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Abreact wishes all a (belated) 'Happy Season'

By D. A. Blackburn

All over town the decorations are coming down, unwanted gifts are being returned and people are relegating Christmas 2009 to the annals of memory. But at Detroit's Abreact Performance Space, the celebrations have just kicked off with a very special gift from the minds of Mike McGettigan and Sarah Fulmer. "Happy Season to You, Acquaintance Name" may have arrived late, but it's a perfect fit – no gift receipts necessary.
McGettigan admits that the show simply didn't come together in time to run against the myriad holiday productions of the season. But the reality is that a post-season opening works well for the show. Yes, "Happy Season" is set at Christmastime, but it doesn't contain the type of warm and fuzzy message common in holiday-themed productions. Instead, what it does deliver – by the sleigh-load – are laughs, plain and simple.

The staff of Americapital Financial Services are stuck working on Christmas Eve for a tyrannical boss. When a blizzard hits, effectively cutting them off from the outside world, it looks as though six unlikely coworkers will have to spend Christmas together. And it also looks like Sartre may have been right: Hell is other people.
Setting a production in the "cube farm" world of corporate America may seem like an easy way to get snared in the trap of parody – think NBC's "The Office" or Mike Judge's "Office Space" – but McGettigan and Fulmer have done a fine job of creating unique, original characters and a production that stands on its own merits. The script is packed with clever wit and sharp jokes that are, likewise, largely original. And when the play does borrow from other office-themed works – "a case of the Mondays" – it does so with a tip of the hat, rather than a greedy hand.
"Happy Season's" humor lies as much in the characters as it does in the sharp dialogue, and in this respect, the Abreact has succeeded greatly. Saturday night there were a number of bumbled lines and jokes – likely the result of the production's rush to opening – but the cast is an excellent fit for the work, and all six players put forth consistently funny performances.
Among them are many highlights. Sean McGettigan's gender-bent appearance as Autumn Rogers, a flighty, new-age hippie, is played to the perfect pitch – campy without ever pushing the envelope far enough to detract from other performers. Michelle Becker's performance as Bonnie Lomax, the stone-hearted boss, has a perfectly icy precision – as cold and bracing as a Michigan winter. And Rebbeca Concepcion's stubborn, abrasive Gwendolyn adds a healthy dose of tension to every scene, along with an edgy humor that seems a good fit for the work.
Dawn Bartley, Travis Grand and Brian Papandrea (Papandrea alternates with Josh Campos in the role of Rob the security guard) all perform with fine comedic timing and a fine chemistry.
"Happy Season to You, Acquaintance Name" may have arrived a little late, but it's a fine addition to this season's holiday fare. McGettigan and Fulmer's bold, original and raucously funny writing, coupled with excellent performances, make for a fantastic evening of theater.

REVIEW:
'Happy Season to You, Acquaintance Name'
The Abreact Performance Space, 1301 W. Lafayette, #113, Detroit. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 16, plus Sunday, Jan. 10. Admission by donation. 313-378-5404. http://www.theabreact.com

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