Home for holidays: Plaids and Farleys

The Plaids and the Farleys are adding to the Christmas theater scene in Utah County this week.

• PLAID TIDINGS, a holiday version of "Forever Plaid," will play from Friday through Dec. 22 at the SCERA Center, Orem.

Directed by Robinne Booth, the 1950s "guy group" singers will be played by David Whitlock, Shawn Mortensen, David Smith and Chad Taylor as, respectively, Sparky, Jinx, Smudge and Frankie.

Returning once again to earth (through some strange cosmic malfunction), the quartet's performance will include another three-minute, 11-second version of "The Ed Sullivan Show," this time featuring the Rockettes and the Chipmunks. There'll also be a Caribbean Christmas segment, putting the "Day-O" in "Excelsis."

The Christmas edition of "Forever Plaid" also draws on the nostalgia of the old Perry Como Christmas specials. In one segment, a video of one of the past Como specials is played while the quartet sings along.

A group of 10 local professional dancers are also used to suggest Radio City Music Hall's high-kicking Rockettes. Children are also part of the cast, playing a tree-topping angel delivering heavenly messages to the Plaids, two others playing Raggedy Ann and Andy and other youngsters portraying an assortment of presents under an oversized tree.

Performances are 7:30 nightly except Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children, students and senior citizens (225-2787 or www.scera.org).

• THE FARLEY FAMILY XMAS, now in its 15th season, brings James Arrington and his one-man collection of Farley kinfolk back to Utah Valley State College's Ragan Theatre in the school's Student Center.

For the holidays, the eccentric Farleys have their ongoing wrestling match with Christmas (and Christmas always wins).

Performances are Monday and Saturday this week, then Dec. 17, 20 and 21, all at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission seating, $8 for senior citizens and UVSC faculty and $6 for UVSC students (863-8797).

• HOLIDAY NIGHT LIVE! a sketch comedy featuring Utah Valley State College's Black Box Repertory Company, directed by David Tinney, will have four performances on Thursday and Friday in the Black Box Theater, Room 627 of the Gunther Trades Building.

David Tinney is directing a 20-member student ensemble in what he describes as a fast-paced series of sketches and spoofs of the holiday season, including such topics as shopping, gift-wrapping, caroling and fruitcake. There will also be original songs and holiday standards.

Performances are 7 and 9 both nights. Admission is $6 for UVSC students, $8 for UVSC faculty and senior citizens and $10 for general admission (at the Campus Connection box office or 863-8797).

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E-mail: ivan@desnews.com