MUNCIE -- Dancer wants to make sure she gets good benefits as one of Santa Claus's reindeers.

Does she get sick days? How about vacation time? And what is up about having to work every Christmas Eve -- no excuses whatsoever?

Caribou comedy -- and a little risque reindeer drama -- will be staged in The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, set to open at 8 p.m. Friday in Muncie Civic Studio Theatre, 222 E. Main St. Other performances of the adult-only play will be at 8 p.m. Saturday, Wednesday, next Thursday and Dec. 23 and at noon Sunday.

"It's going to be a really good show," said Aaron Edge, director. "The sarcasm in it is excellent. It speaks to people on a normal level -- not too out there and not too overbearing."

And it's very, very funny.

"There are some jaw-dropping, hilarious moments," Edge said.

Such as capers from Cupid, who is very flamboyant when joking about Santa and Mrs. Claus and the other reindeer. He also is an openly gay reindeer and is proud of it.

And there are some serious moments.

Such as Donner, the father of Rudolph (who does not appear in the show), who is upset because his son is depressed and withdrawn because he has been treated poorly by the other reindeer.

"We also get a perspective from Comet, who is saved by Santa from a rebellious life," Edge said. "He looks at Santa as a saint, but at the same time, comes off a little suspicious."

Edge, a theater education major at Ball State University, has directed one other play, I Hate Hamlet.

"This holiday show has been a really good experience," he said. "All of my actors have been working very hard and are ahead of schedule as far as character development. It's a show people will enjoy coming to see."