You might consider spending Christmas in the tropics, or maybe at least one evening in Marysville.
The Red Curtain Arts Center’s holiday show is “My Three Angels,” a fun 1950s comedy set on Christmas Day 1910 in French Guiana, where it is hot, hot, hot. (Performances are Fridays through Sundays, Dec. 1 through 17.)
Three good-natured convicts are employed as roofers at Ducotel’s General Store. Felix Ducotel’s business and his bookkeeping aren’t in good shape and, trying to hide his woes, he won’t take off his coat in the heat. The ruined roof is the least of Ducotel’s problems.
On the way from France is an evil-minded cousin who has an interest in the business and his cold-blooded nephew, who jilted Ducotel’s daughter for an heiress.
The three convicts decide it’s their job to take on the visitors. Possessing every criminal art, they set matters straight in this funny show.
First appearing on Broadway, the comedy by Samuel and Bella Spewack is based on the French play “La Cuisine Des Anges” by Albert Husson. And the 1955 movie “We’re No Angels” (with Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray, Joan Bennett and Basil Rathbone) is based on “My Three Angels.” The difference is that in the film, the convicts have escaped from prison.
Directed by Eric Bischoff with assistance from Morgan Peeler, “My Three Angels” offers a non-traditional look at the Christmastime tenets of good will and peace on Earth — with a little murder thrown in for good measure.
The cast of talented local actors includes Richard Morris as Joseph, Justin Tinsley as Jules, Ben St. Hilaire as Alfred — the convicts, along with John Chapman as Felix Ducotel, Marli Bartness as his wife Emilie Ducotel, Alexis Jones as their daughter Marie Louise Ducotel, Steve Smith as the evil Henri Trochard, Jacy Leavitt as the nephew Paul, Kathleen Sasnett as Madame Parole and Aidan Bartness as The Lieutenant.
Morris, Tinsley and Hilaire were a delightful ensemble trio, drawing most of the laughs in the show. Also great are Jones as Marie Louise and Sasnett as shop customer Madame Parole.
The good-looking set by Scott B Randall provides a threadbare, tropical Victorian atmosphere.
Red Curtain does a good job presenting something different at Christmastime, and this one is especially entertaining.
In fact, Red Curtain is presenting good community theater in all of its shows. Next up is a modern morality play by Annie Baker titled “Body Awareness” (Jan. 19 through Feb. 4), and Sam Shepard’s “True West” (Feb. 15-18.) It’s a joint venture with Porch Couch Productions of Bellingham. Auditions for the roles of Saul and Mom in “True West” are Dec. 12-13. More information is at www.redcurtainfoundation.org/auditions.
If you go
Performances of “My Three Angels” are Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Dec. 1-17 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave., Suite J (in the Goodwill shopping center behind the Everett Community College cosmetology school). Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, students and military personnel, and $7 for kids ages 12 and under. Tickets are available online at brownpapertickets.com, at the RCF box office by phoning 360-322-7402 or in-person at the arts center Tuesday through Saturday from 2-6 p.m.
For more information, go to www.redcurtainfoundation.org or see the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RedCurtainFoundation.
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