An Iowa City actor is bringing audiences in central Iowa the story of a disgruntled elf. The one-man satirical play “Santaland Diaries” follows the story of a man who takes a job as a department store elf.
Scot West portrays Crumpet and says he draws on experiences from his younger days. West says “I think we’ve all been there. Anybody who’s worked at a job during Christmastime will realize what a stressful time it can be. I remember the sort of humiliation that can be part of doing an embarrassing job.”
West explains that the character moves to New York and can’t find a job and has to reduce himself to being a Macy’s elf and he tells about the insane behavior he sees during the holidays. West says he treats the monologue more like stand-up comedy as he reacts to the audience’s reactions to him.
He says “That really dictates what the show becomes, what they find sad, what they find funny. That’s what’s really interesting to me and what keeps the show interesting, developing that relationship with the audience and listening to them.” The play was written by humorist and N-P-R commentator David Sedaris and is showing at the Fourth Street Theatre in downtown Des Moines through December 23rd. For information about show times and tickets, see “www.vaudevillemews.com”.