Cindy Lou who?
Don’t give me that blank look. You know perfectly well the little girl who tried to steal our hearts in The Grinch…. Yes, the now-classic children’s Christmas book/television special/Jim Carey movie/animatedmovie. That one. Whatever happened to Cindy Lou? Surely you’ve asked yourself that question practically every holiday season.
Or not. Our girl has had a hard life by the time she resurfaces in Who’s Holiday, a play by William Lombardo. It’s part of the (fairly) long tradition of rowdy R-rated Christmas offerings from Stray Dog Theatre. (Gary Bell, the founder/artistic director: “There’s already a lot out there for families. We just thought we’d do something different.”) It’s a one-Who show, with Cindy Lou being played by Sarah Polizzi for most of the run. For two days in the last week of the run, Sarajane Alverson takes over the role, but given the wackiness of Cindy Lou, that somehow feels par for the course.
Our heroine, living in what appears to be a small trailer as we meet her, is bravely preparing to host a Christmas Eve gathering. It’s a long (well, not that long; running time is a little over 90 minutes), sad and rather sordid story of what happened after she became a teenager. But it’s pretty funny, make no mistake. It’s certainly not for kiddies or the easily offended. Language? Yes. Content? Yes. Politically incorrect, or at least sociologically? Oh, definitely yes. So don’t bring the kiddies or anyone whose social mores you don’t know well.
Polizzi has a terrific time as Cindy Lou, make no mistake. She’s rowdy, bawdy, outspoken – but still has a soft side, clearly. Josh Smith’s mobile home interior rings very true, and Megan Bates’ work as costume designer works splendidly. Gary F. Bell directs this little askew bijou of a show, which is not for the fainthearted or easily offended, but ready to let fly with plenty of zingers. In fact, the play was the subject of a lawsuit from Dr. Seuss Enterprises, citing copyright infringement. The estate lost. While the dialogue is delivered in couplets very Seussian, which certainly does add to the amusement, one could scarcely mistake this for The Real Thing.
Have a couple of eggnogs first and prepare to be entertained.
Who’s Holiday
through December 18, 2021
Stray Dog Theatre
Tower Grove Abbey
2336 Tennessee Ave.
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