The Last Christmas Review

The Last Christmas is the The New City Players holiday production for this year and the third in a trilogy of radio plays set at WNCP, the station invented in 2022 to start it off with It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play in 2022 followed by A Christmas Carol in 2023.

If you missed those, don’t worry because this one stands on it’s own, a rollercoaster ride of interwoven stories and characters full of twists turns and surprises. To reveal any details would be to spoil the fun and there is much fun to be had. Whether you are a Christmas softie or a bah-humbug viewer of holiday entertainment, this company (as always) does not disappoint.

On Christmas Eve 1999, the radio station staff is preparing for that night’s installment of “Calling Claire” which is a long-running and popular call-in show. They are a bit nervous because the regular host is not there and her protege and admirer, Eve Hart has to fill in. Through their conversation we understand that this is always a special night for the show, which brings the audience anticipation of what will happen next to a high peak.

Bone up on your 1999 trivia, because the turn of the 20th century plays a big role. Even if you don’t, the playbill is chocked full of interesting and helpful information from playwright Tyler Johnson Grimes, dramaturg Ali Tallman, director Tim Davis and a wonderful history of WNCP that will also give you a little professional background on some of the characters. For the personal, you just have to be there.

You may wonder what a dramaturg is and what they do. Suffice it to say that they provide the cast and crew with knowledge, research and history (among other things). In this case, it is particularly important because in 1999, there was a sense that the world was about to change, maybe crash because of the y2k bug. The Christmas setting brings it own set of expectations and hopes. Even if you are too young to remember that time, you will recognize many things that were new and exciting to the characters, but have since evolved into cultural norms- memes, urban legends and even whole universes. And of course, the Christmas themes are perennial.

“The Last Christmas” is in the end, about connections, relationships, surprises and resilience. It is full of surprises, laughs and heartfelt moments, not to mention what is perhaps the best fourth wall break of all time.

Many of the cast, which includes Carlos Alayeto, Summer Davis, Susanna Ninomiya, Harold Petion, Marlo Vashti Rodriguez, Casey Sacco, Caroline Tarantolo, and Nick Valdes play multiple parts throughout the play enhancing the interwoven stories and sense of connection.

Director Tim Davis says in his notes “It is not lost on me that The Last Christmas is about a group of misfits trying to put on a show.” Well, misfits or not, the show is on and it is a must see.

The Last Christmas runs through December 22 at Island City Stage. There are special events including Friday Carolers, Secret Santa Saturdays and Sunday Talkbacks- something for everyone! 

You can find more information, view the trailer on YouTube and most importantly, get your tickets HERE.