Review: Nicholas Brendon in The Santaland Diaries at The Blank Theatre's 2nd Stage

If the hyper happiness of Christmas tends to bring out the curmudgeon in you, then you’ll find much to relate to in David Sedaris’ delightfully cynical remembrance of his time spent playing Crumpet the Elf one desperate holiday season years ago. The NPR humorist was just an out-of-work, out-of-luck writer who had recently moved to New York when he answered an ad for holiday help at Macy’s. But instead of making his days merry and bright, the experience quickly morphed into the Job From Hell. And that makes sense. After all, he wryly notes, “Santa” is an anagram of “Satan.”

It feels as though Sedaris wrote The Santaland Diaries as a way to both purge and memorialize his elfin escapades during that long ago Yuletide. As directed by Michael Matthews, Nicholas Brendon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) channels Sedaris in all his humiliating green velvet and big bow glory in this entertaining one-man show adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello. From dry acknowledgement of his demoralizing situation (“I am a 33-year-old man applying for a job as an elf.”) to droll observations of crazy human behavior, corporate greed and crass Christmas commercialism, Brendon cracks wise with an easy inviting charm.

Scenic designer Kurt Boetcher fills the intimate stage with oversized, gaily wrapped presents that Brendon scales like building blocks. White sparkle lights dangle from an overhead platform bearing artificial Christmas trees. The colorful lighting design by Tim Swiss and Michael Mullen’s festive costumes add to the sense of exuberant excessiveness.

It would be easy to let Sedaris’ growing frustrations with screaming kids and pushy parents, as well as with the idiosyncrasies of his fellow elves and Santas, take on a darker, saw-toothed edge, but Matthews keeps the tone light with an appropriately frosty tinge. (Well, except for that maniacal, drenched-in-devil-red Satan moment.) So scoot over, Scrooge; get out of the way, Grinchy. Audiences, line up fast. Crumpet the (cranky) Elf has come to town!

For more information: The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello. Presented by The Blank Theatre Company at The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre, 6500 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Nov. 20-Dec. 20, 2009; Wed.-Sat. at 8pm, Sun. at 2pm and 5pm. $25; valet parking available. Running time: Approx. one hour. 323/661-9827.