Jennifer Copping), a perfectionist who is desperately holding fast to her Christmas traditions. While juggling family and work—and a movie star—she loses control of her holiday plans, and her home becomes a disaster zone. Can she save the turkey from the dog and salvage a broken-down tree?
This is the second play that Kaser and Kelly have co-written. “We are beyond thrilled that The Day Before Christmas is returning to the Arts Club,” they say. “This production is like a holiday tradition that evolves over the years. Last year’s show brought us comfort, in that audiences told us how much they recognized themselves in the story—of course, a sold-out run doesn’t hurt either! This year, we have made some tweaks and a small twist, and we have two new leads. Jennifer Copping and Paul Herbert bring fresh energy to Alex and Alan, and we’re thrilled to have the rest of the cast back.”
Noting the changes to the remount production, director Chelsea Haberlin adds, “In live theatre you learn so much from the reaction of the audience: what’s clear, what’s funny, what’s missing the mark. With this remount we have the chance to really enhance what worked. This is going to be a tighter, funnier, more heartwarming version of this play that was already much loved the first time around. If you saw it the first time, see it again because there will be so many gems that weren’t there before!”
Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre
November 16–December 24, 2017
Tue–Thu at 7:30 PM, Fri & Sat at 8 PM, Wed at 1:30 PM, and Sat & Sun at 2 PM
Holiday showtimes: Sat, Dec 23, at 2 & 8 PM and Sun, Dec 24, at 2 PM
Tickets from $29 at www.artsclub.com or the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644
Photo by David Cooper
