‘Santa’s Big Red Sack’ is a hilarious holiday hit

It was difficult to land an interview with Denver comedian and funnyman Dave Shirley this year. You’ve gotta know that acting in a one-man-show such as his Rattlebrain, while preparing for a holiday show immediately thereafter, is a daunting task.

We tried to set up an interview for a few days and finally wound up doing a late night phoner as Shirley drove home after work.
The good news is that Shirley’s exquisite play Santa’s Big Red Sack, in which he wrote and directed, is back for its third year at The Avenue Theatre.

Whether you’ve seen it once, twice or even if you’re a Big Red Sack virgin, don’t miss this year’s show.

One of the new scenes involves some elves who are trying to meet the Christmas deadline at The North Pole in making the toys for all the good girls and boys. There are, however, two inept elves who come up with some bad, or even naughty toy ideas.

There’s another new sketch involving Sarah Palin selling a CD featuring a collection of Christmas carols she wrote.

Then there’s a scene about a lady of the evening in Christmas “stockings.” Can you say, “HO. HO. HO?”

Some of Shirley’s previous sketches will return as well. One of these presents a Christian couple coming over to their Jewish neighbor’s house. The gifts they bring show how clueless they are about the traditions of Chanukah. For example they bring a ladle instead of a dreidel. They bring a yarmulke but it’s all done up in Christmas colors.

Shirley told Out Front Colorado to be careful on who you bring to the performance. “This is the show you shouldn’t take the kids to,” Shirley admitted. “It’s an outrageously funny alternative to the traditional holiday fare. It’s funny and it’s naughty. In fact it’s PERFECT for those on Santa’s ‘naughty list.’”

As an afterthought Shirley said, “Why are we so concerned with people on Santa’s nice list? None of us are on it, right?”
Not wishing to tell the artist how many years I received coal in my stocking, I had to agree. The show stars Shirley, his wife Jane, Jeff Kosloski and Derek Hartman.

Seth Alison is doing the lighting design and Shirley acts as director as well as sound technician.

Shirley laughed as he finished by telling the story of an old lady who called the box office for tickets to Santa’s Big Red Snack. He said it was probably the theatre’s funniest call in all three years. The Avenue Theatre is located at 417 E. 17th Ave., just a hop, skip and a stagger from The Wrangler.

‘Santa’s Big Red Sack’ will play at the Avenue Theatre through December 24. For tickets call 303-321-5925 or visit http://avenuetheaterdenver.ticketleap.com