There’s something about Touchstone Theatre’s “Christmas City Follies” that always serves to put a little perspective on the chaos that is the Christmas season.
This year as the joyful vaudeville style revue celebrates it’s 20th year, the emphasis was a little more on new skits both humorous and touching.
The hands down highlight of “Christmas City Follies XX” is the “Shadow Dance.” In this clever and evocative, though wordless, piece, a boy and a girl try to connect and then walk away from each other, while their shadows in the background instead stay and dance with each other.
Other heartwarming moments include “Curly Cue Rue,” Bill George’s adorable original song to his granddaughter sttrummed on the ukulele; and “Santa Hat,” Samantha Beedle’s heartfelt paean to her best friend (also on uke.)
There also was lots to laugh at.
“The Aunts” had Beedle, Emma Ackerman and Mary Wright as three sequin-clad, over-the-top diva aunts to Meara Gill’s teen, who are ready to belt out “We Are Family” at a drop of a hat. 
“An Uber ride in Bethlehem” humorously has the three kings – Melchior, Balthasar and Gaspar – all taking an Uber to see the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
Another very clever skit is “Naughty List Tango” which mashes up “Chicago’s” “Cell Block Tango” with Touchstone’s traditional shopping cart ballet with four elves hilariously singing about what kids had done to get on Santa’s naughty list.
Also funny is “Truth, Beauty and Meaning” which skewers overly pretentious BBC hosts played by George and Ackerman, and “BNSN” a parody of ESPN in which commentators breathlessly give play-by-play as an over scheduled Ackerman goes from shopping to a work party to decorating at home.
Beedle is inspired as a socially awkward women who gives a Ted Talk on her technique to (somewhat unknowingly) crash someone’s Christmas party, including overstaying your welcome.
Wright’s Little Red wordless, gloomy character returns, this time planning to head to New York to join the Rockettes, only to be told she’s too short, which leads to crazy plans to get taller.
And it wouldn’t be “Christmas City Follies” without a visit from George’s Old Guy. This time he is looking for someone with a “heart of gold” and naturally gets the audience involved.
And how can you not love a show that ends with Broadway’s Maury Yeston’s kitschy holiday hit “What can you get a Wookie for Christmas (when he already owns a comb) complete with a kick line of wookies!
While there, don’t miss the show on display in the Touchstone Gallery during performances of “Christmas City Follies XX” by local photographer Ron Yoshida, entitled “Rocks.” Originally featured as a gallery display for “Festival UnBound,” it features unique portraits of local arts and culture personalities, those that Yoshida considers to be the artistic bedrock of the community.
On Thursdays, Touchstone offers a pay-what-you-will ticket option at the door, as available.
“Christmas City Follies XX,” is 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 22, at Touchstone’s Theatre, 321 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students and seniors.
For information, call 610-867-1689, or go to www.touchstone.org.