Billy Chace, Cary Davenport, Candice Handy and Geoffrey Warren Barnes II Photo by Mikki Schaffner

The premise of Every Christmas Story is that one cast member, Candice Handy, is a Dickens champion. But her antic colleagues–Geoffrey Warren Barnes II as the ultimate boozy party animal and Cary Davenport playing a naïve and goofy quick-change character–coerce her to go along with their round-up of silly takeoffs on everything from familiar pop tunes ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" transformed into "Gustav the Green-Nosed Goat") to TV specials such as "The Grinch" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas," the seasonal ballet "The Nutcracker" and even Dylan Thomas's poetic reminiscence, "A Child's Christmas in Wales" (The latter gets Davenport's wrongheaded rendition as a peg-legged pirate in pursuit of "whales.") Following the 15-minute intermission, Handy gets her wish to focus on A Christmas Carol, but before long, Barnes and Davenport have woven It's a Wonderful Life into an amusing overlay on Scrooge's story.

One more Cincy Shakes regular, Billy Chace, plays a fast-talking Santa in a red jumpsuit and a wispy beard. He's a kind of emcee and commentator, sitting at stage left in a small sleigh from which he offers sardonic remarks and brings quick-witted interjections to the silliness. During intermission, audience members are invited to write notes to Santa, and Chace ad libs witty quips in response to get the second act under way.

Jeremy Dubin, a Cincy Shakes 25-year veteran, again directs the production and does his annual magic by updating portions of the show with in-the-moment references: Wicked and "6-7" are in the mix, as well as a few sharp observations about the Cincinnati Bengals. Fruitcake is again dissed (a standard joke) but amplified for 2025 with the timely insertion of artificial intelligence into the recipe. Dubin's actors all return from the previous season, which means they're even more practiced in the show's hijinks, mugging, and shenanigans.

The set designed by Justen N. Locke is part of the fun. Initially it's a muted representation of Dickensian London, a backdrop for Handy pouring herself a cup of tea and settling in for an arch recitation of "A Christmas Carol." But she is quickly overwhelmed by her comic colleagues who launch into their own favorite stories. At that point, the set magically transforms into a spectacular over-decorated funhouse on blinking, sparkling steroids. The theater's aisles get a lot of use as do the stage's multiple doors and exits so the always-in-motion performers can leave and swiftly reenter, frequently in silly new costumes, imaginatively and amusingly designed by Rainy Edwards.

Even if you've caught this show in past years, it's great fun to come back and see how it's brought up to date. The performers–all skilled, serious members of this adept and versatile acting company–are having a blast, and their amusement is contagious. I believe that, year in and year out, this is Cincinnati's most joyous, entertaining holiday show: Audiences, many of them in gaudy Christmas sweaters and other holiday paraphernalia, are reminded humorously of past "BHCs" (Beloved Holiday Classics) told with raucous energy and a whiff of off-color humor. (Cincy Shakes makes this content advisory: "PG-13. Features some adult humor and language. Recommended for teens and adults. Not recommended for any theatergoer who still believes in Santa.") It's two hours of nonstop laughter, and everyone leaves the theater smiling. In today's angry, divided America, that's a perfect holiday gift.

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!), runs through December 28, 2025, at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 1195 Elm Street, Cincinnati OH. For tickets and information, please visit cincyshakes.com or call 513-318-2273.