It wouldn’t be Christmas without tea

Jamesy (Alastair Knowles) and James (Aaron Malkin) have a Christmas wish: they want to gift the entire world tea. A letter is sent off to Santa, and he answers their wish, eight billionfold. O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy is a play that takes audiences on a holiday adventure with the wacky Jamesy and the more serious James. Their combination of wit and physical comedy isn’t the only thing that keeps the audience entertained. As the duo manages the world supply of tea that Jamesy wished for, the show incorporates the audience. An example of this is when James and Jamesy search for a ship captain. Because every show is based on who’s in attendance, no two performances are ever the same. The play adheres to a rule that any audience member can appreciate: No one has to interact with the show if they don’t wish to, avoiding the sheer discomfort of someone foisted on stage when they’d rather be anywhere else. O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy is friendly for all ages. For those who haven’t been a child for a long time, it’ll awaken the childlike wonder that the holidays imbue. “As grown-ups, we forget how to play — we’re so busy paying bills, going to work, turning on the TV. This show invites that childlike sense of play back into people’s lives,” says Jill Raymond, the show’s publicist. This holiday season, O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy could be your cup of tea.

O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy is 3 pm and 7:30 pm, Saturday, Dec. 6, and 3 pm, Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Hult Center. Tickets are $24 to $81.10 and are available at HultCenter.org.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!