Radio Unplugged: WYNOT Radio Theatre's hilarious holiday show returns

Read actor-writers Cory Moosman and Sammy Gleason's guest column on how these tightly paced scripts come together.

Second chances don’t come often. It must be the season of gifts.

Last year, WYNOT Radio Theatre premiered its original comedy “It Came Upon a Midnight Deadly” to big crowds in a small venue.  So small that people were turned away, says co-creator Cory Moosman.

For those who couldn’t get in, as well as those who’ve never tried, now’s your chance.

The Christmas-themed show is a spoof of live radio in the ‘40s … and then some. Think slapstick humor, sophisticated puns, cheeky nostalgia, sight gags and saucy tradition -- all at the same time.

“We’re like something Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner wrote on speed,” says Moosman, a veteran actor and director in the Springs.

The inspired parody, which runs in two acts over a fast-paced 90-minutes, is set in the studio of a live broadcast during the heyday of radio. The regular variety show format includes a game show sequence, a rotating, 10-minute serial piece that changes nightly, laugh-out-loud period commercials from ‘official’ sponsors and audience participation.

As with every WYNOT Radio Theatre show, there’s also an off-color noir episode featuring Rick Luger, a "private dick." In it, Luger is ankle deep in the high stakes of Shetland pony racing. The detective trots through dames, a midget horse and a stuffed bulldog named Petunia to find his way out of this mystery.

Compact doesn’t just describe Luger’s adventure. The WYNOT cast features only four actors, who play more than 90 characters and use more than 200 props. Since the audience can see what the supposed radio listeners cannot, the audience is privy to the silent dramas played out between the characters onstage.

And just because there’s a holiday theme, don’t expect all sweetness and light.

“It’s Christmas, WYNOT style,” says Moosman. Cue the elf jokes and leave visions of sugarplums at home.

For those who saw the premiere run of the show, there’s at least one reason to return. This year, the irreverent, quick-witted comedy is performed by four actors and a sound man, instead of the five actors last year.

“There’s a lot more physical props, which makes it even faster and funnier,” says Moosman. “More visual.”

Back onstage is Moosman and co-creator Sam Gleason, Amanda Cardinal and sound man Taylor Cardinal. New this year is Nick Madson — and probably all those people turned away last time.