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Christmas Smackdown

Reviewed by Vanessa Cate

Cahuenga General Store

Closed

Nestled in a small coffee shop in North Hollywood, Cynthia Carle’s Christmas Smackdown was performed with great wit and irreverence. Though the show ran far too briefly, having already closed, the fact that it’s become an annual staple (with roots in Chicago’s iO and migrating to North Hollywood) gives some measure of relief.

Along with a cast of very talented singers, Carle lead the chorus through an absorbing evening of song. Original music (almost entirely written by Cynthia Carle, except for a few by Mark Nutter, who also wrote music and lyrics for Re-Animator : The Musical) ran the gamut of styles and topics: Ranging from sweet folky tunes on a ukulele to operatic to noir jazz to German drinking song, and with truly smart and witty lyrics. Peppered throughout were a few classic Christmas tunes, performed with beautiful harmony.

In the opening song – “Jesus and Glenn” – we heard about the little baby Jesus and his best friend, a dinosaur named Glenn. “The Sky Mall Song” chronicled the last minute gift choices of a desperate man on a plane. “Voices from the Sky” repeated the refrain “either you’re schizophrenic or you’re lying” to the Old Testament’s Issac, and to the Virgin Mary of the New. “Neuticle” was an epic song of Old West flavor, about dog balls. And “Angels” was the lament of one woman: “I’ve got some pretty shitty angels.”

It was a lovely evening of theater full of fun and conviction amidst dysfunction. The very talented cast of singers included Susan Aldrich, Cynthia Carle herself, Bill Gillespie, Lyndsay Hailey, Jesse Merlin, Christina Sheldon, and Graham Skipper. With special appearance by Mark Nutter on the piano and vocals, and Jordan Perry on sound and guitar. 

Cahuenga General Store, 5510 Cahuenga Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601, CLOSED.