★★★★★

“a rollicking good time”

There’s nothing better to get you in the Christmas mood than a smashed Ebenezer Scrooge slurring his way through some festive pop songs while ranting about free range chicken eggs.

‘A Pissedmas Carol’ is a retelling of A Christmas Carol, stuffed full of songs, improv and panto style gags. On top of that, each night one of the actors is riotously drunk. Cue hilarious and chaotic fun, in a very merry way. There are even mince pies at the bar!

This show is a rollicking good time. Rather than its non-holiday themed Shakespearean counterparts, this production allows more space for all of the actors to have a laugh. The energy doesn’t drop when the drunk actor is off stage, because there’s scripted and improvised silliness to be had by all.

James Murfitt and Lewis Ironside’s adaptation of the Dickens classic keeps some of the original text, some iconic lines (possibly more if all of the actors were sober) but injects some ridiculous fun into it. The key moments are there, but the play never stops for long enough to get too bogged down in the plot or characters. Katy Baker’s directing, as well as strong improvising from the cast, keep the energy soaring throughout.

There are a cast of eight, with ten in the troupe, so the rotating roles, and rotating drunkenness, can be shared around. The whole cast were really strong, all having their own moments to shine. Hal Hillman and Katy Baker are charming and hilarious as the Cratchits, James Murfitt is an excellent MC, Daniel Quirke is a bit of a scene stealer as the Ghost of Christmas present, and Izzy Wroe Wright proves to have an incredible set of pipes as she belts out some classic Christmas bops. John Mitton as Scrooge was hilarious, and very drunk.

Having Charlotte Brooke as an on-stage pianist brings the whole performance together, making it feel like a cohesive musical, and I think is a big reason the energy stays so high. Nicola Jones’ set is playful and crucially safe for drunk actors. Jess Davies’ lighting also plays with the gothic drama, but in a camp, fun way.

The show is a laugh, and highly worth a visit. It’s short and sweet and it’s great to see that the actors are having as much fun as the audience.

IKARIA at the Park Theatre

★★★★

“The performances are strong, with excellent chemistry and range”

Ikaria is both the name of an idyllic Greek island, and the deeply bleak student halls where this play takes place. This dark juxtaposition is indicative of a script filled with ironic humour, but also the grim hopelessness of the subject matter. The piece is raw and real, if a little predictable.

The play is a love story, of sorts. Mia is a fresh-faced first year, full of ambitions and hope. She meets Simon, a third year who took a year off after, he explains with an offhand joke, a bout of glandular fever and a period of not doing any work. As their relationship develops, it becomes apparent that Simon never leaves his room, and what seems at first to be a story of young love, is actually an exploration of Simon’s struggles with his mental health.

Philippa Lawford, who is both writer and director, has a very strong sense of place, and character. This is a masterclass in naturalism. The characters, dialogue, and world feel extremely familiar, but not derivative. It might have been nice to have a few more surprises, but there is something very powerful in the inevitable descent that neither character can prevent.

Andrea Gatchalian as Mia is very strong, traversing tone effortlessly and bringing her role as a side character to life. However, James Wilbraham as Simon is sublime. His performance makes the play. Wilbraham is doubtlessly one to watch.

The set is claustrophobic and oppressive. The perfect replica of a student dorm, down to the cork board and fire emergency stickers. The lighting (Shane Gill) and sound (Laurie Blundell) is broadly naturalistic, except for one powerful and symbolic scene, where Simon loses touch with reality.

Ikaria is relevant and impactful. It taps into current conversation, while remaining an interesting character portrayal. The performances are strong, with excellent chemistry and range. But for me, it was too long. It was clear how the story would play out, and while it is impactful to watch that through, I needed more to stay engaged. However, I think the audience was deeply moved by it. And rightly so, the topic is important to shed light on, and it was well drawn.

A PISSEDMAS CAROL at Leicester Square Theatre

★★★★★

“a rollicking good time”

A PISSEDMAS CAROL at Leicester Square Theatre

Reviewed on 30th November 2023

by Auriol Reddaway

Photography by Rah Petherbridge (from previous production)

Previously reviewed at this venue:

A Pissedmas Carol

A Pissedmas Carol

IKARIA at the Park Theatre

★★★★

“The performances are strong, with excellent chemistry and range”