McGivern’s “Home for the Holidays”

Telling a good story is a pleasure. But telling a good story well involves a deceptively difficult blend of physical shtick and emotional button-pushing to hold an audience’s attention.

In his latest one-man show, Home for the Holidays, John McGivern continues his reign as Milwaukee’s favorite storyteller with nearly two hours of reminiscences of Christmases past and present delivered with McGivern’s own brand of effortless artistry.

Sharing the stage is 1960s-era Milwaukee itself, with profiles of the skyline and lightposts bearing the names of Kenwood, Bartlett and Locust forming the scenery.  Evoking such long-gone touchstones as the Kooky Cookie House at Capital Court (as well as a child’s wonder at the magnificence of Santa’s Milwaukee branch), the adventures and duties of a Milwaukee Journal paperboy, and the uniquely Milwaukee mix of neighborhood shop owners, McGivern coaxed bursts of commentary and shouts of recognition from the crowd at the intimate Stiemke Studio Theater.

Like an affable uncle at a family get-together, McGivern shares hilarious bits about family foibles — Mom’s unfortunate favorite websites, Dad’s hard-ass yet loving attempts at paternal inspiration, and secrets that brothers keep (sometimes) – that nonetheless remain firmly footed in love and deep-seated appreciation. This same kind of good-hearted teasing goes into his tales of Catholic culture, which are often laugh-out-loud funny and occasionally touching, but never mean-spirited.

This being a holiday show, Christmas does take center stage, particularly in the second half. McGivern delivers in-depth ruminations on the many modes of Christmas trees (flocked vs. aluminum), Mom’s Bradford Exchange Santas, and the finer points of delivering the Journal Christmas Calendar while dressed as an elf. Each story is told with a kind of wacky, winning sincerity that, in the hands of a different kind of performer, might come off as mawkish or self-centered.

With healthy doses of audience interaction, family-focused sentiment, and just plain silliness, John McGivern’s Home for the Holidays is like a plate of homemade Christmas cookies: an endearingly down-to-earth seasonal treat made with love ; comfortingly familiar, and a joy to share with loved ones.

John McGivern’s Home for the Holidays runs through Jan. 2, 2011 at The Rep’s Stiemke Studio Theatre. For tickets and information, visit The Rep online or call 414-224-9490.