LOWER LAKE >> Lake County Theatre Company’s holiday show, “Dashing Through the Snow,” opened to rolling-in-the aisles fun. This family comedy centers on the Snowflake Inn, a bed and breakfast in Tinsel, Texas, where Christmas is celebrated 365 days a year. The themes are warm and welcome as they usher the audience into the spirit of the season.
The show begins with a lusty elf seducing Mrs. Claus. Ed Borg and Cindy Sobel give up decades of fantasy role plays, including Mrs. Claus on a fling with Binky the elf, to show us that what brought them together in their youth still burns strong. The survival of romance in marriage is succeeded by sibling tensions in the second scene.
Can elderly sisters who have feuded for decades ever be reconciled? June Wilson-Clarkin and Richard Grahn consider sangria and hog-tying worthy tools for getting their aunts into the same room. Zoe Richardson and Diana Schmidt portray the dueling aunts using knitting needles and any other weapons close at hand. In the shadows of their quarrels tenderness simmers and leads us to the next scene where illusions of grandeur make room for celebrating our roots.
Diana Schmidt and John Tomlinson portray struggling actors performing A Christmas Carol at the fire station in this rural town. Their secret mission is to disperse the ashes of their mentor who was born in Tinsel. With dubious dramatics they usher the play forward to the final scene featuring the return of the Futrelle sisters.
Local theater fans may remember the Futrelle sisters from previous LCTC productions including Christmas Belles. Michele Chapman and Sue Garrett reprise their roles as Honey Raye and Rhonda Lynn. June Clarkin and Cindy Sobel round out the quartet as Frankie and Twink. Honey Raye is getting married, again, on Christmas Eve. Joey Luiz portrays Reynard, a lovable simpleton. The scene drives home what is most important of all: family.
Peggy Barthel steals the show as the innkeeper, Trina. This is Peggy’s first time on stage. She goes Texan with enthusiasm including big hair, bangles, and a shotgun. Trina handles all of the wacky guests with Southern charm and spunk until she blows a gasket.
Sing-along Christmas carols bracket the acts so this is a chance for everyone to get their fix of favorite holiday songs.
The show is at the Weaver Auditorium in Lower Lake through Dec. 17. Tickets are available at lctc.us. Call (707) 367-8179 with questions.
