Touchstone Theatre always manages to coax out the laughs as the Bethlehem theater pokes fun at all kinds of issues in its annual holiday-themed vaudeville show "Christmas City Follies XXII." This year is no exception, whether its Joseph and a very pregnant Mary getting lost in a too built-up Bethlehem or a PSA about climate change, complete with a "sexy polar bear" dancing a "bearlesque."
The 22nd iteration of the holiday favorite brings its slightly skewed but heartfelt observations of the season to Touchstone Theatre through Dec. 19.
Back are some of the shows most popular characters as well as new hilarious characters and skits.
Bill Georges Old Guy always delights as he finds his shopping cart upended and hears the whispered words of Baby Jesus that he needs to care for others.
Mary Wrights poignant Little Red is unable to hug anyone because of pandemic precautions and breaks her usual silence to reach out with a holiday song.
The clever shopping cart ballet returns as well, only this time with human sized penguins maneuvering the carts which hold their fish dinner.
Also back are the BNSN (Better Not Shout Network) anchors giving ESPN style updates on a 21 bar crawl in Bethlehem that features an increasingly inebriated reporter and a participant dressed as the Christmas pickle.
Some of the funniest new skits include Emma Ackerman and her ukulele leading the shows annual recognition of Hanukkah which morphed into a Mexican wrestling match between a masked Judah Maccabee and a robot dreidel, and ended with a visit from the slightly sinister Hanukkah goblin.
Its all very unorthodox, but also very funny.
Other humorous bits include "Lenny Spruce," a cigarette-smoking Christmas tree comedian; an overenthusiastic model train enthusiast and a trio of rapping "ladies in turtle necks."
It kicks off with an inventive original song led by Emma Ackerman who manages to humorously rhyme an impressive number of words with "merrier," including "terrier."
Particular funny is a visit from environmentally conscious superhero Tommy Apocalypse, played with verve by George.
The talented ensemble included Samantha Beedle, Jessica Boothe, Sara Group, Krystal Hall, Abbie-Jean Litman, Robert Mills, Matt Prideaux and Sam Thompson.
All the mayhem is neatly reined in by director JP Jordan.
The show is presented without an intermission and is 90 minutes in length.
"Follies" is an evening of original sketches, characters, songs, stories, and more presented by Touchstones ensemble and friends.
"Christmas City Follies XXII" performances are 8 p.m. Dec. 3-4, Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 16-17; 2 p.m. Dec. 5, 12 and 19, and 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 18 in Touchstones black box theater at 321 E. 4th St, Bethlehem.
All performers and company members are fully vaccinated and will perform without masks. The audience is required to show either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours. Audience members also must wear masks.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. On Thursdays, Touchstone offer pay-what-you-will at the door.
For information, call 610-867-1689, or go to touchstone.org.