The Santaland Diaries” runs through December 24 at Fort Fringe, 607 New York Avenue NW. (Courtesy City Artistic Partnerships)
From Kate Hays. Follow her on Twitter @kateyhays and email her at [email protected].
What’s worse than resorting to seasonal work as a holiday elf at Macy’s?
“… the very real possibility that I won’t get hired.”
So begins the one-man show, The Santaland Diaries, an adaptation of the offbeat, unrepentant, and, yes, snarky tale of David Sedaris‘ season as one of Santa’s helper elves.
If you’re not familiar with Sedaris, he’s a master of observing his surroundings and interactions. It’s his outrageous take on both the oddities and the regular happenings of life that make his writing so freaking funny.
Joe Brack plays Sedaris as a Macy’s elf. He does an excellent job of channeling Sedaris’ humor (if this stuff is funny written, imagine it animated with expressions and voices), while still making the story his own little piece of Christmas hell.
While The Santaland Diaries is practically a holiday tradition — Director Matty Griffths and Brack have collaborated on the production for three out of the last four years — I’d encourage you to see it this year. Santaland’s got what you really need: a good laugh.
The Santaland Diaries runs at Fort Fringe, 607 New York Avenue NW, through December 24. Go to City Artistic Partnerships for show times and tickets.
Here are my picks for things to do during the weekend in Borderstan, really close by or in the city… restaurants, galleries and theater.
Banana Leaves Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar, 2020 Florida Ave. NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez)
Azi’s Cafe, 1336 9th St. NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez)
La Tomate Italian Bistro, 1701 Connecticut Ave. NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez)
Banana Leaves Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar, at 2020 Florida Ave. NW. We have eaten there a couple of times and the food has always been wonderful and fresh, with a good variety of Chinese, Japanese and Thai. It is a good bet and reasonably priced. But, they have a somehow sketchy and confusing web page to order online. Take a close look at the menu online before calling for a delivery.
Azi’s Cafe, at 1336 9th Street NW. This is one of the pioneer business in the Shaw area. Their coffee is great and the service superb. They have a selection of sandwiches, soups and salads for the rest of the day. If you feel like a light meal, always a good spot.
La Tomate, Italian Bistro, 1701 Connecticut Ave. NW. Italian food, relatively pricey. It has a great location on the Dupont Circle area with nice outdoor seating. Make reservations. The reviews are mixed, but the place is always crowded.
Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Jane Krakowski, at The Kennedy Center. (Image: www.kennedy-center.org)
Donnell Rawlings’ “Ashy Larry” from Comedy Central’s “The Chappelle Show” at the DC IMPROV, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW. (Image: www.dcimprov.com)
David Sedaris, Wed. Oct 7, Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW. (Image: Lisner website)
“Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Jane Krakowski” is Oct. 3 at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street NW. A theater cabaret performance.
“Donnell Rawlings’ Ashy Larry” from Comedy Central’s “The Chappelle Show,” at the DC IMPROV, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW. Shoujld be good.
David Sedaris, Wed. Oct 7, at the Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st Street, NW: “With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today.” Sedairs is a favorite of many friends. (more…)
