He’s coming to steal Christmas.

How do I know?

I had a face-to-face conversation with him last Friday in the PPAC lobby.

He sat on his throne and pontificated to me about why he hated Christmas.

“What’s to like about it?” he asked. “There’s so much noise. It’s all too much.

The family gets together and they all get noisy. There’s too much cheer.”

“You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch,” I thought to myself, but upon further conversation, I found him quite charming.

He said he likes children and hopes they will come to see him when he stars in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” when Broadway’s Number 1 Holiday hit comes to the Providence Performing Arts Center November 28-December 3.

He went on about all the Christmas decorations he saw going up on his way to the theatre.

“And it’s not even Halloween yet! Take ‘em all down!”

The musical is a 90 minute, fast paced extravaganza suited for the entire family taken from the charming Dr. Seuss Pulitzer Prize-winning books.

He may be a mean one, that Mr. Grinch, but he convinced me to get my tickets before they are all gone.

Tickets range from $20-$80 and may be purchased at the box office or by calling 421-ARTS.