Possum Point Players winter show 'Hollywood Holiday' debuting in December

By Joshua Wolfe

The Possum Point Players are putting on its winter show, Hollywood Holiday, at Possum Hall in Georgetown in December.

Directed and written by Donna de Kuyper, the show, set in 1966, focuses on Ed Sullivan being lured out to Hollywood to put on a Christmas show with his friends from the entertainment world.

De Kuyper, who has been involved with the Possum Point Players for 23 years and makes her directing debut with Hollywood Holiday, gave her reason for bringing her show to the stage.

“I really fondly remember this era,” she said. “I remember the clothes, I remember my mom's hairdos. It's so alive for me visually and musically, I thought that would be fun.”

The show, which has a cast of almost 50, will feature celebrities of the '60s such as Connie Francis, Angela Lansbury, Otis Redding, Diana Ross, Nat King Cole and more.

In addition to singing, there will be reenactments of famous skits from the '60s.

“You'll see Goldie Hawn scenes that were on television,” de Kuyper said. “You'll see a famous old Jack Benny bit called 'The Department Store'.”

John Zinzi, who plays Ed Sullivan, thinks it will be a show for all ages.

“We're going to punch a lot of buttons in people who are of a certain age who remember these characters and this style of show,” Zinzi said. “Plus give a kick to the people who have never seen anything like it before.”

Chris Polo, who plays Phyllis Diller, looks forward to working under de Kuyper’s direction.

“I've worked with her and she's extremely talented on stage,” Polo said.

Cher, played by Cat Timko, a Delaware Technical Community College Medical Laboratory Technician student, will be performing a rendition of a classic.

“We're doing a rewrite of 'I've Got You Babe',” Timko said. “It's called 'I'll Take That Babe.' It's more related to Christmas.”

Hollywood Holiday opens on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. and runs the first two weekends in December. For ticket information, order online at www.possumpointplayers.org or call, 302-856-4560.