For those who haven’t been to TheaterWorks, an innovative and super-hilarious new holiday tradition (and why haven’t you?), “Christmas on the Rocks,” now in its 12th annual performance, is a humorous to very funny adults, created and directed by Rob Ruggiero. He brought together half a dozen playwrights and sketch writers who each contributed a play. The premise: It’s Christmas Eve at a seedy bar, and our favorite kids from the holiday classics are back in town, dysfunctional adults, and sharing their stories with a bartender. There’s Karen’s Charlie Brown Frosty the snowmanThe Little Drummer Boy, Clara de The Nutcracker and more And all the characters in this energetic 90-minute comedy are played by three actors Harry Bouvy, Jen Cody and Richard Kline, all veterans of this holiday party. Leave the kids at home. This is holiday cheer for adults.
This is my eighth visit to TheaterWorks Hartford’s production, and I still find it silly and a delicious antidote to the winter chill and cold discord of our country. I have nothing against the usual holiday fare, “A Christmas Carol,” “The Nutcracker,” “Messiah,” “Holiday Pops,” etc., and I play them every year. But, I like to relax and let myself go, and “Christmas on the Rocks” satisfies year after year.