What happens when an Italian family gathers for Christmas? You might expect some arguing, and you’d be correct. However, in “My Big Gay Italian Christmas,” there’s also a love triangle, a closeted lesbian who isn’t fooling anyone, a cop, two nuns, a doctor, and a pregnant woman—all set against the backdrop of the biggest snowstorm in history.

~Review and Photos by Dana Nöllsch~

My Big Gay Italian Christmas: The Story

The Pinnunziato family gathers for their annual Christmas celebration. But this year, some family members cannot make it, and the largest snowstorm in history will trap the ones who do nake it to their annual Christmas celebration. An Italian family trapped together in a house by a snowstorm on Christmas Day might be the recipe for deep conversations and emotional understanding. But alas, these are Italians.

Anthony has a new love in his life, and he is eager to show off his new doctor friend to his family, but there is a secret, a secret that Anthony does not even know, yet.

Anthony’s sister, Maria, has some news of her own that she tries to delay telling her family, but the one thing she cannot delay is that she is very pregnant. And as we all know, whenever there is a pregnant woman in a stressful situation, there will soon be a baby as well.

Aunt Toniann is perhaps the most Italian of the family, as she is sarcastic, obnoxious, and full of wine. She tries her best to hold this gathering together, but perhaps no amount of superglue could keep things from unraveling as the evening wears on.

Then there are the two singing nuns who show up caroling and stay for the warmth of this Christmas gathering, and to keep out of the snowstorm just outside the door.

The story is tight and funny. I do not want to give away too much here. What I can say is you will be very entertained.

My Big Gay Italian Christmas is the follow-up to the Big Gay Italian Trilogy (My Big Gay Italian Wedding, My Big Gay Italian Funeral, and My Big Gay Italian Midlife Crisis).

Here are some photos from GLM’s production of My Big Gay Italian Christmas

How about the Performances

The cast is magnificent; they have a handle on the complex accents and what it means to be Italian. But more than that, this cast brings the story to life, and even though there is a fair amount of arguing and bickering, it is still very pleasant to watch and very funny.

This is an ensemble cast, and everybody plays off each other well, as well as being very giving to each other in their performances.

As you might notice, there are quite a few Italian names in the cast, and even though I am not Italian, I do believe that the cast embodies what it means to be Italian at the holidays.

The Bottom Line

You will need a few laughs this holiday season, and the Pinnunziato family will offer you many, many laughs. My Big Gay Italian Christmas is a fun escape from your normal family get-together, unless you happen to be Italian? And even if you are from an Italian Family, you will see the humor in the familiarity.

My Big Gay Italian Christmas

By Anthony Wilkinson

Directed by McCarren Caputa

Performance Dates

December 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 @ 7:30 PM

December 7, 14, and 21@ 2:00 PM
For Tickets and more information, go to: goodluckmacbeth.org