And you thought your family was neurotic.

With holiday family get-togethers – many of them decorated with dysfunction – just over a month away, Surrey Little Theatre is presenting a play that may just make you feel a little better about your own impending chaos.

The Norbals, you see, are a colourful bunch.

At the head of the clan of four sons are parents Freida (played by well-know Coquitlam actress Gaye LePage) and Allen (Raymond Hatton), who are Winnipegers through and through.

Freida is friendly, but likes to talk. Sometimes she chats a little too much and often, more comes out of her mouth than should.

“Every once in a while, her foot’s in her mouth and she doesn’t understand how it got there,” says Marko Hohlbein, who’s directing The Norbals.

She’s also decided to celebrate Winter Solstice instead of Christmas, just to keep everyone happy.

Dad is much more under-the-radar, “which, I think is typical of most families. He’s the observer,” Hohlbein says. “When he does talk, it can be kind of eloquent.”

Always trying to be the big-wig, Danny (SLT favourite Paul Cowhig), their eldest son, and wife Penelope (Patricia Braun) have invited the entire brood to Toronto to spend the holidays.

Danny is the straight businessman of the family. He’s a stockbroker who has moved to Ontario to make it big. Things have been tougher than he thought, however, though he’s loathe to admit it. His wife is very intelligent and has two degrees, but as she feels the need to point out, has “decided to” become a housewife and mother.

Bee (SLT newcomer Melissa Pope), formerly a male, is in the midst of a sex change – she’s currently taking hormone therapy – and has brought her girlfriend Constance (Carolyn Rosenczweig), a Jewish lesbian, to accompany her to the family gathering.

“What’s interesting is the author (Brian Drader) made the couple so loving... they’re what you’d like to see every couple be like,” says Hohlbein.

Freida and Allen’s son Randall (Tye Edmunds) and his wife Samantha (Sian Sladen) are supposed to be the most normal of the kids, but clearly are not. Randall is narcoleptic, falling asleep at the most unpredictable times, while his wife boasts about how good her husband is in bed.

Last, but not least, is Sean (played by Forever Birchenko).

Sean, the fourth and youngest son of the family, has the biggest surprise of all and gives the family perhaps the best Christmas gift they could ask for.

“It’s one of those plays, that when I read it, I just howled,” Hohlbein says.

But there are plenty of touching, poignant moments as well.

“The brothers dearly love each other as brothers do and also fight as brothers do.

“I think in the end, everyone has a better understanding of one another,” says the director, careful not to give away the play’s ending.

This will mark the first time The Norbals will have been presented in Western Canada. It’ll be staged in unique, lit vignettes so the audience will see just two or three people interacting at one time _ until the end, when everyone’s in the spotlight.

The play has a lot of Canadian sensibilities to which viewers will relate, says Hohlbein, but mainly, will have audiences discovering a fresh perspective on their own families.

“Looking from the outside, we say ‘what?’ But when we look at home, we can see the similarities,” says Hohlbein.

“The definition of comedy is it’s everyday life.”

Surrey Little Theatre presents the holiday comedy The Norbals Thursdays to Saturdays until Dec. 5 at the theatre, located at 7027 184 St. Tickets are $15. Reserve by calling 604-576-8451.

sreynolds@surreyleader.com