Holiday Events You MUST Do, Part One: Ham for the Holidays…Ham-Ageddon!

Peggy Platt as Craft Lady (l.), Lisa Koch as Sister Mary Agnes (r.)
Photo by Thomas Bliss

Even if you just celebrated Hanukkah, you’ll want to go and enjoy this savory ham…

Our favorite Seattle Funny Ladies, Lisa Koch and Peggy Platt are back for the 452nd edition of their beloved holiday show, “Ham for the Holidays” and this year’s punny subtitle is “Ham-Aggedon!” (though that would indicate the world would be ending today in some sort of pork filled Aporkalypse…we still we have 9 hours to go!)

We went and saw it opening weekend at Theater Off Jackson in the International District and it’s arguably the funniest show they’ve done. Lisa and Peggy are our comedy queens and they’ve learned from the best…”Ham-Ageddon” is one part Carol Burnett, one part Madeline Kahn, one part Catherine O’Hara/Andrea Martin and 20 parts funny as hell. And, it’s very definitely a topical and Seattle specific show…what other holiday offering in town offers up jokes on Gay Marriage, local porn star Tony Buff, the West Seattle Ferry and the dumpster outside Steamworks?

Fans of Ms Koch and Ms Platt will be happy to know that several of their regular characters are back for 2012, including the “Sequim Gay Men’s Choir” and that dysfunctional mother/daughter country western singing duo, The Spuds who close out the show with their own very special take on audience participation gags. But, our favorite sketch involved Ms Koch channeling the musical stylings of Heart and Ms Platt offering her version of Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks…it was divine comedy gold at its shiniest.

Also: big shout outs to co-stars Michael Oaks and Bruce Hall who play a broad spectrum of supporting characters including a very befuddled Capitol Hill gay couple who are lured into a most unusual wedding chapel run by The Craft Lady and Sister Mary Agnes. This very professional production features strong direction from David Koch and terrific production values including some of the best props and costumes you’ll see on a Seattle stage.

The show runs now through December 30 and you’re strongly urged to check it out. Here’s the skinny:

What:              “Ham for the Holidays:  Ham-ageddon!”

Who:               Starring Peggy Platt and Lisa Koch

With Michael Oaks and Bruce Hall

Written by Koch/Platt

Directed by David Koch

When:             Nov. 30-Dec. 30

Half-price preview Thu Nov 29 / Pay-what-you-can Wed Dec 5

Time:              Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm / Sat-Sun matinees at 3:00 pm

Sun 7:30p shows Dec 16 & 23

Where:           Theatre Off-Jackson / 409 7th S. (off Jackson in the Int’l district)

Price:              Tickets: $15-35

Producers:    Theatre Off-Jackson/ Tongueinchic Productions

Tickets:          www.brownpapertickets.com / 1-800-838-3006

Link:               http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/277489

Rating:           Adult humor, gay/lesbian content  (14+)