"The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical" @ Stumptown Stages

"The  Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical" is the holiday show for tweeners, those people who aren't quite ready for the madcap, (and sometimes abruptly dark) "Twist Your Dickens" , and yet want something more irreverent than "A Taffeta Christmas" ."Trailer Park" is profane and raunchy, but it is rather unique in the way that it manages to be that way without losing its Christmas Spirit. Sure, "Fuck it, it's Christmas" (my favorite number) will never be heard alongside "Frosty the Snowman", but that doesn't make it any less festive.

No,  "Trailer Park" is not for everybody. In fact, some of the tweeners may be lured away by "The Santaland Diaries" , but I will say this: It is the most fun of all three options.

"The Miracle Worker" at Artists Rep

Artists Rep continues exploring disability in its shows,  first with ""Tribes" and now with "The Miracle Worker." Both plays deal with deafness.

Granted, it has been many years since I saw Arthur Penn's film version,  but I do not recall a lot  of humor in it. The play has a surprising amount of comedy in it. Mostly between Helen Keller and her tutor Anne Sullivan, but also between Captain and Mrs. Keller..

Agatha Olson and Val Landrum are a perfect pair. Olson displays astonishing abilities, made all the more remarkable considering her youth. "The Miracle Worker" would be a wonderful introduction to theatre for young audiences,  or adults who want to begin theatre-going, and maybe especially those who want a respite from holiday fare. But, really, I recommend that you go if your heart is beating.