Review: The Santaland Diaries by Zach Theatre
by Michael Meigs
Zach Theatre Artistic Director Dave Steakley says that this is the last time -- for a while -- they'll stage David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries. This is the 15th (!) season they've done it, so perhaps it's time, but if like me you had abstained from attending this holiday ritual, it's time to swing on board before the caboose gets out of reach. The program states that Martin Burke has been doing his role as Crumpet the elf since the first production. Burke took a sabbatical of sorts in 2009 when African-American Espie Randolph did the show to appreciative reviews but the Austin originator was back again in 2010. For the 2012 run they're selling tickets only through the 23rd. On that Sunday Martin Burke does his last Crumpet the Elf at two shows, one at 2:30 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m.
Sedaris' text is smug and sarcastic, an appropriate antidote to all the sugar swirlilng around at this time of year, but Martin Burke himself is the reason to go see the supposed sayanora performances. Burke has the fresh, guileless enthusiasm of a child, despite the scores -- no, hundreds -- of times that he has done this material. The contrast between that expressive, often beaming face and the cynical account of a season working as an elf-by-the-hour in Macy's Santland triggers your laugh reflexes, and Burke has such happy charisma that he's instantly your friend. He's practically within reach, for the Zach's Whisenhut stage is a 130-seat theatre in the round.
Since the Macy's bit is intense but short, Zach Theatre and other companies that do this popular piece inevitably couple it with something else. The Zach Theatre production opens with a different Sedaris monologue, in which Burke is an enthusiastic boy who discovers that his working-class mother is friends through her job with a real, live workin' prostitute. The script is not so amusing in itself, but Burke's wide-eyed enthusiasm makes it pleasing. (The Playhouse in San Antonio is balancing its 'Santaland Diaries' featuring Jimmy Moore with 'Season's Greetings,' also by Sedaris, featuring Molly Cox -- shown slugging down booze from the bottle in the production promo photos.)
The Austin presentation is spiced up by some sly and somewhat naughty Christmas songs delivered femme fatale style by Amy Downing during the week and by Jill Blackwood on weekends, to the accompaniment of Jason Connor, the man with the accomplished fingers and unflappable presence of the lounge player who has smiled at it all.
I shared this experience with a friend from out of town, transplanted back to the United States after decades in Europe. He was particularly impressed by the warmth of Burke's performance and the man's ability to move our emotions in an instant from jolly mocking laughter to unexpected pangs of sympathy with his actor's heart-catching sincerity. My friend vowed that this was a particularly American artistic characteristic and he found Burke marvelous at it.
Perhaps The Santaland Diaries has indeed arrived at the end of its useful life as a holiday chestnut and revenue raiser for 'Austin's theatre.' But we're blessed to have little big man Martin Burke still very much with us. He's scheduled to inhabit Elwood P. Dowd, friend of Harvey the rabbit, this coming May and June. You can be certain that the performance will be unique, perhaps with just the tiniest echo of Jimmy Stewart, but with a great deal of the charisma of Mr. Burke.
Review by Jeff Davis for www.austin.broadwayworld.com, November 26
Statesman: Jeanne Claire van Ryzin interviews Martin Burke, November 29
EXTRA
Click to view excerpts from the Zach's program for The Santaland Diaries with Martin Burke
The Santaland Diaries
by David Sedaris
Zach Theatre
