Alternative Wonderlands : ‘Inspecting Carol’ Rises to a Fun Gag

In a holiday season in which theatrical offerings include such big-budget productions as South Coast Rep’s perennial “A Christmas Carol,” the Old Globe’s new “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” as well as the upcoming Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Universal Amphitheatre, many smaller theaters are presenting alternative interpretations of the Christmas spirit.

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As a playful alternative to all the “Christmas Carols” out there, many companies are opting for the 1991 farce “Inspecting Carol,” about a theater company rehearsing a problem-plagued production of the Dickens story. When pulled off well, the show is a holiday romp that mixes the mystery of “The Inspector General” with the backstage bedlam of “Noises Off.” At Actors Alley in North Hollywood, however, it’s as leaden as last year’s fruitcake.

Fortunately, a handful of performances are at least in “play” mode while the rest of the production is stuck in “pause”: Lisa Ann Orkin amuses as a stage manager who minces no words and brooks no nonsense. Also fun to watch are Whitey Broughton as a befuddled actor and, intermittently, Mimi Cozzens as the dotty, temperamental director.

The best-orchestrated gag comes during a disastrous run-through rehearsal of the show-within-the-show, as the stage manager frantically tries to disengage the ghost of Jacob Marley (Broughton) from the rolling light stand he’s pulling along behind him, tangled in his chains. If only the rest of the show had this much energy. . . .

* “Inspecting Carol,” Actors Alley, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends Dec. 20. $16. (818) 508-4200. Running time: 2 hours, 5 minutes.