More Than Play Succeeds At Big Momma S

The play, Nikki Harmon's 'An Implausible Claus,' is a heart-warming one-act comedy that touts the power of the imagination, while the delectable meal that precedes it reveals the potent pleasures of the physical world.
The menu varies from show to show, but the opening night dinner continued Big Momma's winning streak. A tangy green salad with tomato and cucumber slices perked the taste buds nicely. It was followed by a scrumptious variation on chicken almondine (this time breaded with crispy pecans), served with potatoes au gratin and roasted corn with red peppers.
Dinner rolls accompanied both courses, as did iced tea or water. For dessert, I chose a large wedge of double lemon cake, which tasted even better when paired with one of the caf's rich coffee specialties.
A second dessert of sorts was provided by the show's youngest star, 7-year-old Jordan Hylton, who handed out candy canes after the performance. The pint-sized thespian is quite a charmer and butternut squash salad displays an unaffected yet confident stage presence that belies her years. Here she assumes an 'older woman' role, that of a worldly wise 9-year-old New Yorker named Jensie.
After talking to Santa on the 'Ho-Ho Hotline,' Jensie decides to visit him in person to OK her Christmas wish list. Mr. Claus turns out to be 80-something Aaron Lefkowitz (David Logan), a grumpy former vaudevillian overwhelmed by loneliness and the growing threat of senility. He passes his holiday hours at Jersey City's Evergreen Retirement Home pretending to be Santa, with an occasional assist from nagging senior recreation counselor Mrs. Crandall (the offstage voice of director Maxine Whittaker).
Logan offers a nicely detailed portrait of a floundering but salvageable 'Sunshine Boy' for whom Santa is a just a guy who 'rides around in a sled with a bunch of meshuggeneh reindeer.' It comes as no great surprise that Jensie gradually awakens his inner child; the fun lies in the duo's comical give-and-take leading up to the revelation. The play could use a second act to flesh out characters we're just getting to know and salad fingers merchandise like, but quite a lot of emotional ground is covered in 30 minutes.
Adding to the evening's rosy glow is background dinner music of holiday hits by Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, frozen cranberry salad Dean Martin and Jimmy Durante.
'An Implausible Claus' continues through Dec. 20 at Big Momma's Back Porch Theatre, 217 E. Commercial St. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., preceded by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The Dec. 14 lunch is at 1:30 p.m., followed by the show at 2:30 p.m. For tickets ($25; $10 for the show only), call 865-9911 or 864-2653.
On Dec. 13, pop and jazz group Montage performs at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 for the concert, coffee and dessert or $35 for dinnershowconcert.
Larry T. Collins reviews the performing arts for the News-Leader.

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