TOM TITUS -- Theater Review

Up the street a few blocks at South Coast Repertory, Scrooge and

Gracie are rediscovering the spirit of Christmas for the 21st and seventh

time, respectively. At Costa Mesa’s Trilogy Playhouse the same basic

operation is being performed on ... Eeyore?

Yes, Eeyore, the donkey from A.A. Milne’s classic Winnie-the-Pooh

stories, is finding out what the holidays are all about. The Trilogy

players are gearing their holiday production toward the sandbox set with

their bouncy, attractive presentation of “A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas

Tail.”

That’s “tail,” as in appendage, because Eeyore seems to have lost his,

along with his yuletide jollies. It’s up to Pooh and the gang to recover

both in a brief running time of 50 minutes. The Trilogy has lowered its

minimum attending age to 3 for this brightly wrapped holiday package, and

it’s one both the kids and their parents can enjoy.

Director Alicia Butler has assembled a bouncy, energetic cast, which

is further embellished by the musical direction and choreography of Jimmy

Hippenstiel.

Eeyore is played by Trilogy veteran James Mulligan, who projects a

sad, elderly character that tosses around the word “pathetic” the way

Scrooge does “humbug.” He’s clearly in need of a dose of Christmas cheer.

This is what the “hunny”-loving Pooh (Matt Bartosch) and the young,

impressionable Piglet (Hailey Villaire) set out to do, enlisting support

from their friends in “100 Aker Wood.” The mission is virtually usurped

by Rabbit (Eileen Conan), who takes charge with her abrasive

organizational skills and a shrill whistle. The others fall into line,

each with his or her own musical solo.

There’s the ebullient Tigger (Alex Bartosch), the effusively maternal

Kanga (Colleen Bingham) and the sagacious Owl (Sharon Simonian), each

bringing familiar character traits which even the littlest audience

member should recognize.

With few live Christmas events beyond SCR available for local audience

this season, “A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail” fills the void with

bright, nicely defined characterizations.

The Trilogy Playhouse has also announced the productions for its

second season in Costa Mesa, leading off with the classic comedy “Arsenic

and Old Lace,” which will play from Feb. 9 to Feb. 25. The children’s

musical “The Secret Garden” will be staged from March 16 to April 8. Then

comes the musical spoof “Ruthless,” making its local premiere from May 25

to June 17.

“Anne of Green Gables” is the summer attraction, booked from Aug. 17

to Sept. 2. The Halloween season will be celebrated with the stage

version of “Frankenstein,” running Oct. 12 to Oct. 28. Winding up the

Trilogy’s 2001 season will be another local premiere, the 1950s-flavored

musical comedy “Forever Plaid.” This show enjoyed a long engagement in

Beverly Hills and should evoke a good deal of nostalgia from those of us

“of a certain age.”

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Thursdays and Saturdays.

CUTLINE: Matt Bartosch plays the title role in “A Winnie-the-Pooh

Christmas Tail” at Costa Mesa’s Trilogy Playhouse.

FYI

* WHAT: “A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail”

* WHERE: Trilogy Playhouse, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa

* WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

* COST: $10 to $12

* CALL: (714) 957-3347