Whether you’re more about a jolly old soul or rooting for Krampus this Christmas season, the Onyx Theatre has you covered with two shows that celebrate both aspects of the holiday. First up is the dread aspect, with cult hit The Eight: Reindeer Monologues by Jeff Goode, opening December 4. Directed by Troy Heard, it offers a disturbingly dark twist on Rudolph’s story—including allegations of horrific sexual abuse at the North Pole.
“Each reindeer has their own perspective—from working-class joe to politically activated feminist to gang member taken off the streets who had his life turned around by Santa Claus,” Heard says. “Vixen has the final monologue, and the play revolves around the question, will she testify or not, and if she does, did it happen? It’s a bit of Rashomon—each monologue fills in different elements of the story. What keeps it interesting is each reindeer’s perspective on events that may or may not have happened. You go into it expecting something light-hearted, fun and cute, slightly twisted—but it’s not. There’s a very dark undercurrent that runs throughout.”
It’s an undercurrent that Heard feels is as bound to the holiday as tidings of good cheer. “There’s only so much treacle and eggnog you can take before diabetic coma,” Heard says. “You don’t have light without dark, God without Satan. This is kind of different.”
Heard also has something for those who want more of a traditional holiday show. Opening December 10 at the Onyx is The Blanche DeBris Emergency Xmas Broadcast. Written by and starring local burlesque luminary Blanche DeBris (Annette Verdolino), the show thrives on the cornball ’70s variety-show Christmas specials where everyone comes together under the flimsiest of circumstances to sing and share jokes. In this instance, that flimsy circumstance occurs when the owner of Slippery Crease, Nevada’s only radio station, dies unexpectedly in a horrible rhinestoning accident. So it’s up to DeBris to keep the station on air.
“I’m a sucker for the big, stupid Christmas stuff,” Verdolino says. “Like holiday specials from the ’60s and ’70s, with these guest stars you’d never see together singing with each other—like Bing Crosby and David Bowie, how did that combo happen?” Verdolino’s combo includes members from the burlesque community along with songs and comedy bits inspired by the variety shows. “I’m making myself laugh as I’m writing it, creating some original songs for it as well, and including gals from the burlesque scene,” she says. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do—it’s just that combination of goofy and put-on-a-show ethos, and why not have it at Christmas?”
The Eight: Reindeer Monologues Friday & Saturday, 10 p.m., $15.
The Blanche DeBris Emergency Xmas Broadcast Thursday-Sunday, 8 p.m., $20.
Both through December 19, Onyx Theatre, 702-732-7225.
