Have you ever dreamed of meeting satirist David Sedaris or Kenneth Parcell, the simple-minded NBC page played by Jack McBrayer on the TV show 30 Rock?  Craig Stevens, the wacky young innocent from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, brought to life by Kevin Michael Murphy, seemed an odd mixture of both—and all of them were having fun.

Murphy led a spirited cast including: Lauren Marcus as Craig’s “girlfriend” Janine, back from Scotland where she studied Shakespeare and Brigadoon; Lauren Conlin Adams who acted as a narrator/ referee for the silly action; and Musical Director Molly Gachignard. Adams and Marcus wrote the show with Murphy. Marcus also contributed songs, along with Murphy and Rob Hartmann.

Craig pranced and lip-synched Barbra Streisand’s mach speed version of “Jingle Bells.” Casting Director Michael Cassara as Craig’s straight man, Jason Michael Snow (a former cast member of South Pacific) and Alex Brightman (most recently in Wicked) were special guests. Snow and Brightman attempted sincere performances of “Oh, Holy Night” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” respectively, although they were constantly interrupted by Craig and Janine supposedly conducting a master class on auditioning tips.

Marcus as the Virgin Mary in a two-minute-long Nativity skit, made a strong presentation of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” as Mary Magdalene.  Heaven only knows what this crew might have done with A Christmas Carol!

Jerry Osterberg
Cabaret Scenes
December 22, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org