THEATER REVIEW:

There’s a new Gracie in town after seven years, but “La Posada Magica,” South Coast Repertory’s Hispanic Christmas offering, retains its appealing blend of ethnic tradition, humor and poignancy in this, its 14th season.

Playwright Octavio Solis, who also directs, has kept his creation vibrant and heartwarming even though familiarity has long since set in.

Snatches of Spanish dialogue won’t baffle nonspeakers for long, thanks to the illustrations of a lively cast, some of whom have been with the show almost since its inception.

Performed with a mixture of comedy, drama and surrealism, “La Posada Magica” focuses on a young Hispanic girl, crushed by the death of her infant brother, who not only has lost her Christmas spirit but sets out to extinguish it among members of the neighborhood posada, a journey commemorating the birth of Christ.

The girl, Gracie, has been the special property of Tiffany Ellen Solano since 1999, but this year Solano was a spectator at Sunday’s performance, bound for New York the next day to begin rehearsing an original play that will open in Denver.

In her place is Gloria Garayua, whose youthful, bratty persona splendidly carries on the tradition.

Miguel Najera returns as Horacio, the wise leader of the posada who also narrates the story in rhyming couplets.

Sol Castillo, back for a seventh staging, seems ageless as an impish teenager who steals the show with a flashy “Lovin’ Santa” solo, decked out in Elvis-type finery.

The most familiar face belongs to Denise Blasor, who returns for her 12th year as one of the chocoholic ladies, teaming with Teresa Velarde, who originated the dual roles of mother and Mariluz back in 1994. These two supply much of the humor in the production.

Portraying the actually pregnant Mariluz, whose plight is similar to Mary’s in Bethlehem, Erica Ortega draws the heart of the audience.

Aiding her — and shivering with bare legs in freezing weather — is Danny Bolero as her short-fused husband.

David DeSantos draws triple duty, as a security guard, embittered old man and, with Castillo, a ghoulish grave robber in the show’s surreal moments. Musical director Marcos Loya and Lorenzo Martinez supply musical accompaniment.

“La Posada Magica” started as a special project aimed at SCR’s Latino audiences, and its popularity now rivals the theater’s holiday centerpiece, “A Christmas Carol,” now in its 28th season. Both shows should be on theatergoers’ Christmas lists.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “La Posada Magica”

WHERE: South Coast Repertory’s Julianne Argyros Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:45 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 7:45 p.m., Sundays at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. until Dec. 23

COST: $15 to $35

CALL: (714) 708-5555

A mountain Christmas Carol at OCC

Meanwhile, over at OCC, they’re taking a cue from South Coast Repertory with a holiday program that knocks the Dickens out of “A Christmas Carol.”

OCC’s take on the subject — written and directed as usual by David Scaglione, who also serves as the show’s emcee, is titled “A Christmas Carol From the Misty Mountaintop,” and it blends the traditional yuletide tale with the down-home melodrama the college serves every December.

In this version, Scrooge is Ebenezzer Snodgrass, a crusty old miser who owns all the local property, as well as the company store. But the holiday spirits of past, present and future team up to set the old skinflint on the proper path.

Shawn Greenfield mutters and bellows effectively as Snodgrass.

Kari Venaas revels as the “Ghost of Here and Now,” and Courtney Chudleigh charms as the fruitful Noel Carol (who narrowly escaped marrying Snodgrass) and has more children than that old lady in a shoe. Julia Lee Crawfis swipes her few scenes in the Tiny Tim character — in this case, a tall, lanky young girl.

Though Scaglione encourages the appropriate hissing, booing and cheering that accompany a melodrama, audience involvement isn’t that crucial for the advancement of this borrowed plot line. Musical director Beth Hansen keeps things brisk and tuneful at the keyboard.

Even with the community caroling and the traditional children’s joke contest, this is a brief but tickling evening of theater. The kids won’t miss their bedtimes after the Saturday evening performances — they’ll be out shortly after 7 p.m.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “A Christmas Carol From the Misty Mountaintop”

WHERE: OCC, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa

WHEN: Closing performances Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 6 p.m.

CALL: (714) 432-5880

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Thursdays.