An accountant and a drag queen walk into an elevator.

It might sound like the set up for a joke, but it’s actually the premise for “With Bells On,” one of two short plays Richmond Triangle Players is staging for its holiday show “A Campy Christmas.”

Written by Darrin Hagan, “With Bells On” relates the story of a mild-mannered accountant named Ted who lives on the 14th floor of an apartment building. From his abode he can see into another apartment where a woman resides.

“He’s very introverted. He’s recently divorced. He’s scared of the world,” says actor Doug Schneider, who plays Ted in the show. “He’s kind of hiding in the small apartment that he’s moved into. He’s not particularly happy at this moment in time. He sees this very tall woman across the way from him and he’s fascinated.”

When Ted finally decides to venture out from his apartment, he encounters the woman on the elevator and realizes she’s a drag queen.

“He is incredibly intimidated,” Schneider says. “She is dressed like a Christmas tree. She’s got a big outfit on, headdress, huge wig, tons of makeup, very festive, and she’s going off to a pageant where she is going to compete to be the Christmas queen.”

When the elevator gets stuck, adventure ensues.

Wette Midler, the drag persona of local actor Luke Newsome, plays the 7-foot-tall Glamazon Natasha in the show.

“She spends quite a bit of time in this very confined space in full drag, and she has no idea who he is,” says Midler, adding that each character has something to teach the other. “He’s learning about drag and the queer experience and she’s learning and growing with him about how to step out of your own bubble and do something that scares you.”

Director Joe Pabst compares the one-act to “The Odd Couple.”

“By the end of the evening, they come together, they become friends, and they even help each other have a night that they’ll both remember,” he says.

Schneider says Natasha is “really very sweet, but she’s definitely living in a world that is a little daunting, and, in this day and age, seems to be more daunting,” a glancing reference to the recent presidential election. The show “has a message that resonates for our time, especially for people who are allies,” he adds.

Before the end of the one-act, Natasha performs a drag number with Ted serving as a backup singer. Midler says that preview audiences loved Schneider’s performance.

“They’re just going to eat him up every night,” Midler says. “He’s got this cute little vest and these reindeer sunglasses, and they just really, really, really love Doug.”

The show’s second one-act is “Who’s Holiday.” Penned by Matthew Lombardo, the wild, raunchy play checks in with Cindy Lou Who to see what became of her after “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Local actress Emily Dandridge stars as the blond Whovillian.

“She’s all grown up, and, I guess we could say, has seen some things,” Pabst says. “She describes her life going forward and what actually happened in Whoville. This includes a romance that drives a wedge between her and her family, a scandal that drives her out of Whoville altogether.”

Without giving away too much, let’s just say that things have not gone well for Cindy Lou Who.

“She talks about having a baby; she does a little stint in prison,” Pabst explains. “Through all of that she finally has a realization of the importance of love and friendship and family.”

Pabst says audiences should come prepared “to laugh a lot, sing along if they want to, but ultimately leave with a little bit of warmth.”

“This is a night of campy humor mixed with a whole lot of heart. These are not your average Hallmark Christmas movies, but they are certainly filled with a lot of humor,” Pabst says. “It’s just going to be a lot of fun.”

“A Campy Christmas” plays through Dec. 22 at Richmond Triangle Players, 1300 Altamont Ave. For more information visit rtriangle.org or call (804) 346-8113.