Lauren Anderson, Denzel Belin, Jon Pumper, Isabella Dunsieth, Doug Neithercott, and Taj Ruler Photo courtesy of Hennepin Arts

Brave New Workshop is an institution: Literally the longest running comedy theater in the United States, they've been producing satirical sketch comedy revues since 1958. In the years that I've seen their productions, the format has remained essentially the same, but the best productions offer fresh and topical insights across generations. Big Christmas Energy is packed with references to classic Christmas stories and songs, while simultaneously sending up record store culture, diversity lip service, white women from Blaine, middle school girls, and menopause. Once again we are treated to Brave New Workshop's version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," this time including snippets of Taj Ruler's rendition of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" to hilarious effect.

In addition to Ruler, performers include Lauren Anderson, Denzel Belin, Isabella Dunsieth, and Doug Neithercott, with music director Jon Pumper on piano, all frequently seen on the Dudley Riggs stage and well-versed in the sketch revue format. Costumes are costume pieces for the most part, used to suggest the character. There are minimal props; light shifts and mounted video monitors on each side of the stage are used to determine setting.

There is not a weak link in this witty cast. Dunsieth brings big (Christmas) energy to open the production with the titular song, a synthy techno rap number a la The Lonely Island. Anderson's rousing Act 1 finale, a heartfelt ode to the joy of Minnesota winter by a menopausal woman, had the audience guffawing. Neithercott's version of Hans Christian Andersen's "Little Match Girl" is deeply silly yet profoundly real. Belin brings a simple innocence as the seven-year-old boy with a big ask for Santa.

Beyond their individual moments, it is the chemistry among the ensemble that brings joy to each sketch. When Ruler's mother from Blaine begins her breakdown at Applebee's, the reactions of scene partners Neithercott, Dunsieth and Belin send it over the top. Belin and Anderson seem intent on breaking each other up during their courting scene as Scrooge and Belle in "Brave New Workshop's version of the Guthrie's Christmas Carol." Neither cracked on opening night, but the joy and hilarity comes from watching them try.

If you are a fan of sketch comedy, I urge you to see Big Christmas Energy. Some of the satire in this production is so on point it will stay with me for a long time. The specificity Ruler and Anderson find in their fact-spouting music nerds thumbing through records at the Electric Fetus drew spontaneous applause opening night. Bring your friends and family; chances are you'll be pointing out who was who in which sketch on the car ride home.

All of the sketches in this production are obviously linked by the Christmas theme, but additional ties such as repeatedly high-fiving the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come and random characters directly quoting characters from A Christmas Carol add depth to the humor. There is a comparatively weaker link between two sketches in the second act that doesn't have quite the comedic pay off, and the choice to use the saxophone solo from "Careless Whisper" for some goofy seduction moments is funny but a little obvious, but these are minor quibbles. What better cure for the stresses of a busy holiday season? Go see Big Christmas Energy and laugh at your pain.

Brave New Workshop's Big Christmas Energy runs through January 31, 2025, at the Dudley Riggs Theatre, 824 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis MN. For tickets and information, please call 612-339-7007 or visit bravenewworkshop.org.