review - Fruitcake Follies

Leslie Carrara & Lolly (Lardpop), James Gray & Dena Drotar

Fruitcake Follies 2011: what silly fun!

Like my yamaka? Hand crocheted by Cindy Abrahms.

The Fruitcake Follies has been a tradition for the past 13 years - oops! unlucky number...naaah, I feel lucky every time I'm there in the basement of the Mexican restaurant - Casita del Campo -  with James Gray, Momma, Eric Seppala, and this year's regulars Sandy Fox and Dena Drotar. Special guests for the closing night Tuesday December 20 were Cindy Abrahms - the no-talent lady who crochets, sort of like a kindly Madame DeFarge as she surveys the silliness of what's going on, tossing out handmade yamakas (see mine in the photo above), and Leslie Carrara of Sesame Street with her adorable pet Lolly, Beaver and other little eye-popping creatures.

This year's theme was an old-fashioned Christmas vs. a modern one? with Gray winning out for the old-fashioned side. As usual, he served as Host, Momma was assigned costumes, Seppala decorations, Drotar was to be in charge of the cheer department and Fox, fun and games. The set was delightfully new this year, and with Seppala's added change in decor, down came the wallpaper to the strains of "We Need a Little Christmas". Fox played a very funny game of charades with two contestants one of whom was too inebriated to even stand - Drotar had been refilling every one's margarita glasses, as well as making the special brownies Gray kept eating throughout Act I. By Act II, he fell into a stoned heap, awaking only to watch some scenes from favorite movies like White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to which he and the cast were deliciously added, especially cute as little animals underfoot in Rudolph... Drotar did a knockout "Surabaya Santa", Seppala played a trio with "Hey, Santa", Leslie and Lolly a precious "Silent Night". Momma did a fun "Silver Bells" to the words "SilverLake", "Santa Baby" and "Santa Lost a Ho!" with Fox and threw some cookies she had baked into those grubby little paws of audience members. The first act closer of "Jingle Bells" and "Sleigh Ride" rolled into one with the whole cast dressed as elves was a visually resplendent treat.

Gray is so inventive and creative and each Follies is unique and fun-filled. I can't wait for the Firecracker Follies to celebrate the 4th of July for two weeks in June of 2012! Don't miss this nutty, silly crew of zanies in June and December of each and every year!

momma really does have milk ... and cookies for santa