On Stage

A TWISTED CHRISTMAS CAROL

Featuring Kerry Griffin, Jane Luk. Directed by Ralph MacLeod. Presented by Bad Dog Theatre. To Dec 17. Sat 8pm; Dec 12-17, daily 8pm. $12; $8 students/seniors. The Bad Dog Theatre, 138 Danforth. 416-903-5388.

A Twisted Christmas Carol, Bad Dog Theatre's improv-based interpretation of Dickens' holiday standard, relies heavily on audience participation. As a result, the narrator notes, "If the show's a total stinker, it's your fault."

Occasionally, audience involvement can detract from the story. It's probably best that when Dickens wrote the original, no one was hovering over him, screaming, "Tiny Tim suffers from flatulence!" Still, give the Bad Dog troupe lemons and they'll make Tiny Tim fart on them. What's more, it'll actually be funny.

Rather than settling for the cheap laughs inherent in absurd situations, the limber cast crafts a show that's as quick and clever as it is spontaneous. Marcel St. Pierre displays a natural knack for physical comedy as Charlie Chaplin's ghost and Gord Oxley balances the show's over-the-top elements by subtly sliding in witty wordplay. When one character tells another that people have been discussing her facial tic, Gord Oxley swiftly confirms, "There's been a lot of tic-talking." These comic quips are highlighted by Jamie Lamb's responsive keyboard playing, adding a nice polish to the unprepared proceedings.

If you're looking for family-friendly fun, A Twisted Christmas Carol is the perfect production. But be warned, Tiny Tim might have a bladder problem next time. JAMES SIMONS