This year's Christmas season is filled with dreams of pricey Wiis and PlayStation 3s. A simpler and more economical way parents can put yuletide smiles on their keiki's faces is to take them to "Christmas Talk Story," the fifth annual production from Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

Each year, local writers contribute seasonal tales to be performed by the troupe. This year's uplifting, educational and enjoyable batch of stories is joined by a new section made up of writings submitted by children who attended HTY's earlier student shows.

There's no other way to describe the production itself: it's cute, and it's cute in the best sense of the word. The acting ensemble is made up of Alvin Chan, Cynthia See and the actor known as BullDog — whose jovial presence is much more joyful than his stage name suggests.

Six short tales are presented, each entertaining and fun with a morally positive lesson attached.

"Waiting for Santa" finds two twins wondering if Kris Kringle will know that they moved to Hawai'i.

"The Perfect Tree," a local twist on the Charlie Brown ugly-tree plot, was written by the gifted Cheyne Gallarde, who is performing in Kumu Kahua's production "Who the Fil-Am I?"

"Presenting Frankie and Bennie" teaches kids how someone can be friends with people who are a little different from them. Parents be warned: After hearing this segment's particular version of "Mele Kalikimaka," your children may demand a kazoo in their stocking.

Not all the stories are done with as humorous a touch. "The Christmas Cookie" begins with a girl happily baking, but she eventually becomes sad when she realizes Santa will eat her amazing creation. "Bad Wrap" gets downright tearfully touching when a boy fears that his gift-wrapping won't stand up to his mother's handiwork; surprisingly, the lump in the throat was written by the comical Daryl "That's my bank!" Bonilla. And "Memories Tied With a Bow" is capable of eliciting geysers of tears as a recently divorced mother must find gifts for her children that don't cost a lot of money.

Also included is a tale introducing Sandy Claws, a crustacean who visits children on Christmas bringing them soda cans, aluminum foil and other trash that they left behind on the beach. In addition to campaigning against dumping garbage on the beach, the crab cautions against throwing leaves in storm drains. HTY worked with the Clean Water and Solid Waste Branch of the Department of Health on the story. It's a none-too-subtle way of making sure kids don't litter, and it's effective.

The "Talk Story" trio pull everything off with an entertaining gameness, singing Hawaiian-tinged carols between sections. Chan is a master at improvising with kids during the show; See can enthusiastically play Santa, a mother and a young child with equal aplomb; and BullDog has a side-splitting voice that reminds one of a Simpsons character.

Their talents are especially noticeable when they do a Mad-libs-style rendition of "A Visit From St. Nicholas." Children in the audience are encouraged to yell out names of occupations, animals, holiday foods, a number between "one and ukubillion," and other nouns that the cast weaves into the narrative. Preshow screening data also is included. Audience members' names are thrown in the mix as well, getting more tickles out of the eager young attendees.

By show's end, during the traditional sing-along of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" —done "local style" — the raucous, genuine laughing participation from the kids could melt the lump of coal in even the grinchiest Scrooge's cold chest.