Chloe Bronzan, Sara Beth Janzen, Carlye Pollack, Alan Kaiser, Connie Nelson, Safiya Arnaout and Caleb Hoffert. Photo by Peter Cieply

What happens when your secret fantasy comes true and your very best friend who has been gay forever turns out not to be gay through some bona fide witchcraft at your Christmas Eve dinner and comes on to you as hot as a yuletide log? That’s the crux of the story of Dale Albright’s first full-length play Keep the Yuletide Gay now playing at Palo Alto’s cozy Dragon Theatre, kicking off Theatre Q’s third season.

Albright has created six unique characters abounding with comic possibilities. Four of them are fast—and sometimes fightingg—friends. Calling themselves the Single Belles, they gather for their yearly holiday feast. Holly (Chloe Bronzan), soon to leave single-hood, is engaged to be married to a distant fellow who does not meet the approval the others. She hasn’t broken the news yet to her hugging, manicure-checking best buddy Warren (Alan Kaiser), for whom she has purchased the perfect parting gift, or so she thinks. Warren, on the other hand, hasn’t told Holly about his new sweet hunky beau, Chad (Caleb Hoffert.)

Other characters are added to this snowy Midwestern mélange: the out-spoken Fran (Safiya Arnaout) is looking out for Holly by hiring some powerful psychic interference; the “Xmas and bitchiness clashing”-mouthed Joy (Carlye Pollach); a saintly Santa-fearing Poppy (Sara Elizabeth Janzen); and the hired gypsy ne’er-do-ill Madame Stratosphere (Connie Nelson) intent on casting only the best-for-all-concerned spell for the right price and a good slug of vodka!

Described as “walking down the road in the blizzard without getting any snow on her,” Madame Stratosphere arrives right on cue. After being introduced to the “normal” batch of friends, Madame S appears in her sparkling brown attire sporting a turban or “turdis” as Poppy calls it. (Costumes are wonderfully coordinated in perfectly chosen holiday color combinations that define each character.) Easily identified as the sweet wreaker of havoc that caused the lights to go out, Madame S has already cast her spell on Warren (and on us with her endearingly zany charm.) His transformation from gay to super-straight sends his fist in Chad’s direction, his tongue exploring female lips he has never heretofore been interested in tasting and his brain intent on keeping up with the progress of the television football. A shocked Holly declares, “I didn’t know your tongue was so long.”  Warren replies with excited interest in exploring other orifices of her anatomy with longer personal parts of his own.
Without the intake of necessary amounts of alcoholic spirits to keep Madame’s powers at their height, the strength of the spell eventually dissipates and with it Warren’s temporary transformation. Returned to his natural homosexual identity, Warren speaks openly to Holly, and she admits her previously withheld feelings for him. In a declaration of their mutually shared affection, they both realize how much better off they are for having lived out the fantasy and learned the value of their “endless love.”

Although the script could use a little tree-trimming near its conclusion, it moves along admirably with gusto (directed by Peter Cieply), developing nicely without falling pray to those playwriting traps in which exposition isn’t integrated into the character’s journey or the audience has to sit through information already revealed earlier. The enthusiastic, quick-tongued and often funny ensemble gives their all to the show which is enhanced by Ian Nelson’s wonderful lighting and sound effects on Ron Gasparinetti’s pleasing-to-the-eyes holiday set. An entertaining, sweet and cheer-filled Holiday tale that keeps the spirit of the Yuletide Gay indeed!

Keep the Yuletide Gay continues Thurs. to Sat. 8 pm, Sun. 2 pm through Dec. 30, Dragon Theatre, Alma Street, Palo Alto. Tickets ($20; Seniors, Youths, TBA Members $15.) Adult language. 415-439-2456 or www.theatreq.org