Toronto theatregoers are about to get a very different theatrical present slipped into their Christmas stockings. In fact, it might be most appreciated by those who favour black net stockings.

Canadian Stage is planning to remount its four-star, smash hit, X-rated comedy Venus in Fur, over the Christmas season, in a definite bid for counter-programming, which Artistic Director Matthew Jocelyn has cheekily dubbed “the other Nutcracker.”

Director Jennifer Tarver and her two stellar leads, Carly Street and Rick Miller, will return to ensure that the show will live up to my review of its original run: “sexy, sophisticated and side-splittingly funny.”

But instead of playing the 900-seat Bluma Appel Theatre on Front St. where it sold out this fall, it’s moving to the smaller 244-seat space at the Berkeley Street Downstairs Theatre, where Tarver promises “a much more intimate, up close and personal connection with the show.”

To continue the offbeat approach to programming the show, the 90-minute play will frequently start as early as 7 p.m. in the evenings and 1 p.m. in the afternoons. The show will run from Dec. 13 to 29, with no shows on Dec. 25 and 26.

If more incentive is needed, the tickets are being offered at prices from $29 to $59, nearly half that of its original run, and the cozy Berkeley Street Bar will be offering festive treats, alcoholic and otherwise, as well as live music afterwards at many performances.

David Ives’ provocative and hilarious play introduces us to a young actress out to snag the lead in a new adaptation of the classic sado-masochistic novel Venus in Furs, who winds up turning the tables on its smug and chauvinistic writer/director.

During its original run this fall, from Sept. 29 through Oct. 27, Venus in Fur generated the highest audience attendance in Jocelyn’s tenure at Canadian Stage (since fall 2010). It actually achieved 40 percent above the projected revenue.

Jocelyn has always announced his intention to make programming far more flexible at Canadian Stage, both in terms of venues and performance dates/times, and this second take on Venus in Fur certainly fulfills that mandate.

For more details about performance dates and times or to order tickets, go to www.canadianstage.com or phone 416-368-3110.