O'Connell takes Christmas to trailer park
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter
Taking a detour from the traditional Christmas production this season is O'Connell and Company with "Trailer Park Christmas."

Mary Kate O'Connell, left, and Mary Craig are two Belles from the Dell in O'Connell and Company's "Trailer Park Christmas."

"It's a follow-up to a show we did about three years ago called 'Trailer Park Diaries,'" said writer-director Mary Kate O'Connell.

Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays now through Dec. 23 at the Cabaret in the Square Theatre, 4476 Main St., at Harlem Road, Snyder.

Tickets are $25 and discounts are available with group sales or season passes.

The show follows the Shady Dell Trailer Park Belles as they present their cable-access show live on Christmas Eve from the 24-Hour Holidaze Mart's seasonal section.

"It's our own version of 'A Christmas Carol' with beauty tips and cooking guides," O'Connell said. "We even have our own version of the Olsen twins - Orville and Oscar - and a Santa Claus-clad manager."

O'Connell noted that the show is designed to be a fun spin on the traditional Christmas show.

"It's a show to see that won't give you any reason to have to think," she said. "It's not sappy or sentimental. It's supposed to make you laugh and just have fun."

Most of the cast has returned from the original production and includes O'Connell, Stephanie Bax, Mary Craig, Mary Moebius, Paul O'Hern, Josh Snyder and Michael Tosha.

Traditionally, O'Connell and Company would present a musical Christmas review, according to O'Connell.

"People would normally count on traditional music, but I think people will be pleasantly surprised," she said. "Every single holiday show has wonderful value and worth, but we're taking a detour on tradition and adding a special kind of 'ho ho ho.'"

For more information or tickets, call O'Connell and Company at 839-3949 or visit the Web site www.OConnelland Company. com.