Wacky, Charming Puppets Tell Tale

“The Tom McCleister Christmastime Theatrical Extravaganza for 1998” is another holiday storytelling and puppet show, rough around the edges, off the wall and charmingly wacky.

After an audience warmup with genial magician E.E. Bell, the show revolves around ventriloquist McCleister--a large man playing a small boy named Andy, wearing flannel PJs, moose slippers and a wig with a mind of its own on opening day.

McCleister and his ventriloquist dummy pal, Mr. Laffey, tune into a Christmas Eve radio show to hear the host, a puppet named Age-Old Stan, spin a tale about how they help an elf find a missing doll.

A frog helps; so does an unusual guru, the Baby Genius. After a musical break with the Five Golden Penguins, all ends happily.

At well under an hour, the show is a mite short and the actors troop about without much dramatic effect, but the offbeat humor and the motley collection of puppets are a kick; a gaggle of elves seems to be descendants of knee pads and a huge Santa puppet makes a surprise entrance.

McCleister, who does most of the voices, wrote and directs the show; music and lyrics are by Kevin Quinn, Daniel Nathan Spector and McCleister. Puppeteers are Hep Jamieson, Danica Ivancevic, Melanie Jernigan, Irene White, Bell and Steven M. Porter.

* “The Tom McCleister Christmastime Theatrical Extravaganza for 1998,” Odyssey Theatre, 2055 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, Saturdays and Sundays, 3 p.m.; except dark Sunday. Ends Dec. 20. $10 to $12. Length: 45 minutes. (310) 477-2055.

A sampling of audio recordings for Hanukkah:

A Child’s Hanukkah With the Jewish Wedding Band. Music for Little People. CD: $15.98. Cassette: $9.98. (800) 346-4445. A top-notch release with inventive and expressive new songs and traditional tunes interwoven with a family celebration.

Di grine katshke (The Green Duck). Living Traditions. CD only: $16.98. A special find. Playful and soulful animal songs charmingly performed by noted Yiddish singers and Klezmer musicians. In Yiddish; lyric translations provided.

Zing Along With Cindy Paley: Yiddish Folk Songs for the Family. CD: $15.98. Cassette and book: $12.98. Performed by veteran children’s recording artist Paley.

Chanuka Favorites With Judy Caplan Ginsburgh. CD: $15.98. Cassette: $9.98. Ginsburgh’s lovely voice and warmth make these traditional and contemporary seasonal songs especially appealing. For young children; in Yiddish and English, with lyrics and translations.

A Part of a Chain. Robbo. Blanket Kid Productions Inc. CD: $15. Cassette: $10. (818) 758-1888. Local recording artist Robbo’s humorous and thoughtful original Jewish songs for ages 5 to 10.

All available at Hatikvah Music International, (213) 655-7083; Children’s Book World, (310) 559-2665; or Pages Books for Children and Young Adults, (818) 34-BOOKS.