Holiday humor

Tyler Rinne will step off the stage and go behind the scenes as guest director for the the Community Players’  upcoming holiday production.

Rinne, of Brock, is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in film and new media. He was last seen on stage in the 2008 Community Players performance of “Tons of Money.” He was also a cast member in 2007’s “Noises Off.”

This holiday season, Brock directs “Sorry, Wrong Chimney!” — an unexpected holiday show with a focus on humor.

The play stars Fairbury actress Shae Rogge as Samantha Tuttle, a newlywed who fears her husband’s late hours at the office could mean he’s cheating. In fact, her new husband, played by Jon Dell of Lincoln, is moonlighting as a department store Santa to provide a nice first Christmas for the couple. Unexpected turns come when the psychiatrist next door stops by, along with a delusional Claus-dressing cat burglar, played by first-time Community Player Lance Buss of Plymouth.

Other cast members are Bill Bratt, Julie Bratt and SuAnn Saathoff, all of Beatrice, and Stacy Williams of Cortland.

“The script is really funny and the cast has done great things with it,” Rinne said.

Jamie Ulmer, artistic director for the Community Players, said he chose this play to “cleanse the pallette” and start anew with a non-typical holiday show.

“I thought, ‘This is so funny, we have to do this show,’” Ulmer said about first reading the script.

“This isn’t the 100th version of ‘A Christmas Carol.’ It’s a fresh new idea for a show.”

“Be prepared to laugh. This isn’t like one of those Lifetime cry-your-eyes-out movies,” said Rinne, who is directing this play as part of an internship.

Even though it’s a farce, parents don’t have to leave the kids at home.

“It’s remarkably clean for a farce,” Ulmer said. “It’s just silly.”

Rinne related the play to “a Saturday morning cartoon.”

He said, most of all, he’s enjoyed working with the actors during his internship and “bouncing ideas off of each other.”

“I’ve been fortunate to have such a good cast,” he said.

Ulmer encourages the public to get out of the winter blues and stressful situations to take a break at the theater, located at 412 Ella St.

“It’s a terrific distraction in a very stressful time of year. People need a stress relief. Sit back, relax for two hours and shake your bowl full of jelly,” he said.