Live From Mistletoe Ridge
Without their knowledge, the residents of the sleepy country town of Mistletoe Ridge are about to be on national television. When TV producer Nash Adams is stranded in the town and forced to stay at the Pear Tree Inn, he meets the proprietor, Trixiebelle Partridge – and a few other colorful residents who are obsessed with the Christmas holidays. With the Tearjerker Television Network’s failing ratings, Nash Adams realizes that an undercover Christmas special about them would be the perfect solution!
Add in apocalypse-obsessed town preacher Rev. Purvis Campbell and his aspiring standup comedian daughter Misty Dawn; mumbling auto repairman Billy “Brokedown” Burns; Sasquatch hunter Nylette Kettlebottom (who also is a prize-winning yodeler); senior citizen hotel housekeeper Bernice McNally who suffers from random fainting spells; and former mayor, war veteran, and amateur puppeteer Milo Nixon (and his sidekick Rocky the puppet) and the adventures take some creative twists and turns.
During his attempt to sensationalize the holiday and demean the citizens, Nash Adams discovers that these simple country folks have more savvy than he imagined when the tables are creatively turned on him.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
With Playwright Brian Sylvia
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
I know that finding a fun Christmas comedy that isn’t too on-the-nose or pageant-like can be a challenge. So, I set out to have some fun with these crazy characters.
Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?
Without a doubt it’s Milo T. Nixon. Well, actually it’s Rocky. The puppet gag has a lot of potential when teamed with Milo’s confusion.
Q: WHERE DO THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?
Actually, a couple of these are based on folks I have encountered through the years. You will just have to make your guesses on which characters those are.
Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?
A small cast Christmas comedy that has outlandish but heartwarming characters and leaves the audience smiling.
Q: ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
The nod to Samson the Sasquatch comes from a documentary that I saw as a boy that had me intrigued for years. So, teaming Samson with Christmas was a fun little nod to some great childhood memories.