UK Theatre Network

Sell A Door Theatre Company presents

A Christmas Carol

Co-directed by David Hutchinson and Anna Schneider

Music by Richard Reeday

Run from 6th December 2011 to 15th January 2012

Watched on 15th December 2011

Set in the Financial Crisis of 2008

Cast-

Stephen Barden- Scrooge

Nick Bechman- Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come

Tara Goldolphin- Ghost of Christmas Present

Katrina Innes- Mrs. Cratchett

Rowena Lennon- Mrs. Maggs

Jess Mack- Ghost of Christmas Past

Charlotte Mason-Apps - Belle

Jenny Palmer- Belinda Cratchett

Christopher Rowland- Fred/fezziwig

Rosie Thorpe- Tiny Tim/ Swing

Lee White- Bob Cratchet

Jonathan Ashby-Rock - Swing/ DSM

 
If you're a fan of physical theatre, then this is a stellar show for you. Bursting to the brim with clever choreography and synchronised dances, David Hutchinson and Anna Schneider have shaken up this Dicken’s classic into a dynamic, humourous and, at times, impressively sinister affair. A spectacular production that highlights the mastery of good direction.

Stephen Barden creates a great ‘man of money’ Scrooge. Wrapped up in a tailored suit and in his own self-importance, Scrooge is a man who sees the world as the pursuit of more money and more wealth. In this version, Scrooge is an intelligent articulate Investment Banker, who commands the fear of the people around him, the likes of which he regards as ‘parasites’. The Church’s carol singers are quickly dismissed and his nephew Fred (Christopher Rowland) is sent away- along with all hope of Scrooge spending Christmas with his family. Poor Bob Cratchett (Lee White) gets a good deal of misery from the harsh rules and punishments that Scrooge mercilessly dishes out.

It is a truly miserable outlook on Christmas, until we have the arrival of the ghost of Jacob Marley. As the play opens, the jarring disturbed scene of Jacob Marley’s funeral initially gathers all the cast,while setting up the somber tone of the beginning. Scrooge’s late friend and business partner, Jacob, reappears into Scrooge’s room strapped down with heavy chains, representing the toll of his wrong-doings whilst he lived. Bob brings a warning that Scrooge is close to achieving the same fate and forewarns him of three visits by the Ghosts of Christmas.

Jess Mack plays a very youthful and innocent Ghost of Christmas Past, playfully scaring Scrooge and giggling. She shows Scrooge the details of his past, but it is easily a past that we can all relate to- nervous First Love, dancing disaster and finding your feet with new people. Laugh out loud awkward conversation ensues when Young Scrooge, played by Nick Bechman, tries and wins the love of Bella (Charlotte Mason-Apps) - the endearing emabarrassment of asking a girl if he can ‘please get you drunk?’ is enough to charm anyone. However, as with Dicken’s original, the pure love he gains is later destroyed as Greed and Vanity take a hold of Scrooge’s heart.

Alongside Scrooge’s memories, we get treated to natural realism from Bob Cratchett’s family. Katrina Innes and Lee White do some great work as Bob and Mrs. Cratchett, showing a wonderful relationship that has a sense of real history. The children, Belinda, Martha and ‘Tiny’ Tim Cratchett (Jenny Palmer, Jess Mack and Rosie Thorpe) talk of Christmas presents and Turkey- all desires that are a little out of grasp in the Financial climate of 2008- and perhaps prevalent in our Credit Crunch of Winter 2011. It seems that the overhauling ecomonic conditions pervade over everyone without prejudice- even Scrooge remarks that the ‘investments are not growing as they should be’. I shift in my seat with dread as the Cratchetts worried over medical bills for Tiny Tim.

Huge laughs come from the Ghost of Christmas Present, and- boy!- did she present the present party generation. Loud, crass, good-time Ghost of Christmas Present, played by Tara Godolphin, earns the jolly atmosphere with her naughty behaviour, excitable hyperness and a bag stuffed with every party accessory under the Sun (I stopped recording what they were after we reached the cracker joke).

Keeping to the Dicken’s original, we end with the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. While most versions undercut this part, we are given a well paced version of the Future and what lies in store for the characters. The death of Tiny Tim is accompanied with superb acting and heartwrenching realism. The Ghost itself strikes terror as a build up of rage and anger is unleashed upon the thoughtless Scrooge. The brutatlity of the malicious reactions to Scrooge’s own death is the final horrifying vision that marks Scrooge’s change into a grateful, happy soul. Christmas Day. Morning. And we see the vast contrast in character. And I smile along with him.

