BY KAREN BOSSICK

Andy Gorski’s nightmares about upsetting the familial applecart are realized when he brings his Jewish atheist fiance home to meet his sweet Catholic mother and dour Catholic father.

But the entire family and their guest are stopped in their tracks when Mickey, his severely retarded younger brother, exceeds his limited vocabulary of “oh boy” and “wow” to say “Greetings!”

It seems that young Mickey is being used to correct the errors made by family members. And he has the solution to his family’s dysfunction.

This is a miraculous comedy that has become an alternative to “A Christmas Carol” in many theatres. And The Liberty Theatre Company will present Tom Dudzick’s play as a live holiday reading at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Dec. 20-23, at the Wood River High School Performing Arts Theater on the Community Campus.

Tickets are $10, available at https://www.LibertyTheatreCompany.org or at the door.

"I'm a romantic in that I still think of the holidays as a time of miracles,” said David Janeski, who plays the role of Mickey. To wonder at miracles of the past and to be open to miracles of the present. Even though this family may not be open in the same way, a miracle is visited upon them just the same. The beauty of this play is seeing how each of the different characters react to this event in unexpected ways.”

The fully produced performance will mix large-scale production elements with the intimacy of a professional reading. And actors promise it will be a hilarious holiday experience that will enchant any and all.

The production, directed by Tess Makena, will feature Chris Carwithen as Andy, Kerry Brokaw as his mother, Joel Vilinsky as his father and David Janeski as his brother. Tiara Thompson will play the part of the fiancé.

“This play is just downright funny,” said Janeski. “I laugh out loud just reading it through. The audience will be left with a childlike wonder about just what is possible in this lifetime of ours."

“Greetings” is a story everyone can relate to in some way or another, said Makena. But she was surprised how the play took a different trajectory than she predicted.

“The reveal took me to a mysterious and wondrous place of love and understanding. I hope our audiences will be equally delighted and surprised by the power of this piece,” she said.

The play lends itself well to a reading as a “dining table drama,” said Janeski: “All the moments of tension and revelation happen in one room. It also has the benefit of being set in modern-day America. With a modern piece the audience is more willingly able to immerse themselves in the world of the play with less decoration."

Janeski says he feels a responsibility to set the standard for acting quality given that the Liberty Theatre Company is brand new.

“Though a produced reading may hold a reduced expectation from the viewer's perspective, I'm still doing the same homework for the role I would with a full production,” he said. “It's that level of detail that brings my best to the stage. I would never give the audience anything less."