Valerie Rachelle, left, as Sue Sasnowski, the Prime Rib Playhouse's artistic director, Lauren Blair, as Madge Bumpas, and Joel Kneedler, played by Matthew Staley, work to create a Christmas tree costume for pregnant actress, Gina Deportal during a scene of Oregon Cabaret's holiday show "Christmas at the Prime Rib Playhouse."

Remember those old Hollywood Christmas movies where disorganization was the order of the day, and the show almost didn’t go on?

Well at “Christmas at the Prime Rib Playhouse” now playing at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre, not only can you order the prime rib, but you’ll get plenty of chaos along with sides of merriment, mayhem and madness. It’s “Holiday Inn” and “White Christmas” on steroids, with a few painkillers thrown in for dessert. And depending on how you like your comedy, it is served up with hilarity and sometimes a bit too much “horseradishing” around.

Where to begin.

Sue Sasnowski and her discontented, level-headed partner Madge Bumpas (confidently played by Lauren Blair), run a dinner theater where rehearsals for the holiday show, “Fa La La Ladies and Mistletoe Men” have begun. In walks a rather nondescript, straight out of college, somewhat confused actor, named Joel Kneedler (whose name from this point on nobody seems to be able to remember). Joel is looking for Sue, the eccentric artistic director, who has big plans for her show. She’s underwhelmed by her players however, and spends a lot of time barking orders, herding them about the stage and trying to whip them into shape. Valerie Rachelle pours lots of energy into Sue who is wonderfully wacky, lights up like a Christmas tree and is a hot mess.

As the rehearsals continue, we learn Sue’s neuroses have risen to a fever pitch as she runs around filming with her cellphone camera while trying to create an audition video and yelling, “I’m producing a reality show! I want it to be screened on every device, on every platform!”

Oh, and by the way, the executives who can greenlight her show just happen to be coming to opening night.

Who else makes up this ensemble of Sue’s miscast Christmas show characters? There’s Teresa, a young actress who has absolutely no confidence in herself, but having been promoted from children’s theater to her first major production, she will do anything to impress director Sue. Nicole Villavicencio does a great job of siphoning off Teresa’s insecurity and plugging it into a series of really funny, Julia Louis Dreyfus-type moments, that result in her spending the second act prancing around in her underwear. It is no wonder then, that incredulous Joel, played by Matt Staley, is touched by Teresa’s temerity and puzzled by his own.

Part of this basketcase ensemble is stagehand Erich, who has been waiting for his turn to show off his acting skills for what seems like an eternity. Erich, played by Toby Tropper, is the consummate wannabe actor — frustrated, jealous, primed and ready to go. Tropper as Erich is lovable but cunning, and he may have to make sure some not so nice things happen to the lead actor in order to grab his moment in the spotlight.

Who is the unfortunate thespian who gets in Erich’s way? Why, its Ken Dingledine of course — the only seasoned actor in the bunch, and the one who mysteriously takes a fall on opening night. Matthew Tiberi plays a “determined to go on” Ken, who shows up in Act II a bit worse for wear and also missing a few clothes.

Let’s not forget pregnant actress Gina Deportal, who the now temporarily insane Sue has dressed up as a Christmas tree to hide Gina’s baby bump. Deanna Ott’s hormonally-fueled Gina is comically spot on. After you’ve gotten a glimpse of very pregnant Gina, you pretty much know where all of this is heading — and it isn’t down Santa Claus Lane.

These crazy “Not Ready for Prime Rib Players” are skillfully co-directed by Rick Robinson and Alex Boyles. Both have taken their turns directing several productions at the Cabaret and at the Collaborative Theatre Project in Medford.

We all could use some silliness this holiday, and writer Erik Stein has created a buffet of outrageous situations with a cascading series of mishaps that lead to an absolutely crazy opening night.

This isn’t really a musical comedy, but there are a few amusing compositions by Paul Marszalkowski that move the production along with the help of the Cabaret’s musical director and pianist Karl Iverson. Scenic designer Sean O’Skea and lighting designer Michael Stanfill have produced some stage and Christmas-lighting effects that would even wow Santa. Costume designer Arian Marie Moye has put together an outlandish array of unsightly or malfunctioning wardrobe pieces.

“If you give them a really good finale the audience will forgive anything!” shouts Sue. There’s just a few things you might have a little trouble forgiving — like Gina’s exaggerated prenatal scenes conceived by writer Stein, Sue’s unrelenting histrionics and Ken’s drug-induced opening night romp.

Yes, it all could be a bit wearing if it wasn’t a Christmas farce and everybody, especially the Cabaret audience, wasn’t having such a rollicking good time.

“Christmas at the Prime Rib Playhouse” at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre, 241 Hargadine St, on the corner of First and Hargadine streets, Ashland, has scheduled performances for 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, Mondays and select Wednesdays, and 1 p.m. Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, through Dec. 31. Tickets are $29-$49. Were it a movie, “Christmas at the Prime Rib Playhouse” would be rated PG, with some coarse humor, sexual situations, and drug references.

Tickets and information are available at oregoncabaret.com or by calling 541-488-2902. Reservations are required for pre-show dinner and brunch. Appetizers, beverages and desserts are available without reservations. Student rush tickets are $15 and can be purchased 30 minutes before curtain with valid ID, subject to availability. Group discounts available.