‘Another Christmas’ is fine holiday fare

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Don Forston plays the Guy in “Another Night Before Christmas,” and Hollis Resnik stars as the social worker who doesn’t know what to make of the stranger in her home.

Updated: January 3, 2012 8:44AM

A divorced social worker with a chip on her shoulder, nothing to look forward to and no reason to live meets a homeless bum on Christmas Eve. She offers him some food, and then goes home, prepared to spend the holiday eve on her own.

She’s so despondent that she doesn’t answer her parent’s phone call or that of a young man interested in her. When the homeless man, who sports a big belly and a white beard, finds his way into her home, she thinks he’s a burglar. But he insists he is Santa Claus.

Is he a delusional old man who just believes he is St. Nick, or is he the real thing?

That question is at the center of “Another Night Before Christmas,” which is in its Midwest premiere at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Ind.

The premise sounds a lot like the theme of the 1947 movie “Miracle on 34th Street” about a disbelieving child and mother. Indeed, “Another Night Before Christmas” does follow in the footsteps of that film classic, but in a more up-to-date manner.

As in the cinematic version, “Another Night Before Christmas” features a young woman, Karol Elliot, who hasn’t believed in myths, fantasies and anything out of the ordinary since she was 6 years old. She has shut her heart not only to Christmas, but to love, friendship and family.

Don Forston, as the jolly old man in the red suit, gives the performance of his career, delivering a hilarious send-up of Santa as a smart-alecky, sharp-witted and charming miracle worker. Portraying Karol is veteran actress Hollis Resnik, who is worth the price of admission to any show she is in. Resnik not only delivers on the dark side of the woman at the end of her rope, but comes through with great comedic verve, especially in fights with a home security system.

Well-directed by William Pullinsi, the show centers on redemption, which is what Christmas is supposed to be about. With book and lyrics written by Sean Grennan and music by Leah Okimoto, there are plenty of laughs and good cheer here to make the show a Christmas staple. But there are a few scenes that the playwright could invigorate with a bit more action. Although Bill Bartelt’s set design of red pillows, a big evergreen tree, gifts under the tree and a festive choo-choo train does summon the happy holiday atmosphere, the show is not all syrupy sweetness and jingle bells.

This is a sharp, sophisticated and hip production geared more toward adults than young children. But then again, adults need Christmas as much as kids do, too.

Betty Mohr is a local free-lance writer.