The Human Race Theatre Company is at it again with this year’s holiday show: A Frosty Night by Mark Brown and directed by Emily N. Wells.
This is the second world premiere from playwright Mark Brown at Human Race in as many years. A Frosty Night will have the audience laughing and blushing from more innuendos than Santa has presents in his, ahem, sack.
The Story
The story centers on best friends Noel Claus and Sharon on Christmas Eve. Sharon is married to a certain snowman and is convinced he’s stepping out on her. Sharon concocts a plan to melt him and his mistress. Noel, married to a well-known Christmas workaholic and who seems to have the most idyllic marriage and lifestyle, reveals throughout the play that her life is not as carefree as it might seem. When the snowman shows up and it seems like everyone’s cover is about to be blown, antics ensue.
The Cast
Resident artist Christine Brunner opens the show as Noel Claus, full of poise in her Christmas Red outfit, sending Santa on his way for his big night. Brunner is a picture-perfect Mrs. Claus, really bringing depth and personality to the character. Her emotional range is impressive, from bliss to fury and back again.
Mierka Girten might be a familiar face to audience members who frequent the Human Race Theatre. This is Girten’s tenth production with the company, and she brings bohemian spice to the role of Sharon. She storms into Noel’s home in the first minute of the show, spewing curse words and shooting off innuendo after innuendo that will keep the audience roaring. Girten’s portrayal of Sharon is simultaneously thoughtful and rageful, trying to figure out her husband’s secrets while attempting to keep secrets of her own.
Rounding out the cast is resident artist Tim Lyle as the snowman. His pompous, self-important characterization will have the audience vacillating between pity and outrage as more and more is revealed about his intimate desires and actions. His shenanigans will keep the audience laughing, and as the story all comes together at the end, you’ll be rooting for this big-hearted, although a bit misdirected, snowman.
The Creative Team
HRTC always pulls together an incredible production team, and this show is no different. Eric Barker’s scenic design will pull you into the world of the North Pole from the moment you step into the theater. The small scenic details all come together to make a cozy welcoming home (with plenty of doors to pull off the farce).
Ameera Ansari’s costume design visually explains each character, from Noel Claus’s beautiful red dress, to Sharon’s avant-gardist layers and patterns, to the snowman’s rounded pant legs. Jessica Ann Drayton’s lighting design is subtle but not unnoticed, shifting attention around the stage. I challenge you to listen for Bailey Olean’s sound design: the microphones are so transparent that you can’t even tell that they are there, which is impressively hard to do. Sarah Gomes’s properties design fits the scenic design so perfectly that everything feels in place.
Overall
This script is tight, which is impressive for a world premiere, with jokes coming at a rapid pace and clever conflicts woven into all of the action. The plot lines all resolve and the dialogue is smooth, and it makes for a delightful night of theater.
Ticket to A Frosty Night
A Frosty Night runs through Sunday, December 22 at Human Race Theatre, Dayton. Purchase tickets to A Frosty Night through Dayton Live.
NOTE: The show runs about 90 minutes with no intermission and is rated R for language and content.
