‘Inspecting Carol’ A Fine, Funny Takeoff On Dickens’ Classic

‘Inspecting Carol,” a hilarious spoof of “A Christmas Carol,” opens tonight at the Valley Repertory Theatre.

This show started out, humbly, as a Seattle Repertory Theatre workshop in the 1980s. Director Daniel Sullivan wanted to create an alternative to the annual “Christmas Carol” cash-cow, so he and his cast set out to create a hilarious variation.

They came up with a gem. It’s about a cash-strapped regional theater doing “A Christmas Carol” for the umpteenth time. The Christmas goose looks like a rubber chicken; Tiny Tim is old enough to drive; and the actor playing Scrooge wants to turn the whole show into a protest against U.S. involvement in Central America.

There’s also an entire plot having to do with a mysterious stranger. They think he’s a spy from the National Endowment for the Arts, come to check up on them.

This spoof turned into a smash hit for the Seattle Rep - Time magazine called it one of the best plays of the year. Then it became a big hit for a number of other regional theaters, including Interplayers two years ago. It was one of their biggest holiday shows ever.

Susy Wasson-Picard directs this version for the Valley Rep, a community theater at Sprague and Pines in the Valley.

The show opens tonight and continues on Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 14-17 and Dec. 21-23. Showtimes are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for students. Call 927-6878 for reservations.

There will be a Champagne Gala Party following the show tonight; all ticketholders are invited to attend. Evening attire is requested.

“Misery II: McManus in Love”

This sequel based on the humor-writing of Pat McManus returns to The Met for three shows next week.

It debuted at The Met in June and has been touring the Northwest since. Actor Tim Behrens plays all of the characters in the McManus pantheon: Crazy Eddie, Rancid Crabtree, Mr. Muldoon, and, of course, the young Pat himself.

The show runs Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 15 and 16 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $12, or $8 for those 16 and under, available through all G&B outlets.

, DataTimes