THE HANGOVER REPORT – The new musical CHRISTMAS IN HELL works as a series of amusing, sophomoric comedic sketches, but not as a coherent musical

The company of Gary Apple's "Christmas in Hell" at York Theatre Company.

The company of Gary Apple’s “Christmas in Hell” at York Theatre Company.

I recently had a chance to see Christmas in Hell, a new Off-Broadway musical by Gary Apple presented by York Theatre Company. The musical, which was previously seen at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, tells the madcap story of a father’s attempt to rescue his son – after having disobediently eaten a fruitcake baked in hell (!) –  from the clutches of Satan. Set during Christmas (hence the title), the adventure takes place back and forth in time (much of the story is told through multiple flashbacks), as well as across heaven, hell, and earth.

As a series of sophomoric comedic sketches, Christmas in Hell works just fine. However, as a piece of coherent musical theater, if fails to make an impression, let alone a strong one. Yes, the piece is amusing to a degree, but its sameness in tone throughout yields an experience of lessening return. The score by Mr. Apple is mostly well-crafted, but it’s completely comprised of self-aware, occasionally witty parody songs that other musicals (The Book of Mormon, even Something Rotten!) have done much better. At the end of the day, Christmas in Hell is a naughty two-dimensional cartoon come to life, nothing more, nothing less.

Directed by Bill Castellino, who also helmed the York’s delightful staging of Desperate Measures – which deservedly transferred to New World Stages subsequent to its run at the York – Christmas in Hell unfortunately never reaches the inspired giddy heights of that other production. The cast is pretty much game, although Scott Ahearn’s central performance as the father struck me as somewhat hollow, as if functioning solely as a conduit for the other performers’ zany, over-the-top portrayals of various characters, both of the supernatural variety and not.

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CHRISTMAS IN HELL
Off-Broadway, Musical
York Theatre Company
2 hours (with one intermission)
Through December 30

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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