A Pissedmas Carol, Leicester Square Theatre - ★★★ - Until January 5, 2020


A Pissedmas Carol does what this company, Magnificent Bastard Productions, is famed for with one cast member playing the show very drunk. Unless well played the joke could wear extremely thin, but the show only runs an hour and luckily the cast are well acquainted with each other's improv skills. They have a high old time making the dickens of a dog's dinner of the story. Some of the plot of A Christmas Carol emerges unscathed and there are certainly laughs a-plenty. Dragging an audience member into the Fezziwig's party only adds to the fun while various Christmas songs are amusingly inserted. A couple of the visual gags are excellent. To be honest, we thought that it was all an elaborate hoax with the 'drunken' actor only pretending to be inebriated but no, he really was under the influence. It was Daniel Quirke's turn to imbibe on our visit, but tomorrow who knows? It could be fun to see James Murfitt, who is a rather fine Scrooge loosen up a bit. None of this would have a chance of working without quick-fire action and immaculate comic timing. The performers manage to rescue what could become a comedic car-crash to give the audience an hour of deliriously Dickensian mayhem!

 Reviewed by D.S.J.

  Our Score:  ☆☆☆ 

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 WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until January 5, 2020
Wed - Sat: 7 pm
Leicester Square Theatre
Nearest tube: Leicester Square
https://leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873602726
Map & Location: 6 Leicester Pl, London WC2H 7BX, UK

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