The holiday spirit

Young Chang

Whether it’s Christmas Eve or any given Sunday, whether everyone is

watching or no one is, actors with the Hunger Artists Theater Company say

the show must go on.

Named after a short story by Franz Kafka titled “A Hunger Artist” --

about a man who performs with no regard for whetheranyone is watching --

the group has staged shows when their 50-seat house in Santa Ana was full

and when it was empty.

But organizers expect a full house on the morning of Christmas Eve.

Three actors will team with about 20 children from St. John the Divine

Episcopal Church in Costa Mesa for a production of “Home for Christmas,”

an original work created by the Sunday school children at St. John.

Sunday’s show will be held at the church. There will also be a show

Saturday at the theater in Santa Ana.

“It shows, again, there is much more to Christmas than the presents:

having a roof over your head and having a family that loves you,” said

Mark Palkoner, co-managing director of the group. “We try to give off the

real meaning of Christmas.”

Admission to the show is free, but donations will be accepted.

Proceeds will benefit the Court Appointed Special Advocates, a group that

helps children, especially those in foster care.

That spirit of giving is what carries Palkoner and Jami McCoy, who are

married and co-managing directors of the theater, onto the stage on the

morning of Christmas Eve.

“We’re doing this for a worthy cause,” McCoy said. “It’s a very sweet

Christmas show. I like the message it gets across -- how love can conquer

anything.”

Set in the past, the story is about a stubborn, lonely old man named

Charlie Graystone. His friend pressures him to adopt two orphans.

Graystone grows to love the kids, but the court denies him the adoption

at first. In the end, all is well.

The show includes Christmas carols and piano accompaniment.

Larissa Cahill, children’s director for Hunger Artists and director of

Christian education at the church, said the play weaves in the historical

theme of the orphan trains of the 1850s -- when children were sent to

live in the Midwest with farm families. Some farmers exploited the

children, wanting farmhands more than youngsters to care for, Cahill

said.

The Rev. Conrad Nordquist, from St. John the Divine, said the

entertainment value of the show helps young children get excited about

its message.

“I think it’s thrilling to have the Christmas story acted out in

drama. It’s an ancient tradition in the church,” he said. “And it’s

exciting to have our little congregation being able to produce such a

great show.”

So a crowd is expected, to say the least. But for Hunger Artist

actors, audience feedback is only half of their craft.

“It’s also about the art,” Palkoner said. “Getting up there, becoming

who you’re playing and enjoying being creative.”

FYI

WHAT: “Home for Christmas”

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. Sunday

WHERE: St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 183 E. Bay St., Costa

Mesa

COST: Free

CALL: (714) 547-9100