There might be a little trepidation in going to see a holiday themed play.

Just how hard will the script beat the Christmas spirit into the audience? Will there be a sappy speech about appreciating what the holidays are really about, followed by singing or hugging or crying?

Not this play.

The Lake City Playhouse's new farce "Sorry! Wrong Chimney" takes just enough of Christmas to provide some amusing props and an excuse for romantic misunderstandings that, inevitably in such an outlandish comedy, lead to zany hijinks.

Walking away, audience members will probably feel their faces hurt from smiling, maybe a little shame in laughing at such silliness, and if anything, a sense of relief at getting a break from the real stress and pressure of the holidays.

Set in the '70s, the play is kicked off by newlywed Samantha (played by Micah Lynn) suspecting foul play when her husband David (Brandon Montang) stays out late every night, the result of him secretly moonlighting as a mall Santa. This sets off a chain reaction of crazy plotting with her neighbors, which involves a psychiatrist with a penchant for hypnotizing the wrong people and three couples kidnapping a police officer.

This play works really hard to get every laugh it can, cheap or otherwise, meshing together absurd situation comedy with even more absurd banter. In between, there's a whole lot of slapstick.

Parts of the production feel like an episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and others like a British comedy, the kind where bobbies are chasing folks in and out of doors waving night sticks.

And I'm not exaggerating. There are plenty of moments with four or more people being chased in a line around a couch and through doors and hallways.

So yeah, the humor is ridiculous, but delightful. You just have to give in to your inner 10-year-old to let yourself enjoy it properly.

The small cast is pretty ideal, everyone fully committed to the ridiculousness. The seven actors are pumping out energy like they've been downing cappuccinos all day, which keeps the pace quick and upbeat.

Lynn, a veteran Lake City Playhouse performer, is bubbly and adorable, and Montang plays well off her. Liberty Brewster stands out as a supportive neighbor and lovable lush. Doug Dawson is a quick favorite, sporting some Jim Carey-esque physical humor as a burglar with a unique psychological problem.

Executive Artistic Director George Green popped out before the show and mentioned the cast had been preparing for eight weeks, and it showed. There's a lot of dialogue for such a small cast to keep up for an hour and a half, and it's all polished and well timed.

The production goes nice and quick. Suggestive humor will go over the kids' heads, and they'll enjoy the slapstick. On opening night, a kid sitting a few seats down was literally jumping out of his seat with excitement at all the melee on-stage.

But then, when actors are screaming and giving chase and leap-frogging over furniture, the energy becomes a little contagious.

Alecia Warren is a staff writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. She can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2011, or via e-mail at awarren@cdapress.com.

If you go

"Sorry! Wrong Chimney!" runs through Dec. 18 at the Lake City Playhouse. The show is scheduled for 7:30 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for veterans/students, $13 for seniors and $9 for kids 12 and under. For more information call the playhouse at: 667-1323.