Review: Holiday-ish Hilarity in HAM FOR THE HOLIDAYS at ACT

Everyone has their own personal hallmarks that the holiday season has arrived. For some it's catching that favorite movie on TV such as "It's a Wonderful Life" or "The Sound of Music", for others it might be heading downtown to see the lights and carolers. But for me in my own warped and twisted way, the holidays cannot begin until I get to see the latest irreverent collection of insanity from Lisa Koch and Peggy Platt (a.k.a. Dos Fallopia). And while this year's offering of "Ham for the Holidays: Who's Afraid of Virginia Ham?" currently at ACT is a bit light on the holiday themes, it doesn't mean it's at all light on the comedy.

Koch and Platt have once again come up with an evening that will have you laughing until you cry with their hysterical sketches and characters, both new and familiar. There's a lounge act on a riverboat on the Duwamish, a new sitcom you'll be sure and want to binge, and a political game show even funnier than the one we see on the news. But not to worry, your favorites are back as well as we visit with the Sequim Gay Men's Chorus, have some of the latest deep offerings from the Slam Poet and of course, The Spudds are back with Mama Euomi's latest Christmas extravaganza, a combination Dr. Seuss and Dynasty called "How the Bitch Stole Christmas". And once again those scene changes are masked with some of the funniest and WTF inducing videos that they've collected.

As usual along for the ride are the equally insane D.J. Gommels with their musical accompaniment and Michael Oaks plus this year we have a few new helpers with Abbey Drake wonderfully filling in as some wives, girlfriends and partners and Joel Domenico on hand to bring in some hilarious and hunky eye candy (because Koch and Platt know their audience and what they want ... "Thanks Rocco"). But as usual it's Koch, Platt, Oaks and Gommels who take on the lion's share of the night and after all these years it's no surprise that they play off each other brilliantly. Even when there are gaffs or the occasional wardrobe malfunction, they manage to turn those mistakes into comedy gold. It's like watching the rebirth of the old "Carol Burnett Show" watching these four crack each other up as they crack us up.

But the humor they dish out isn't for the uptight or conservative as they tend to get just a touch risqué and very liberal minded with their bits. So if digs on former Presidents, jokes about gay sexual positions, or discussions about Platt's vagina make you uneasy then maybe you stay home. But for the rest of us who really know how to laugh, you cannot miss getting on board Koch and Platt's crazy train with stops at all places hilarious.

So if this sounds up your alley then do like me and make "Ham for the Holidays" a part of your annual holiday routine. They never fail to bring on the funny and this year is no exception and so with my three letter rating system I give this year's incarnation a hysterical tears streaming down your face YAY. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a big helping of "Ham" this year to brace yourself for facing the real world, the stores and your family.

"Ham for the Holidays: Who's Afraid of Virginia Ham?" plays at ACT through December 20th. For tickets or information contact the ACT box office at 206-292-7676 or visit them online at www.acttheatre.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.