Kim Kivens Photo by Rue 42 Photography

Not that I want her to stop giving other terrific performances like those she has essayed over the years, but as Cindy Lou, Kivens demonstrated a genius for comedy along with the ability to insert genuine poignancy into what is basically a raunchy adult parody of the world of happy endings created by children's book author Dr. Seuss. Kivens also managed to pull in a couple of audience "volunteers" with great finesse, and came across as both adorable and sexy at the same time.

"Who is Cindy Lou Who?," you ask? If you need to ask, you clearly have been deprived of the childhood classic "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!," in which the grouchy, sinister Grinch comes down from Mt. Crumpet to Whoville, home of a race known as the Whos, to steal their Christmas lock, stock, and Christmas tree. In the midst of his villainy, a little girl Who named Cindy Lou awakens, catching the Grinch shoving her family's Christmas tree up the chimney.

Her innocent question doesn't bring about an immediate of the Grinch's heart, but something within him is touched by her. The next morning when the Whos can be heard celebrating Christmas in song, even with all of the material elements of the holiday missing, his heart does indeed change (they say it grew three sizes that day), and it is Cindy Lou who welcomes him back and sits right beside the Grinch as he presides over the Whoville Christmas feast.

One can imagine Cindy Lou growing up to be a virtuous young woman, a loving wife and mother, spreading cheer and bringing out the best in people. Lombardo imagined something else, a Cindy Lou who, after that fateful Christmas, continued to have a friendship with the green-skinned Grinch. This turned into a more adult relationship when Cindy Lou turned 18 (in telling her tale, she describes their first intimate encounter, and it is another organ, not his heart, that grew three sizes). This led to pregnancy, parental renouncement, an abusive marriage, drinking, drugs, and even jail time ... well, Dr. Seuss never covered any of this stuff. But, like Dr. Seuss, Lombardo does it all in playful rhymed verse, and–more so than the good doctor–makes it uproariously funny.

Lombardo had written a couple of successful plays about fascinating actresses–Tea at Five about Katharine Hepburn and Looped about an episode in the late career of Tallulah Bankhead–but even those don't prepare one for the no-holds-barred wit and bravado worked into Who's Holiday. Of course, in any of these plays, the right actor for the role is essential, which is why having Kim Kivens on board lifted this show up from clever to effervescent. My only complaint is that the play offered just a few scant moments for Kivens to sing–one of those an audience sing-along that actually is quite sweet–which is a shame, because Kivens has a lovely, full, melodic voice.

Director Max Wojtanowicz guided the performance to modulate the physicality–at times Cindy Lou was practically hyperactive, racing about the stage, at other times she seemed on the precipice of a sullen funk–and to determine when to be coy versus when to engage in desperate oversharing. Director and actor seemed to have worked extremely well in tandem to hash out a sublime balance throughout the show's 90 minutes.

Who's Holiday was also given a lift by the wonderful set which, I assume, was the work of Eric Morris, credited as the show's "design consultant." The ceiling dripped with a host of multi-colored Christmas lights. They hung over Cindy Lou's trailer park home, decorated with what looked like St. Vincent de Paul thrift store finds, including a well-stocked liquor cart and a worn sofa covered by a blanket made out of crochet squares, no doubt to cover up cigarette burns and awkward stains. Cindy Lou's ensemble (Suzie Juul gets credit for "styling") was perfect, with a short, red velvet holiday party dress and a silver tinselly shrug. Two red bows adorned the top of her head like a package begging to be opened.

Because the show's run was brief, and my time around the holidays was already spoken for, I could only make it to Who's Holiday's final performance. The small Hive Collaborative was packed to the gills, so it would be a shame if they didn't bring the show back for another holiday season run. I am certain that Cindy Lou Who would be delighted to have her compact home filled up once again by an audience of well-wishers who only knew her as a little girl so sweet she could even befriend the Grinch.

Who's Holiday played December 19-29, 2025, at The Hive Collaborative, Hamline Ave. N., St. Paul MN. For information about The Hive Collaborative, please visit thehivecollaborativemn.com.

Playwright: Matt Lombardo; Director: Max Wojtanowicz; Design Consultant: Eric Morris; Styling: Suzie Juul; Stage Manager: Maya Vagle.

Cast: Kim Kivens (Cindy Lou Who).