Need to reset your holiday meter to Christmas once the Thanksgiving dishes are done?
You’ll find lots of Christmas spirit in Mistletoe, Missouri, the setting of Heartland Community Theatre’s holiday production.
Characters, colorful costumes and carols abound in the one-act play, on stage Dec. 6, 7 and 8. The set-up: Holly Berry, played by Janet Smith, owns a gift shop filled with toys where the action takes place. Carol Hall (Georgette Swarn) and Mayor Hall (Joseph Slater) own a Christmas tree lot.
The kicker: Rolland N. Dough has bought up the loans of all the businesses in town, and is foreclosing on Christmas Eve. Rolland (Don Patterson), complete with black cape, is “the most wicked, dastardly, evil, despicable villain of all time,” although he has no mustache to twirl.
Rob Hills, a Henry County Sheriff deputy in real life, provides the slapstick comedy as Randolph the Bow-legged Cowboy. Randolph, who stands with his legs bent, is in love with Holly, but is too klutzy to hold a piece of mistletoe over her head and kiss her at the same time.
The play was written by Marietta Slater, who incorporated lyrics from Christmas carols into the dialogue, which the cast sing instead of speak.
Curtis Mills as the sheriff of Mistletoe channels his inner Garrison Keillor, adding a substrata of sanity to the silliness as well as his rich baritone. Mills is at his most folksy when explaining the legend of the crazy old miner who is rumored to have buried his treasure in or around Mistletoe.
Yes, it’s a bit corny, but the actors enthuse the play with so much holiday spirit, it turns into an enjoyable family outing. Elaine VonSpreckelsen sparkles as the villain’s lady friend in a red outfit and red tennis shoes. Georgette Swarn, in a Christmas tree-patterned skirt, black top and a silver hat shaped like a poinsettia, adds a touch of vintage glamor to the stage.
Elaine and Janet Smith are Heartland veterans, but it’s the first show for Joseph Slater, who lives in Post Oak. Slater said acting in a play on stage has been on his bucket list, and accepted the role as Mayor Hall after he read the script, director Linda Freese said.
Linda, who introduces the show, describes the townsfolk of Mistletoe, Missouri, as “a little bit quirky.”
John Petersen is up in the control booth, coordinating the sound of gunshots when Randolph’s pistols accidentally go off, plus the offstage sound of the clumsy cowboy falling down a flight of stairs, ending with the scream of Holly’s cat which he lands on.
Tickets are $10 at the door, with no charge for children under 8. The play ends with the cast leading the audience in a carol sing-a- long, then adjourning to the back of the theater for refreshments.
“Rollin’ in Dough in Mistletoe” is on stage at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7, with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. Heartland Theatre is located at 108 N. Washington, just off the northwest corner of the Clinton Square. Don your Christmas attire and your reindeer headband, and support live theater in your community.
The cast made an appearance at the Nov. 29 Christmas parade on the Square, riding in a decorated flatbed truck provided by HCT board member Mike Roellker.
Season tickets (four plays for $50) for Heartland’s 2025 season are now available. The schedule includes “Queen of the Silent Scream,” by Craig Sodaro, “The Dinner Party,” by Neil Simon, and “The Murderous Mansion of Mr. Uno” by Don Solidis, plus a fall production to be announced.
Also coming up is “Tea with Truman,” with Rob Hills as Harry Truman. Tickets to the event on Sunday, May 4, by reservation only, are $25. Available at hct 9604@gmail.com or call 660-351-0362.
“Rollin’ in Dough in Mistletoe” is produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Services of Englewood, Colorado. For more information, go to the Heartland Community Theatre website or Facebook.
