Theater Review: ‘Ramona’s Christmas Spectacular’ is a rollicking good time

Ready for something completely different this holiday season? Check out “Ramona’s Christmas Spectacular” at The Rattlin’ D Playhouse in Hurricane, Utah. The Rattlin’ D Playhouse is a desert gem that specializes in hilarious family-friendly dinner theater. Rattlin’ D is partnered with Diamond Ranch Academy in Hurricane, and students make the production possible by working as ushers, bussers and food attendants, as well as running the lights and sound. Profits from each production go to Diamond Ranch Academy’ “Young Performing Artist” scholarship fund.

The evening at “Ramona’s Christmas Spectacular” begins around 6 p.m. with a delicious dinner buffet prepared and served by the Academy’s culinary club. However, attendees can choose to purchase a ticket that simply includes the show. If you choose the dinner, when you arrive, the usher leads you to your table that’s already full of everyone that you don’t know. You take your seat, where for some, social anxiety may course through your veins at the thought of having to make small talk with strangers. However, as introductions pave way into good conversation and dinner, you feel right at home.  A small triumph of social engineering. After an hour of good food and new friends, the plates get cleared away, and the lights begin to dim. It’s show time.

First off, the audience meets the host and title character, Ramona Hugginkiss in all “her” frumpy, bawdy glory. Created and played by artistic director, managing partner and starring cast member Andrew E. Durrant, Ramona channels the character Linda Richman from the SNL classic skit “Coffee Talk” and Salt Lake Acting Company’s hit comedic character Dottie S. Dixon. However, Durrant sets Ramona apart with his blend of irreverent manners and screamingly tacky fashion sense. “She” holds sway over a great line-up of comedy skits, interspersed with beautiful Christmas music.

Highlights from the first half include a “friendly” game of charades that an ultra-competitive gym teacher turns into a battle of wills and test of manhood. This may ring familiar to anyone who has sat through a “fun” evening of board games with grown siblings.

Ramona forays into internet dating with the moral support of a very embarrassed young audience member who is coerced by Ramona to be her “wingman,” then left to fend for herself as Ramona’s date, Chuck, arrives.

Elatedly played by local veteran actor Skyler Scott, Chuck is a sweet-natured but forlorn rodeo clown who is three-feet tall and looks like Lord Farquad from the movie “Shrek.”  Hilarious banter ensues between Ramona and her “fun size” beau, culminating in a rib-tickling number. To the tune of “The Rainbow Connection,” they both bemoan the current state of Costco’s dating scene, wrapping up as a show-stopping act.

During the second act, Hillbilly brothers Cletus, Clarence and Mahonri (played by Drew Durrant, Skyler Scott and Paul Taylor) recap Christmas Classics being performed by other local theaters.

A very funny bit that captured the energy of improv, they summarized their mangled versions of the classics in an effort to “give the audience what they want.”  However, the genuinely waggish razz on local theater seemed to cross the line a bit on being dismissive of other productions.

The show’s dramatic conclusion brings back our favorite ornery charades players from earlier in the show. A disagreement over whose daughter gets the last coveted unicorn doll turns their argument into a slow-motion battle, complete with smoke machines and operatic overtures. A spoof on the mayhem of Black Friday, this hilarious skit finishes the show with a bang!

Rattlin’ D Playhouse may be one of the newer theaters around, but they pack a serious punch. “Ramona’s Christmas Spectacular” is a slapstick circus of laughter, hilarity and crowd involvement featuring rowdy, raucous characters that make you smile until your cheeks burn. Their comedy embarrasses, energizes and excites. It’s a family experience worth making a holiday tradition. “Ramona’s Christmas Spectacular” runs through Dec. 30. For more information, visit http://www.rattlindplayhouse.com. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at (435) 705-8598.

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