By Kristin Steele
Just Out
November 21, 2008

For a unique and heartfelt take on the holiday experience, Artists Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Holidazed, a play co-written by Portland humorist Marc Acito, directed by Jon Kretzu and featuring local faves like Susannah Mars and Michael Mendelson.

“I wanted to deconstruct the holidays. I think it’s really important to examine why it is that we do what we do,” Acito says. “It’s a family Christmas show with a more satiric edge. Families, especially in Portland, are looking for it. We already have a lot of saccharine and wholesome. I want life more as we know it.”

Julia, a suburban mother of three, brings home Luna, a homeless teenage girl. Julia’s kids are intrigued, but her husband and friends are skeptical. After a disastrous Thanksgiving dinner and unexpected guests, they hurtle toward Christmas with the reality they used to know turned upside down.

As a gay man, Acito always brings a queer sensibility to the work he does, but he is also aware of the full spectrum of his audience. “I wanted to write something that was compelling for gays and not off-putting to straights,” he says.

Holidazed started as a novel for Acito, who soon found himself up against a wall with it. “Somewhere I got off track,” he says. Enter local screenwriter Cynthia Whitcomb, who Acito asked to help him adapt the novel. “I just thought it would work better onstage,” he says.

The piece covers the full spectrum of theatrical entertainment including puppets, gender-bending double casting, a drag show and some family-friendly innuendo. “I love when the theater does what it does best,” Acito says.

He adds: “As writers, [Cynthia and I are] both interested in the idea of logical family versus biological family. What I want people to understand is that love makes a family and to understand what it is to open our hearts to another human being on the street and see their humanity.”