A jolly musical chorus rounds off this play nicely and I couldn’t help feeling enamoured by the charm of the tale’s message. Scrooge is transformed from a greedy and selfish person, to a warm-hearted and happier soul. The knowlegde that Christmas is just a few days away is a reminder to be kind and giving in this festive period. ‘Tis the season... This play comes across as a very tight,well rehearsed production; and it should with a cast of acclaimed academy graduates. As impressive as rehearsing and performing after two weeks, they all have a fantastic singing repetoire among them. Christmas festive cheer was definitely in the room with a revelry of songs and carols throughout the play that were beautifully delivered. Accompanied by a very well thought-out ad executed score by Richard Reeday, it delivered very highly on the musical theatre scale. My verdict- go see this show before you miss out.

Address: Greenwich Playhouse

Greenwich Station Forecourt

189 Greenwich High Road

London SE10, 8JA

Telephone: 020 8858 9256

E-Mail: BoxOffice@Galleontheatre.co.uk

http://www.galleontheatre.co.uk/

Tuesday-Saturday @ 19:30; Sundays @ 16:00

(Except 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 31st Dec and 1st Jan 2012)

Tickets £13, £10 (concession)

As the house lights dim to clock bells chiming, the scene is set for Dickens’ dark tale – only to be broken by some beautiful company singing of various Christmas songs in a wonderful “round” arrangement.

Like a picture postcard of Dickensian London, the set and costumes are a big clue to the sumptuous production that lies ahead – and the audience are not let down in anyway. With fantastical effects from illusionist Paul Kieve (famous for being Magic Consultant on the Harry Potter films and also to Derren Brown, as well as creating the spectacular effects for the current west end production of Ghost The Musical) there really is no expense spared in this production. The orchestra create a wonderful sound and are accompanied by a very tight company on stage, whose vocal talents and energy do well to overcome what is really a forgettable score. The best effect of all however is Tommy Steele himself. Leading the show at the age of 75, he is very rarely off stage and has the energy of men a third of his age. It is difficult not to like Ebenezer Scrooge when played by Mr Steele and his disparaging remarks and “bah-humbug” throw-away lines provide great humour, in what is already a charming and witty script. He also shows that he still has the voice to carry off songs like “A Better Life” and “Begin Again” with great style and control.

A show however cannot survive on its leading man alone, and luckily this is an exceptionally talented company, with a real community feel . Barry Howard is a greatly grumpy Jacob Marley – a far cry from the role that made him famous, as Barry the Ballroom dancer in Hi-De-Hi. He was also involved in one of the most exciting effects in the show, and his first appearance in Scrooge’s bedroom saw the whole audience jump with surprise. Sarah Earnshaw and James Head make exceptional ghosts too, in very different ways. Miss Earnshaw’s rather serene and sweet Ghost Of Christmas Past was a very gentle start to Scrooge’s change of heart, quickly followed by the Brian Blessed style presence of James Head’s Ghost Of Christmas Present. His view of the Cratchit family Christmas gave us a chance to see some lovely performances from the local children procided by Ann Edmonds’ Starstruck Stage School, in particular young Ethan Kerr as Tiny Tim whose touching rendition of “The Beautiful Day” was beautifully sung and would bring a lump to any throat.

Director Bob Tomson has put together a very slick production utilising a clever set from Paul Farnsworth. Lisa Kent has created some nice touches in the choreography too, making good use of the set, particularly in the number “Thank You Very Much”. The only downside I can find for this Christmas show is that it is not here for longer, as it would be a lovely treat for the family on Christmas Eve (although I’m sure Sleeping Beauty will be an adequate replacement – either the Ballet in this theatre, or the pantomime in sister venue The Kings). As you only have until Saturday, make sure you don’t feel like the miser and treat yourself to one of the best shows you’ll see this year.

Listings

Mon-Sat Evenings – 7.30pm

Thu & Sat Matinees – 2.30pm

Tickets £11-£32

Box Office: 08448 717 647 (bkg fee)                 
Web: www.atgtickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

Surprisingly, this show is written by a husband and wife team, John McIsaac and Julie Coombe (Julie also appears on stage in the tour). I say surprisingly as this really is a “ladies night” style show with humour mainly to ridicule men, so it is surprising to find that a husband assisted in writing this style of show. However, the influence is obviously there and instead of the evening being 2 hours of “man-bashing”, the humour is more of a gentle prodding at the male of the species.

