Who Put the Elephant in My Stocking?

Christian humorist Jana Flaig delivers a Christmas-season monologue about her personal trials with ovarian cancer in a performance that is as humorous as it is harrowing. Flaig begins by talking about visiting Times Square in New York and—after accepting an embrace from a stranger holding a “Free Hugs” sign—realizing that she has been bamboozled and must now wear the sign herself. Her larger point is that God controls the schedule for unexpected challenges that require some measure of grace from us—which is a good summary of her cancer period. Recalling the funnier indignities of post-surgery recovery in a hospital, Flaig goes on to reflect about her family and friends, and how she got through chemotherapy with the help of their support and positive energy. Flaig also shows off an array of gifts that people stuffed into her Christmas stocking while she was recovering, including a mini-bullhorn and an instructional DVD on pole dancing. Flaig is a crowd-pleasing comic who doesn't need to fire off a bunch of one-liners to hold attention. She excels at storytelling, and her quest to feel the love of God during a time of trouble will likely bring a smile to the viewer's face. Recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)