December 2006

What do Eric Baldwin, Michael Coleman, Suzanne Milligan and Joelle Wirth have in common? They are all performing in and directing The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, with guest director Tim Dougherty. Performances will be at The Thistle Dew Dessert Theater, get your reservations in early! This charming theater is small, and sells out quickly! (and Tom's desserts are great!)

A dark, dark Christmas comedy. Scandal erupts at the North Pole when one of Santa's eight tiny reindeer accuses him of sexual harassment. As mass media descends upon the event, the other members of the sleigh team demand to share their perspectives, and a horrific tale of corruption and perversion emerges, which seems to implicate everyone from the littlest elf to the tainted Saint himself.

With each deer's confession, the truth behind the shocking allegations becomes clearer and clearer. ...and murkier and murkier.

So what have people who have seen the show said about it??:

"The 8 Reindeer Monologues rocks! I have never laughed so hard during the holidaze! Irrelevant and darkly funny... it's the perfect show to chase away those holiday blues."

---West Ramsey of Sacramento

"A Funny, Wicked, Dark Christmas Tale

Not for little kids. Destroy their little minds. The first act was full of laughs with a hint of the darkness coming in the second act. And dark it did turn, like a sharp slap to the face. A bit of a surprise of how dark it did go…but ended nicely for as dark as it went.

Recommended: four smiling faces out of five"

---Gregory Smith of Sacramento

"The Reindeer Monologues is a humorous and naughty holiday comedy that will have you raising questions about the man{Santa} himself. The cast consists of amazing actors with immense talent. A must see for mature audiences only! Front row audiences beware...."

---Jen Agnello of Davis

"I walked into this show not really knowing what to expect. The title and advertisements I had seen led me to believe it would be an hour and a half of light, mildly amusing comedy. Instead, I was both entertained by the witty text (as well as excellent performances by the four actors), and struck by some of the heavy content of the monologues. It had me laughing hysterically at moments, but I walked out thinking (and perhaps a little troubled). The Eight Reindeer Monologues is hilarious and thought-provoking."

---Colin Sphar of Sacramento

"Easily the best show I have seen in a long time. I laughed and cried all at once!"

---Eric Alley of Woodland

"I thought it was brilliant. In a time where shows like SVU and almost every Lifetime movie ever made make us numb to the subject of rape/sexual assault/sexual harassment, The 8 opened me up with humor, making the poignancy of its message hit me all the harder. I laughed, I cried, I had pie. It was brilliant….It changed me. This is the mark of good, nay, great theatre."

---Reverend Elizabeth Alley of Woodland

"The 8 is like nothing I have ever seen. Powerful, intense and humorous. Four amazing actors giving 8 amazing performances."

---Clocky McDowell of Sacramento