Unfortunately the battle of the sexes is a subject that has been covered many times before, and the use of old gags does seem a little lazy in a show like this. However, more importantly there are many more moments of ingenuity that far outweigh this. The excellent courtroom scene is a great chance to show off the comedy talents and timing of Julie Coombe and although not the headliner on the posters, she certainly is the headliner in this cast. Her background in comedy performing shows through in many other sketches too, in particular the group keep-fit section where physical comedy is pushed to the limit. Joining Julie on stage were TV presenter and model Carol Smillie and TV and stage actress Shonagh Price. Neither of these performers are particularly known for comedy, and I was pleasantly surprised by them both. Carol’s portrayal of a Glaswegian WAG (well, with a boyfriend who was part-time for Alloa Athletic) was a great character role and allowed her to let loose with her inhibitions. And letting loose with inhibitions must have been a pre-requisite for this cast, with Shonagh agreeing to an intimate waxing and also re-enacting a rather repressed love-making session all in the interests of comedy.

The simple set was hugely effective, in particular the AV wall which had three female shadows joining in subtly with the show and did add an air of quality to what could easily have been a basic sketch show.

Due to tour the UK in 2012 it looks like this may be the start of another Vagina Monologues phenomenon, however without the pathos of Eve Ensler’s piece, I can’t see this show running for quite as long. That said, it is billed as “a night of fun and frolics with the girls” and does live up to its own marketing. Even as a man I had lots of fun and the atmosphere on a damp Glasgow Monday night was more like a Friday night at a Chippendales concert, so the show is definitely worth getting a group of girls together for.

Listings

 Mon 21 – Sat 26 Nov

Mon – Thu eves 7.30pm

Fri & Sat 5.30pm & 8.30pm

Tickets: £12 - £27

Box Office             08448 717 648       (Bkg fee)

www.atgtickets.com/glasgow  (bkg fee)

Back again after two successful runs last year, the latest JB Shorts show - six brand new ten-minute plays written by top TV writers - returns to the basement of Joshua Brooks on Princess Street.

Work of this calibre, coupled with a comparatively short time commitment, attracts actors that Manchester’s top theatres would envy: JB Shorts 3 includes Chris Hannon (Lunch Monkeys), Vicky Binns (Molly from Corrie), Anthony Crank (Shameless) and Peter Slater (Ideal), while local luminaries Caroline Clegg and Noreen Kershaw are among the directors.

As usual there is an eclectic mix of style and content.  Backlash by James Quinn (currently gracing the stage of the Library Theatre) is a spoof party political broadcast satirising the anti-political correctness brigade; Lindsay Williams’ Quixotry exposes the fraught world of Scrabble tournaments; and Andrew Kirk uses multimedia technology and a bunny-girl outfit to put a relationship under pressure in I’m Mad, Me. 

After the break (featuring some very disturbing invisible theatre) S.H.A.G.G. by Dianne Whitley imagines what might happen if Russell Brand hosted a sex addicts support group in Chorlton-cum-Hardy (very convincing turn from Marvyn Dickinson as the tousle haired host who seems to be mainly addicted to himself), followed by the Trevor Suthers comedy Shakespeare’s Monkeys, a surreal piece which is dominated by Antony Bessick’s astonishing physical performance as a semi-simian zookeeper.

The finale, and my favourite, was Peter Kerry’s Truncheons and Blackberries which had sharp writing from the off, fantastic acting all round, a nice touch of farce and enough meat in the concept for a full-length play.  Peter Slater and John Catterall are a pair of memorably dim PC Plods, Verity Henry is their sexy but foul-mouthed Deputy Chief Constable, and Annamarie Bayley is a top Daily Mail columnist who inadvertently uncovers an explosive secret.

The fast-paced format of JB Shorts makes it a winner with audiences because even if one sketch isn’t to your taste another will be along in ten minutes (a much better service than the Eccles tram, I can tell you).  Here’s looking forward to JB Shorts 4.

www.jbshorts.co.uk

Till Saturday 27 March (not Sunday) @ 7pm

Tickets £5 on door

Joshua Brooks

106 Princess Street
Manchester

Lancashire M1 6NG