“Barty Smarty” debuts at the Barrington library on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 18.

John Gambino of Barrington is “Barty Smarty” -- a name he borrowed from a make-believe movie dreamed up by him and his brother when they were kids.

Gambino will bring “Barty Smarty” to life in the library auditorium in a free holiday show titled “Barty Smarty’s Christmas Caper.” It starts at 2 pm.

“I’m trying to create a cultural event for kids that adults will enjoy as well,” said Gambino. “There will be something for everybody.”

The show is described as a “hilarious interactive musical holiday happening for the whole entire family!” It is built on a foundation of old Christmas songs, animations and TV specials from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s that will be projected on the big screen in the auditorium, Gambino said.

There will be some surprises as well, he said. We won’t reveal them here. But expect to be surprised.

Crooners will include Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole. Gambino said he will do his share of singing and dancing in the aisles as well and he will ask people to sing along to his versions of Christmas tunes.

“There will be a lot of audience participation,” Gambino said.

The show grew out of Gambino’s preference for creating CDs of Christmas music to send out instead of Christmas cards. His daughter, a kindergartener at Primrose Hill School, also inspired him to put together this Christmas show. Her holiday art work decorates Gambino’s home on Woodbine Avenue. She will take part in the show as well.

Gambino holds a degree from Montserrat College of Art in Massachusetts. An illustrator, he draws cartoons when he isn’t working in the Rhode Island School of Design library.

Gambino said he began working on the show soon after Christmas last year after a suggestion from a former Barrington librarian, Wil Egerson.  Gambino hopes his Christmas caper takes off and he can perform it again next year at more local libraries.

“It will be a different way to present Christmas music,” he said.

See the video to get a tiny taste of "Barty Smarty."