And now for something completely different. In December, this is a good thing, especially in community theater.
Nick Poling and Alex De Roest, two local guys with some nice play writing skills, have come up with a hilarious and campy take on the 1964 B movie “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.”
The laugh-out-loud show opens tonight, Dec. 2, for a three-weekend run at the Red Curtain Arts Center in Marysville.
Poling, 26, a former Marysville-Pilchuck drama club president, and De Roest, 28, a Snohomish High grad, met up at Everett Community College.
Their company, Final Boss, has produced all sorts of crazy stuff in the form of plays, movies and radio shows. They are at work now on a Red Curtain show for the summer — “Klingon Macbeth.” However, it will be written in Shakespeare’s English, not Klingon, Poling said.
This energetic duo has a potential hit with Santa and the Martians. They need to get this adaptation published ASAP.
Long involved with the Red Curtain’s efforts, Poling suggested to the board of directors that the Christmas play this year be different from the traditional, and often saccharine, holiday fare.
“I liked the idea of ‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’ based on the title alone,” Poling said. “So when we were told to go ahead, I decided I needed to watch the movie. It was horrible. We found a play based on the movie and it was horrible, too. So we wrote our own.”
Even the play’s Martian costumes are better than those in the movie, Poling said.
“We added some extra violence to our show along with green blood, which we are trying to water down so it doesn’t stain the costumes,” he said. “And, yeah, the show is not for children, but teens will love it.”
The set changes are numerous and, at least in rehearsal earlier this week, a bit clunky. But the Martian gear, the spaceship, the murderous robot and Santa’s workshop are fabulous, so it’s worth the wait.
The basic premise of the play (which includes music and dancing) is that the kids on Mars are obsessed with Christmas TV shows from Earth. What they are missing in terms of cheer and Christmas presents makes them all very depressed. So the Martian Council goes to Earth to kidnap Santa, who they believe will bring happiness to the Red Planet.
De Roest, a good physical comedian, is perfect as the cartoonish Santa Claus, and Poling hams it up nicely as Vulgar, the villainous Martian.
Kyle Joy does well as the Martian leader Kimar; Joren Thiessen has a nice Ed Wynn accent in his funny portrayal of Droppo; and Richard Morris is great as the Martian’s hippie guru, Torg.
Scott Randall, as Santa’s elf Bob, is funny, and Noah Mooring as Billy and Quinn Mitchel as Betty do a delightful job as the children.
Other cast members include Kael Bartness as Bulmar, Daniel Wilson Jr. as Rebar, Marli Bartness as Geetar/Mrs. Claus, Josh Read as TV reporter Anderson Cooper, and Lisa Rempel and Helen Tang as elves Blinky and Legolas.
If you are hankering for something different right about now, this show is for you.
If you go
“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” plays at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 2-18 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave. Suite J, located behind the Everett Community College cosmetology school and Goodwill in Marysville.
Not recommended for children. Tickets are $17 for adults, and $14 for students, seniors and military personnel. Call 360-322-7402.
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