BURBANK, Calif. — Forget sugar plum fairies or that big guy in red. All Troubies fans want for Christmas is a visit from the Winter Warlock. And like Santa year after year, Beth Kennedy delivers — with her bag full of tricks.
Kennedy co-founded the merry musical theater troupe some 40 years ago, mashing albums or bands with Shakespearean classics. In 2002, they added an annual holiday show to the mix, starting with Santa Claus is Coming to Motown, a parody of the stop-motion holiday specials of Christmas past. Kennedy created the character of the Winter Warlock, who towers over the cast on stilts. She even built the now famous fingers herself using talent, tape and some very high-tech tools.
“These are from a dry cleaner,” she said of the paper tubes that became fingers. “These are hangers.”
The character was an instant fan favorite and has been making appearances every year since, regardless of the story. This year, for instance, the group is doing "Troubies Home A-lonely Hearts Club Band," and of course, co-founder Matt Walker plays Kevin.
“What a classic holiday movie,” he said of this year’s choice. “People love 'Home Alone.' 'Home Alone 2'? Not so much.”
Backstage, he showed off some of the many props used in these productions, oversized of course, to make Walker look 6 to 8 years old.
"'Home Alone' is such a physical comedy movie, with all the gags and the fun house scene at the end,” he said. "So we've had some fun reimagining that for sure."
There is absolutely no reason for Winter Warlock to show up in this story, but of course he does. Kennedy shouted her first line from the wings in her signature Winter Warlock voice, and the crowd went wild — even before she steps one stilt onto the stage.
Once Winter Warlock was going to take a little hiatus, she explained, and people were not having it.
“Like, 'Where's the Winter Warlock?' We're like, 'Oh my gosh, these people love this little ragtag character with dry cleaning fingers.'"
Among them is Bob Dennerline, who is what you’d call an Uber Troubies fan. He’s been coming to the shows for decades, bussing a group of around 60 people from Orange County to Burbank. He hired the Troubies to do a private show for him and his wife’s 50th birthday party. Occasionally, he even ends up on stage. He hopes they’ll continue doing shows for many Christmases yet to come because, for him, this is more than just a good laugh.
“This is also a great way for me to spend time with 50 to 60 friends, some of which I don’t see all that often,” he said. “I don't know what we would do instead. We wouldn't have anything to do instead. So this is fabulous for us.”
Kennedy can’t quite put a finger on why the Winter Warlock is so popular, but she’s grateful that he is and that now he’s a part of her life — and her holiday.
“It’s like putting up your Christmas tree, get together with my family, getting your finger out,” she said.
It seems that after all these years, holidays and Troubies just go hand in hand.