Local writer and theatre maven, Ilana Jael, reviewed The Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza at Renaissance Theatre Company on December 20, 2024.
Do you love office holiday parties? Do you hate office holiday parties? Either way, Renaissance Theatre Company’s satirical send-up of the whole shebang, appropriately entitled The Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza and playing until this December 29th, can probably offer you a heck of a good time.
This aptly named extravaganza takes place during the event referenced in the title at the Orlando headquarters of a deliberately generic corporate firm named Grip and Pfister — with the X-rated pun that name implies not only intended but emphatically emphasized via interactive dance number.
Since the rest of the show is characterized by a similar level of irreverence and innuendo, it may be a bit much for more conservative theatre goers, as opposed to those unafraid of adult themes. It also isn’t the kind of show you’ll want to—or be tempted to—take too seriously, being a set of quirky musical numbers and sketch-like character moments held together by only tenuous threads of plot.
But while a little more substance to the story might have given it a bit more punch, it certainly doesn’t seem to have been necessary given how well the show succeeds on its current merits.
The piece was written by Donald Rupe, cofounder and artistic director of the Renaisance Theatre Company. And while he deserves plenty of credit for the show’s script and it’s enticing blend of raucous, raunchy humor, it’s his work as director of Office Holiday Party Extravaganza and curator of its distinct “vibe” that really sets this show apart as a can’t miss theatrical “experience” and not just another December outing.
Instead of staging the show in a traditional theatre space, Rupe has led an exceptional scenic design team of Philip Lupo, Joey Coombs, Reed Rockefeller & Randi Skorupski in creating an immersive “office” setting that extends beyond the show’s stage. On their way in, audience members are invited into the world of the show by the chipper Jan, a character from Office Holiday Party ably played by the enthusiastic Kendall Leamy. Dressed in some inspired tree-themed attire (one of the many highlights of J.Marie Bailey’s pitch-perfect costume design), she’ll hand you a pre-filled name tag to cement your new identity-for-the-night as a Grip and Pfister “employee.”
As you wait for the show to begin, you may be approached by more of your new “colleagues,” in-character cast members who are 100 percent committed to their roles and giving 110 percent to enhance the audience’s experience. You’ll also have the opportunity to select a seat at one of several tables covered in computer monitors and other office accoutrements, which make up the main audience seating area, or to take your place on a couch or chair on the room’s outskirts.
But if you had the idea that a sideline seat might spare you from the more interactive elements of this particular production, then be forewarned that the performers venture to just about every corner of the room.
Meanwhile, though I’ll try not to spoil any major punchlines or other surprises, I will say that the Office Holiday Party Extravaganza has plenty of delightful tricks up its sleeve to keep its audience amused, engaged, or, in the case of one notable strip tease sequence, perhaps even aroused.
Though the show features a large ensemble cast, every one of the major players gets a moment to shine either vocally or comically— or, in many cases, to do both at the same time. For example, cast member Cherry Gonzalez delivers some incredible vocals in the song “Love Is Poison,” while stumbling around the stage nonsensically as the near-blind and bitingly bitter “Karen from HR.”
Other standouts include Leigh Green as the spirited token Jew and David Lowe as Ted, whose physicality as his dorky character speaks volumes before he says a word. Even those playing relatively small parts, such as Meghan Ottomano and Alaina Rene Kizer as a pair of opposite-energied “conjoined” twins and Kyle Wilkinson and Galvin Baez as a stylish gay couple, managed to set their characters apart with their total commitment and distinct embodied personas.
And if your favorite part of any office holiday party is the liquor, you’re also be in luck at this Office Holiday Party. Not only can you visit the fully stocked bar during intermission and before the show, but you should be able to find a handy dandy QR code that you can use during the performance to order drinks straight to your seat. Though there’s no need to be not-sober to enjoy the show, you definitely won’t feel out of place if you do find yourself tempted to indulge by the show’s party-like atmosphere. And you’ll honestly probably find the whole shebang even more uproarious after a tasty cocktail or two!
Depending on the night you choose to attend, you may also have the option of extending your “office visit” with a post-show Holiday Drag Exxxtravaganza. This variety show features a few of the same cast members as the Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza—most notably including Blake Auburn and Michelle Coben, who hilariously host the show in-character as a pair of repressed evangelical preachers named Finnegan and Faith. Otherwise, though, it’s a completely different experience that shares similarly high production values, featuring live singers and full-fledged ensemble dance numbers as well as top-notch drag performances from some of Orlando’s hippest queens.
Though it requires a separate ticket, this after-hours add-on is well-worth the $10 price of admission. Tickets to the Holiday Party proper are typically priced at a more substantial $40, but will only run you $25 if you choose to attend a show at a less popular “off-peak” time. A limited number of even cheaper discount tickets are also available for each performance, but you’ll probably want to snag yours sooner rather than later if you plan on taking advantage of this generous offer. If you don’t want to miss out, then there’s really no time to waste!
Ilana Jael is an Orlando writer and actor who reviews shows for the Orlando Theatre Review. She is available to review your show as well.
Photo credit: Renaissance Theatre Company