REVIEW 'Christmas at the Inn' proves all's in good fun

Expect to be entertained with a lot of corniness and some great food.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIANA -- If you are looking for an evening filled with food, fun and festivities, look no further. 34west Theater Company has what you're looking for, but you better hurry and get your reservations in, because many of the performances for "Christmas at the Inn" are already sold out.
What is it about this tiny troupe from Boardman that makes it so appealing? Maybe it's the group's fresh, young energy, its outgoing openness, or just its unabashed lack of timidity to get onstage and do really silly things -- and have the audience members rolling in their seats with laughter.
The dinner-theater performances takes place at the beautiful Das Dutch Village Inn in Columbiana, in the large, elegant banquet room. The buffet meal was superb -- no canned green beans and instant mashed potatoes here. The menu offered a variety of meats, vegetables, vegetarian lasagna, plus rolls and green salad.
After dining, the show began with instrumental music by a small ensemble of keyboard (Rebecca Whittenberger, also a member of the company), percussion (Lana Campfield), and bass (Alan Styer). It was later joined by the other two company members, Stephen Baldwin and Jeffrey Querin, in the singing of traditional Christmas songs.
A change of pace
After that, it got just plain corny. Querin played Santa, who was being held at gunpoint by policewoman Charlotte (Whittenberger), because she thought he was robbing Jimmy Stewart (Baldwin). All he was doing, of course, was delivering presents, and collecting the cookies and milk left out for him. (Even at gunpoint, he still tried to sneak the doughnut with sprinkles.)
Next, Dr. Isaac Watts hired Nurse Igor, (which she makes clear is pronounced eye-gor), to help him in his latest creation, Santa-stein, who, by the looks of the tire marks on his jacket, had been run over by a truck at some point.
After more spirited singing, Querin and Baldwin played two old men: George, who can't hear too well, and Henry, who can't see too well. They go everywhere together, and their maladies create some hilarious comic confusion.
In the last skit, a damsel is in distress, tied to the railroad tracks with titanium tinsel, as the Polar Express comes rolling down. Captain Christmas and Winter Wonderman come to the rescue -- sort of. It all ends with a big blowup, which announces that it's time for intermission.
If this all seems totally slapstick, goofy and ridiculous, it was. But it sure was funny!
At that point, diners were treated to their choice of three desserts, and the show resumed with a recognition of people in the audience who were celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, then continued with a version of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," that included some added text. The music became more serious in nature, as the performance segued into scenes from "It's a Wonderful Life."
Somehow, this group managed to condense the whole story into a skit that lasted about 20 minutes. Baldwin played George Bailey and Querin and Whittenberger played multiple roles, all proving that they were equally skilled at serious acting. The scenes were touching and emotional, ending as "George" ran through the audience in joy, glad to be alive, after Clarence restored his life and existence.
XAdditional performances at Das Dutch Village Inn, on Route 14 in Columbiana are tonight and Saturday, Tuesday through Thursday, and Dec. 14-17. Seating begins at 6:45 p.m. and serving at 7 p.m. The show begins at 8 p.m. Call (866) 482-5050 for reservations. After Christmas, the troupe will take the show to the Amish Door Restaurant in the Village of Wilmot, Route 62, from Dec. 29-31. Call (888) 264-7436.