A Christmas tale of robbery-gone-wrong comes to the Pentacle stage
When Jakiah Sigrah, 13, was asked if he wanted to dye his hair blue for his role in Pentacle Theatre’s new play, he said, “Sure, I guess.”
Most of the cast of “In-Laws, Outlaws, and Other People (That Should Be Shot)” opted out of dying their hair. Sigrah responded with a bluntness similar to his character, Paul, a rebellious 11-year-old who ends up trapped in a neighbor’s house amid a robbery gone wrong.
The comedic play, opening Friday, is filled with wisecracks, including many about Paul’s blue hair.
It centers on the Douglas family’s chaotic Christmas Eve dinner, set in Brooklyn, New York, around 1910. Hijinks ensue when a pair of inexperienced robbers interrupt the gathering and hold the family and their guests hostage while figuring out their next steps.
Sigrah describes his character as “emo” – with the dark eyeliner and hair to match.
The play opens Friday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at Pentacle Theatre at 324 52nd Ave. N.W. Showings run through Dec. 13, with evening times every Friday and Saturday, as well as some on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Matinee showings are Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets are limited for opening night, and most remaining shows. Prices range from $20 to $41 per seat. They can be purchased online or by phone at 503-485-4300.
The show does not include swearing or violence, and a prop gun is not pointed at actors or ever fired.
The actor, an eighth grader at Talmadge Middle School in Independence, said he relates to Paul’s rebellious personality.
When asked how he makes time for rehearsals while going to school, Sigrah said, “I don’t do homework and I don’t study ever.”
Rehearsals for the show began in September, with actors coming in Monday through Thursday and rehearsing a few hours each evening.
Sigrah is the second youngest cast member in the show. Tom Wrosch, 66, believes he is the oldest.
Wrosch has been acting in Pentacle shows since 2003, returning this year after a five-year break.
“Once you’re in Pentacle, you stay in Pentacle,” he said. “It’s an experience that’s so fun you don’t want to stop doing it.”
Wrosch plays the oldest character in the show, Uncle Leo, 87 – a “curmudgeon” who married into the Douglas family.
Playing a character some 20 years his senior, Wrosch aims to not caricaturize old age. He dials down his natural energy on stage, while makeup and clothing do the rest. To complete the look, he brought his own costume piece: a period-appropriate black cane with red pinstripes.
Director Karen McCarty, who has been with Pentacle since 1999, said the cast’s energy is “super high” heading into opening night. She pitched the show for its relatable family dynamics and because she enjoys comedies.
It’s her first time directing a Christmas-themed production. The theater has been decorated accordingly, with wreaths, red bows and other holiday decor extending from the stage to the lobby.
The set includes antique furniture, decorated trees, Christmas lights and wrapped presents. A snow machine will run throughout much of the show.
McCarty said the play has a heartwarming ending with some drama mixed in, including the use of a prop gun by one of the robbers. Its theme, she said, is about the true meaning of Christmas, which she summed up as, “Love your family and your neighbors, and give back to those in need.”
Have a news tip? Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected] .
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Hailey Cook covers healthcare for Salem Reporter, from the city’s only hospital to local outlooks on health insurance coverage. She joined the newsroom in 2025, following the completion of an internship through the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism. She also works as a photojournalist, capturing community events, government meetings and other gatherings.
