Review: CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG, Apollo Theatre
Photo credit: Mark Senior
Mischief Theatre, or should we say Cornley Amateur Drama Society, are back with another wonderfully chaotic production. This festive season, it is A Christmas Carol and maybe this time everything will go to plan, and they will finally get the review they desire…
For those who do not know the story of A Christmas Carol, here is a very abridged version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. It is Christmas Eve and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts to show him the error of his ways and inspire him to embrace the spirit of Christmas. This story has been adapted time and time again, but we are sure you have never seen a retelling quite like Cornley Amateur Drama Society’s.
Mischief Theatre must be applauded for their consistency. Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields have written another sensational script, packed full of silliness and pop culture references. It is truly impressive to maintain such a high standard of comedy which balances original ideas with callbacks to previous productions. This is what makes Mischief’s shows so rich and endearing. There is a shared history between the cast and their characters, with many original Mischief members featuring in this production, and we can understand how this has caused the company to grow such a dedicated fan base.
Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is a true ensemble show and the cast are outstanding. Daniel Fraser is at the helm as the show’s stern director, Chris Bean, who battles with Henry Lewis’ large than life Robert over the role of Scrooge. Nancy Zamit is heartwarming as Annie is who is trying to keep things positive, and hapless Dennis (Jonathan Sayer) just wants to make some friends and remember his lines. Sasha Frost is literally a ray of light as she glides on stage as the narrator with a light up storybook and as the ever hopefully Sandra. Max (Matt Cavendish) just wants to show his versatility and gain his certificate from Robert’s acting course; he certainly does and plays a whole family in one particularly funny sequence. Jonathan (Greg Tannahill) is appropriately anxious as he attempts to overcome the trauma he experienced in last years’ production of Peter Pan, not helped by wry stage manager Trevor’s (Chris Leask) survival of the fittest approach to lighting.
Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is a brilliant collaboration between all technical departments. The direction by Matt DiCarlo is fresh and inventive. There are moments of slapstick which made us cry with laughter but there are also tender moments highlighting the magic of theatre and the human connection it cultivates. One can only imagine the trust, time and planning that goes into ensuring the mistakes are executed in a safe and slick way while maintaining the element of surprise and maximum hilarity. Roberto Surace’s costumes are vibrant and detailed even for characters that appear only briefly. Libby Todd’s set design is fabulous, although not what you would expect for a story set in Victorian times. Early in the play, the model box is subject to some unintended alterations. A box of Maltesers stands in for a cupboard, Scrooge’s nephew has Barbie kitchen, and Tiny Tim is not so tiny.
If you are looking for a fabulously festive and funny night at the theatre, then look no further than Mischief Theatre’s Christmas Carol Goes Wrong.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Luck
