BoHo's clever holiday-sanz-Santa show: 'Striking 12'

By Devlyn Camp

The month of December is an incessant stream of holiday hits and Christmas carols of all shapes and sizes lasting about 24 days. Thereafter, holiday cheer is somewhat misplaced in a limbo between two major holidays. Refreshingly, BoHo Theatre has provided us with a season-friendly musical not about Santa and all the company that follows. On a lonely New Years Eve night, Matt Deitchman (on keyboard) gets a knock at the door from door-to-door light bulb salesgirl Mallory Nees (Guitar, Bass). Told by a four-piece band, the story is a somehow funny modern day depiction of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Little Match Girl.” Obviously, the ending is much different.

Aside from the songs based

on Anderson’s tale, there are also playful numbers about the New Years Eve parties Deitchman is avoiding. Everyone is welcome to be annoyed about the parties they’re not cool enough to get invited to, and the weird people at parties they do get to attend. Throughout the one-act, the four musicians help Matt avoid his decline into spinsterhood with great jokes, creative sound effects, and near perfect vocals. Mallory Nees is the most entertaining of them all. Quirky and outrageous, she’s got faces, voices and characters galore, all while rocking out on her accordion. They’re all a little weird and all a little more than talented, with a book, music and lyrics to match. If the lyric they boast “Screwed up people make great art” is correct, then call them crazy.

STRIKING 12
BoHo Theatre at Heartland Studio
Through January 1, 2012
Tickets $15, available at bohotheatre.com

Photo courtesy Brandon Dahlquist and Bohemian Theatre Ensemble

Contact critic at devlynmc@yahoo.com