Act II Playhouse has been saving its December slot on the stage in Ambler lately for original performances of lighthearted comedy and music. They are continuing that tradition with the comedy cabaret, “Most Wonderful Time,” with its most creative Artistic Director, Tony Braithwaite, leading the cast of three. It is filled with improv sketches and with song parodies. He is accompanied by Renee McFillin and Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton and with Dan Matarazzo on the piano and also participating in many scenes. What a talented quartet bringing us Christmas cheer in these very troubled times.
It gets off to a funny start as the instruction to the audience like turn off cell phones, is incorporated into the comic song- “Do you hear what I hear?” Then, there follow other songs including classic Christmas carols like “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” with altered lyrics. There is a new slant on what follows after the birth of Jesus as they learn that Christmas is more about Santa Claus than about the new babe. There are Hanukkah jokes. Among my favorite was Braithwaite appearing as Johnny Carson playing Carnac the Magnificent giving answers to questions before we know the questions. It is hilarious. He also recites “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” in the voices of Jimmy Durante, Alfred Hitchcock, Katherine Hepburn, Bob Dylan, and Donald Trump.
McFillin, besides playing more than a dozen other roles, creates the character of Anne Marie, a stereotypical young Philadelphia woman bitching about everything as only a Philly woman can. Toniazzo-Naughton, is the third member of this trio telling jokes and often leading this mini-choir, with his powerful voice. And I would be remiss if I didn’t include Matarazzo as the fourth member of the ensemble who not only accompanies the trio but who also provides many of the jokes.
There is even a scene where they select a member of the audience and question him for a few minutes and tell him that they will make him famous. They then proceed to build a song around the information they have just collected.
Comedy is such a personal thing. What someone laughs at, another might find less funny. I laughed out loud and some jokes. I smiled in my heart at others. And some didn’t hit as strongly, but I guarantee that you will come away from this extraordinary holiday cabaret of original new works by four gifted actors, feeling uplifted during this otherwise challenging time in our country. As Andy Williams sang and Act II players remind us, it’s a most wonderful time of the year.
“Most Wonderful Timer” created by Tony Braithwaite, Nick Cardillo, Dan Matarazzo, Renee McFillin, and Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton at Act II Playhouse, 56 E. Butler Avenue., Ambler, PA 19002, 215-654-0200, act2.org thru January 4,, 2026
Philadelphia Theater Reviews by Frank Burd 