The Santaland Diaries at Theater Wit

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...His energetic performance as profane, sarcastic Crumpet the Elf bears little resemblance to the famously deadpan style Sedaris used when he read the piece on NPR in 1992. Fain improvises and interacts with the audience, adding current references here and there (the original definitely didn't include jokes about Penn State or the Kardashians), and while his delivery occasionally feels forced, it makes for a fun, funny show. Just don't expect Sedaris."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"... What’s interesting is the effects of transporting the written story to the stage: David Sedaris wrote this tale as at least semi-autobiographical; but as such, we never learn the main character’s actual name, in a way: he is reduced only to Crumpet, the crotchety elf. He’s suddenly defined even more by this role, which he takes in a move of desperation looking for a job while out of work. And there’s movement in costume as well as set. The lighting and sound cues are so subtle as not to really be noticed – which is exactly their goal – but enhance the monologue smoothly. And there is, of course, toward the end of the piece, the gigantic snow-jism that covers Crumpet. Frankly, I’m not sure what else to say: it’s a fantastic piece of theatre, a blessed reprieve that one enjoys unabashedly."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended

"... “The Santaland Diaries” is not your traditional holiday performance, which is what makes the production so unique. I recommend everyone who’s looking for a holiday escape should check out Mitchell Fain down at Theater Wit."

Chicago Theater Beat - Recommended

"... even though Crumpet isn’t institutionalized at the end, the disillusionment that Sedaris means to convey doesn’t quite escalate here into the Christmas chaos that it promises to become. Still, that’s more Sedaris’ fault than Fain’s. At the end he surrenders to the season’s sentiment (and avoids any accusations of undue negativity) by depicting an authentic Santa Claus whose unstoppable goodness briefly makes Macy’s feel a lot less mercenary. It’s one more essential episode in “this American life.”"