Theater review: The not-so-traditional A Tuna Christmas at ONSTAGE is side-splittingly hilarious

by Richard Blake of John Garcia's The Column

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Two actors take on 20 characters in a funny relief from Christmas stereotypes.

BEDFORD — A Tuna Christmas at ONSTAGE in Bedford is a side-splitting night of unconventional holiday entertainment you don’t want to miss.

A Tuna Christmas is the second in a series of comedic plays, preceded by Greater Tuna and followed by Red, White and Tuna and Tuna Does Vegas, each set the fictional town of Tuna, Texas, the third-smallest town in the state.

The trilogy was written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard. The plays are at once an affectionate comment on small-town, Southern life and attitudes but also a withering satire of same. The plays are notable in that two men play the entire cast of over twenty eccentric characters of both genders and various ages. The first play, Greater Tuna, debuted in 1981 in Austin, Texas. A Tuna Christmas debuted in 1989.

The plot centers on the town's annual Christmas Yard Display Contest, won 14 times in a row by Vera Carp. A mysterious "Christmas Phantom," known for vandalizing the yard displays, threatens to throw the contest into turmoil. Among the subplots are Stanley Bumiller's attempts to end his probation and leave Tuna, Bertha Bumiller's tries to hold her family together at Christmastime, and Joe Bob Lipsey's struggle to successfully mount his production of A Christmas Carol, despite numerous vexations and obstacles. Although, the plot takes a back seat to the hilarious experience of the play itself.

ONSTAGE is a lovely intimate proscenium venue laid out very comfortably. Set Designer Dane Stewart Tuttle welcomes you into the theater with a simple fixed set, sparsely adorned with only a table and two chairs. The sparseness of the set changes throughout the show with items like counters, ramps and many different Christmas trees representing different locations. It works perfectly for this show as the actors are the focus. There are some great surprises built into the set structure that are a very nice touch and show wonderful design skill.

The sound design team of Alex Krus and Chris Robinson do a wonderful job of accenting every scene and enhancing the show throughout the evening. There are wonderful elements like hilarious Christmas-themed pre-show music, ambient night-time sounds, car chases and a hilarious “bird scene” that makes the audience laugh out loud. This design team does a simply splendid job in this production.

Lyle Huchton’s costumes are perfect in every way. This show is all about costumes changes to assist the multiple characters these two men create. Each character’s outfit is well defined, works well, and in some scenes requires very quick changes. Some are elaborate, some are simple, but in each and every case is excellently executed.

Any production of the Tuna series requires very strong, talented actors in the two roles. In this production, that strong talent simply explodes from the stage each and every time Roach and Robinson are on it. In his primary role of Thurston Wheelis, Roach is simply a pleasure to watch and entertains you with every word he (she) utters. He goes on to create 10 more wonderfully executed roles from older women to a simple-minded sheriff, each with their own character voice, movement and style. The Bertha Bumiller character he portrays is my favorite. With dead-pan line deliveries that make the audience laugh hysterically, to a bit of a strange vulnerability toward the end of the show, it is theater magic to behold and done by a truly professional actor.

Chris Robinson’s primary character of Arles Struvie is played flawlessly. As with Roach, he has to create 10 more characters and all are done exquisitely with comedic perfection and deliveries. There is a scene done in front of the act curtain that shows the sublime talent of Robinson with the character Helen Bedd (yes, read the name again, it’s exactly what you think). I was laughing so hard my face hurt and from the hysterical laughter coming from everyone else in the theater, you truly know he is one hell of a performer.

A Tuna Christmas isn’t your everyday holiday show, and be very glad it isn’t. You will have a wonderful evening of comedy, with outstanding acting and a well-produced show, when going to see this raucous play. Congratulations to the amazing actors that grace the stage and ONSTAGE in Bedford on a job well done!

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