They’ve been very naughty

Ah, December. A time of giving, a time of goodwill, a time when yet another holiday classic falls into the gleeful clutches of L.A.’s unofficial court jesters, the zanies of Troubadour Theater Company.

This year’s victim is “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” the 1970 Rankin-Bass “animagic” stop-motion TV classic about the origins of Santa, flying reindeer, elves and Christmas trees.

Given the Troubadour treatment at Burbank’s Falcon Theatre, it is transformed into “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Motown,” a careening mix of circus, theatrics and musical mayhem packed with such R&B; classics as “Chain of Fools,” “Respect,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Shout.”

Although previous viewing of the cartoon isn’t necessary, there’s an extra tickle in recognizing just how close all the spoofery sticks to the original, even to a projection of the film’s hokey black-and-white newsreel about kids getting ready for Christmas that segues to Fred Astaire’s “Special Delivery” narrator.

Wearing the “SD” cap in Astaire’s place is Matt Walker, Troubadour’s guiding comic genius and artistic director, who narrates, sings oldie commercial jingles and comments on the production as it unfolds with a cast that operates just this side of anarchy.

Sound effects go awry or an actor strays from the script, and Walker throws a yellow penalty flag onstage, stopping the show for a do-over. No doubt mostly scripted, these flubs and miscues are hilarious highlights. Be warned, though: The company is prepared for late-coming audience members. House lights go up and the entire cast, departing from the Motown theme, sings “You’re So Vain” to the offending party.

Decibel levels were problematic opening night, but the deft live band, Sharon McGunigle’s costumes and Jeremy Pivnick’s warm and icy lights were spot-on. And although some of the scripted “ad-libs” work better than others -- references to politics and Michael Jackson clunk audibly -- the comic emphasis given to the original dialogue, with breaks for the well-sung Motown hits and Nadine Ellis’ delightful choreography, is wickedly funny.

Other goofy pleasures: Rory O’Malley’s relentlessly jolly, red-wigged Kriss Kringle, Beth Kennedy’s twiggy-fingered Winter Warlock on stilts, helium-sipping Kringle elves, bungee acrobatics, an interpretative wedding dance and the comic and musical talents of Lisa Valenzuela as Tanta Kringle and Michelle Anne Johnson as future Mrs. Claus.

And among a cast of scene-stealers, actor Tim Groff manages to top the lot by reprising the hilarious Tiny Tim puppet from a previous Troubadour holiday show, “A Christmas Carol King.”

A teeny bit naughty -- mildly PG innuendos, a “bipolar bear,” name-related character flaws for Vixen and Blitzen (in UPS brown) -- but still family-friendly, this wild and woolly romp won’t win points for neatness, but it adds up to one heck of a feel-good seasonal outing.

*

‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Motown’

Where: Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank

When: 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 4 and 7 p.m. Sundays

Ends: Dec. 23

Price: $30 and $37.50; ages 12 and younger, $20

Contact: (818) 955-8101

Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes