Elfin Magic

Photo By: joshua Helms

by Lou Perseghin

theater

Once Thanksgiving is snugly (and I do mean snugly) under everyone's belt, many start an annual ritual: Hop in the car, tune the radio to the all-Christmas-music-all-the-time station and head to the mall.

Crumpet would frown upon this heartwarming holiday spirit and tell everyone to go the hell home.

Crumpet is the disgruntled elf and unlikely protagonist of David Sedaris' now-classic story, The Santaland Diaries, based on the author's real-life experiences as a Macy's department store elf.

Newcomer Flashpoint Theatre Company takes Joe Mantello's stage adaptation and presents the one-man show for a three-week run at Society Hill Playhouse.

"It's a story of a grown man who is short on cash, and as a lark, he decides to apply for the job of an elf in Macy's Santaland," says director Meghann Williams. "He gets the job, and it turns out to be all of his horror stories brought to life."

Sean Faye plays Crumpet, who must grapple with exhausted parents, crying kids and unappreciative Santas. Williams says, "Everyone's had that job that they go to and think "Wow, I can't believe this is what I do for money.' That kind of job where you find yourself wishing you could turn to an unseen camera and say, "What am I doing here?'"

Diaries will be Williams' first directorial experience with a straightforward comedy, and she drew from experiences for inspiration and direction. "Diaries is a strange and sadistic work, and the experience Sedaris is describing is absolutely relevant to each person," says Williams.

Faye's employment history should come in handy, too. He once played Chuck the mouse at Chuck E. Cheese, so Williams says he knows all about "being kicked and thoroughly abused in a role-playing job."

The Santaland Diaries runs Dec. 1-18, $10-$18, Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St., 215-923-0210.