The long-running show is refreshed anew for a fun night out

Millibo Art Theatre (MAT) does naughty nicely in its latest rendition of Yule be Naughty, Please! running through Dec. 21 at its iconic Ivywild location south of downtown Colorado Springs.

The Millibo’s talented cast delivers the laughs, the lewd, the flamboyance and the fantastical in this 12^th anniversary iteration of its classic holiday cabaret. Billed as an irreverent celebration of all things December (and for grown-ups only), the show boosts its comedy this year upending holiday norms with hilarity.

Host Babette Matdiva (Birgitta De Pree) dazzles in flawless improvisational sketches as she toys with her clownish sidekick Jim Jackson, her husband, and co-founder of the MAT. The two are a dynamic comic duo with pinpoint execution.

An assistant professor of Theatre at UCCS, De Pree is the show’s glue. She amuses between acts providing a crafty segue that multi-tasks with clever scene changes. Jackson, a world-touring clown for over 45 years, is a muted presence in this show with affable audience rapport. His toting Amazon packages onto stage pokes fun at our collective addiction.

Stepping into her own, up-and-comer Kayla Wimmerle is a burgeoning talent honing her own unique style of underplayed comedy. Now in her second year with the MAT, she shows off vocal style and wily movement as the humble clown to others’ flash — and it works like a charm. More Kayla please!

Elizabeth Fluharty in ‘Yule Be Naughty’ | Photo: MAT

Full houses

Opening weekend saw full house crowds at the MAT. I would have liked more silks and aerial routines, which seemed to take second fiddle to the expanding improv. Defying the laws of physics, Elizabeth Fluharty and Brittany Willgues are amazing, moving as one body in their floating silks routine. Their combined strength and precision held the audience spellbound.

Do others remember the decree to climb the rope in middle school gym class? A master of all circus arts, Fluharty not only climbs, but glides and dances in tandem with the rope — all the while flashing a huge smile. And what Cabaret is complete without dancing girls? Led by Jaime Rockwell, the Kinect Dance Company graced the stage prancing in flirty costumes to jazzy tunes. Yes, these bawdy babes do the can-can too.

Music is a big part of the show. Crooner Miriam Roth, a MAT staple in sparkly dresses and furry heels, showcased her dazzling pipes, from vamped-up holiday classics to saucy background vocals. A voice teacher and recording artist, Roth has been performing with the MAT since 2004 and holds the show’s role as songstress since its inception.

Just in case you think Yule might be getting stale, think again. This show brings sound director Bob Morsch out from behind the curtain in a soulful musical intermezzo. Morsch sings and accompanies himself on the sax to “As Long as I Can See the Light” popularized by CCR in the ’70s.

Having seen every MAT holiday cabaret since 2004, I appreciate the collaborative, herculean effort that goes into creating this show. While music, comedy and circus arts are known elements, each requires an artistic vision to bring originality to stage. This troupe clearly has synergy and an abundance of talent to consistently pull off such an endeavor so consistently. Get ready to laugh as you keep asking yourself how do they do that?