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Christmas in the city

Christmas in New York is a mix of Touched by an Angel, It's a Wonderful Life and zany comedy.

The setting of the holiday show at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre is the same as the holiday show of 2003: Christmas in New York.

But beyond the setting in New York City and a story about a family, the show is completely different, said director Matthew McGee, who co-wrote the show with Candler Budd.

"It has a lot of comedy," McGee said.

Of course it does. What else would you expect from the fellows who played Mary Sunshine and Mr. Cellophane in Chicago, the goofy, scene-stealing hillbillies in Show Boat, and the Top and Second Bananas in Sugar Babies?

The show's story is a mix of Touched by an Angel, It's a Wonderful Life and the zany McGee/Budd team's take on the holiday season.

"It's the story of an angel sent down to earn his wings by making one family's Christmas the best it's ever been," McGee said.

The angel (Justin Barnette, Edsel in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) takes on several forms, but always remains an angel. And he gets instructions from a superior called "The Boss" (Dudley Saunderson, Senator Wingwoah in Whorehouse), who keeps him from getting off course, McGee said.

"We have lots of jokes, and it gets crazy," he added.

The writers kept the favorite parts of the former, popular New York Christmas show - the toy shop and the living room of a warm, family home. But they added scenes from Rockefeller Center, Times Square and a Broadway theater.

"It starts with a Damon Runyonesque feel, with all those New York "characters' walking around," McGee said. There are sight gags, sound gags and comedy skits and situations. The show also has traditional Christmas songs, a recognition of Hanukkah and an original song by Joe Camper, who, along with Gary Wyatt and Stan Collins, made the musical arrangements and tracks for the show.

The large cast has Susan Haldeman (Ethel Merman in Red Hot and Cole; Nancy in Oliver!, Domina in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) as Mother; Steven Flaa (Hillaire Jussac in Can-Can, Sparky in Forever Plaid) as Father, and Gigi Michalicka, Sydney McMahon and Matthew Romeo as the children.

Show Palace stalwarts Troy LaFon, Laura Lynne Tapper and Andrea Eskin play a variety of characters, as does Tony Messina, who is making his second appearance at the theater.

WHAT: Christmas in New York

WHERE: Show Palace Dinner Theatre, 16128 U.S. 19, Hudson.

WHEN: Thursday through Dec. 25. Shows are at 1:30 and 8 p.m. Thursday (Thanksgiving Day), 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and some Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays. Doors open two hours before each show for full cash bar and included buffet.

TICKETS: Dinner and show, $41; show only, $29.95; age 12 and younger, $23.45 and $18.45, all plus tax and tip. Call 863-7949 in west Pasco; toll free elsewhere at 1-888-655-7469.