After 22 years of presenting contemporary, cutting-edge plays, The Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte has definitely established a reputation for being irreverent. Even Christmas is not immune from its slightly askew and whacky view of the world.

‘Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some!)’ manages to poke fun and satirize many of our Beloved Holiday Classics (or BHCs, as the play calls them) while also celebrating them. While the production does teeter over into exuberant silliness at times, it never gets schmaltzy or over-sentimental as it fills the theater with good cheer and goodwill.

As the play opens, Actor’s Theatre newcomer Chip Bradley wants to perform Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol.” But cohorts Joe Klosek and Maret Decker Seitz are bored with the same old holiday production and soon the audience is taken on a whirlwind revue of those BHCs – with a twist.

There’s a send-up of ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ and a bizarre Macy’s parade broadcast.  We learn about ‘A Child’s Christmas with Whales’ and all about fruitcake via a Dating Game spoof.  Frosty the Snowman tells off-color jokes, and we are entertained by the adventures of Gustaf the Green-Nosed Goat. The condensed frenetic performance of The Nutcracker Suite brought the house to its feet.

That’s just the first act. The second act brings us a combined and mirthful production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘It’s A Wonderful Life.’

Local references – such as to the Panthers’ losing streak and Gastonia — are sprinkled throughout, as are semi-obscure cultural references. My favorite moment: when Scrooge sees Marley’s ghost on the door knocker, a dreadlocked Bob Marley pops out of the door and begins singing “Jammin.”

The three actors mesh well together, and their comic timing is on the mark during the practically non-stop frenzied activity on stage.  Klosek and Seitz were last seen at Actor’s Theatre this summer in ‘Five Course Love’ and retain their good chemistry; Bradley is a fine addition. Seitz, whose voice I find quite shrill at times, is a bit more subdued here, which was definitely more pleasing to the ears.

If you love Christmas, but don’t like to take it too seriously, ‘Every Christmas Story Ever Told’ is a must-see this year.

Performances are December 8-12 and December 15-18.  Tickets are $29 and $24. Wednesday, December 8, is Pay What You Can Night.  For more info and to buy tickets: www.actorstheatrecharlotte.org.