The genius of David Sedaris' essays lies not in his unrelenting mockery of all who surround him, but in the underlying fact that it is he, not they, to whom fate has been most cruel. Yes, all the people involved with Macy's annual Santaland extravaganza may be insane, selfish or idiotic. But it's Sedaris who dresses like an elf for a living, and who will be bereft of even that level of employment as of Dec. 25. Tacoma Little Theatre in partnership with The Changing Scene Theatre Northwest present The Santaland Diaries, a one-man show adaptation of Sedaris' most famous essay. Actor Charlie Birdsell will carry out his various elf duties in Macy's Santaland - taking pictures one day, standing at the exit another, working the cash register another. He meets fellow elves who are far too enthusiastic about their jobs, a Santa who refuses to break character, and many, many strange, utterly human parents and children. He views them all with an amused, ironic detachment, offering scorching appraisals of life's hypocricies and oddities.

THE SANTALAND DIARIES, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 12 and 15, Tacoma Little Theatre, 210 N. I St., Tacoma, $12, 253.272.2281