Operation laughter: 'Dwight Christmas' at Roxy’s Downtown
Frothy fun is the mandate issued by our commander in chief in this original holiday production, on stage through December 27.
’Tis the season.
‘Tis that time of the year when we are offered a plethora of holiday concerts and other divertissements from which to charge our seasonal batteries. This traditional festive smorgasbord ranges from the Hallmark channel’s 24/7-same-story-different-plot-made-for-TV Christmas movies to local schools’ vocal groups energetically serenading us with traditional carols in the shopping mall to the local television station giving us our “It’s a Wonderful Life” holiday fix.
For those who hunger for Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney’s “White Christmas” to satisfy the holiday entertainment appetite, “Dwight Christmas,” the current production at Roxy’s Downtown, will leave you sated. The show, in many ways, is a Christmas stocking full of Irving Berlin songs, “Blue Skies,” “Sisters,” and “Snow” among them. All are nicely staged by choreographer Kelcy Mohr and performed with finesse by the talented cast of four.
The story centers around what might have happened at the White House circa Christmas 1959.
Written by Simon Hill and Rick Bumgardner (with music direction by the former and stage direction by the latter), “Dwight Christmas” is a delightful pastiche that parodies Berlin standards and offers a script in the style of good sketch comedy. The topical jokes, e.g., “Putin on the Ritz,” “Trump Card,” and — replete with 22nd Amendment references — “Third Term,” had a good-natured comedic “in your face” quality that resonated well with the opening-night audience.
The president (Nathan Oesterle) and first lady (Meg Scrivner) find themselves snowed in after a blizzard hits Washington D.C. on the night before Christmas Eve. Sans children and grandchildren, they are challenged to celebrate alone in the White House’s 132 rooms.
But not quite alone. They are joined by Mamie’s secret service agent (Chris Loucks) and Ike’s secretary (Amy Shelden-Loucks), who have their own relationship challenges.
At the top of the show, Mamie, as the wife of a five-star general, struts across the stage in exaggerated military precision. Meg Scrivner’s delightful rendition of the song “What Can You Do With a General” while checking off notes, executes the drill with a performer’s wink. She confirms what we suspected from the show’s voice-over prologue: We are in for an evening of fun.
Nathan Osterle is a dutiful Ike. His well-performed Act 1 closer, “I’m Dreaming of a Strong Union,” was a poignant reminder of the sensibilities of those Fabulous ’50s.
Chris Loucks’ Captain Frank and Amy Shelden-Loucks’ Betty Lou give us Act 2’s “The Best Things Happen While You’re Baking.” It is deliciously staged and charmingly performed.
Ashlee Thao, the show’s pianist, who is seated onstage, gives the production bounce and energy.
The show’s main conflict? Ike has forgotten to secure a Christmas present for Mamie. And he is stumped. We see the five-star general who commanded the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day scrambling to find a way to secure his wife a holiday present in a snowstorm.
Spoiler: As with his European wins, he succeeds.
But no spoiler on how: You need to see the production to find out how this military hero successfully executes what might be labeled as “Operation Gift for Mamie.”
J Branson’s economical set of shifting panels augmented by appropriate White House projections successfully serves the play’s scenic requirements.
Dona Lancaster’s costumes are vintage 1959 with only one trifling flub: “Mamie’s” act one dress is “Mamie Pink” — Mrs. Eisenhower’s favorite color — but is a Jackie Kennedy Cassini silhouette as opposed to a Mamie Molly Parnis creation.
Arthur Reese’s lighting design does what a good lighting design should do — supports the action of the play without calling attention to itself.
But amidst all the holiday fun, the production gives us a reminder of an America in a different time.
At the end of Act 2 we hear, in voice over, Eisenhower’s own voice, excerpts from his last State of the Union address. His words are of a President who, for all his military structure, was a general who believed in and wanted to be a protector of democracy.
The show reminded me of why “I Like Ike.”
The Details
Roxy's Downtown presents "Dwight Christmas"
November 28-December 27, 2025 at Roxy's, 412 1/2 E. Douglas Ave. in Wichita
Reserved tickets are $42. Seats accessible to people with disabilities are located on the floor.
Food and drinks are available to order before and during the show.
Formerly the chairman of the Butler Community College Theatre Department, Bob Peterson is an actor, director, and playwright.
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