Tag Archives: Dan Wye

PERKY NATIVITITTIES

★★★★

The Yard Theatre

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PERKY NATIVITITTIES

The Yard Theatre

★★★★

“an hilarious show that brings a fantastic piece of alternative and unique Christmas entertainment”

As another Christmas rolls around, one may find oneself looking for something new to reignite the Yuletide spirit, forgetting the old traditions and repeated specials that have begun to make the season feel stale. And that’s exactly why Perky Nativititties is a genius addition this Festive Season to London theatre. The show’s host Séayoncé (Dan Wye) presents their first live TV Christmas Special, assisted by their talented yet devious pianist companion Leslie-Ann (Robyn Herfellow). But this is no ordinary special, this is an Anti-Christmas Special – a show dedicated to calling out the ridiculousness of outdated morals and capitalistic false idols. Yet, something is sabotaging them. Christmas magic haunts the studio and the pair must find a way to stop it.

From the off, this show is thoroughly hilarious. Séayoncé has a witty, tongue in cheek and tongue very much out of cheek comedy style. Jokes involving dark humour, queer comedy and many explicit sex references. It’s the kind of adults-only show that comes with many warnings to the faint-hearted. But rest assured, it had the whole audience up and dancing by the finale. The show begins by introducing us to the characters behind the scenes of the live TV special, as if the audience were the studio audience. This instantly welcomed us into the interactive elements of the show – the encouraged applause, ‘Ooooh’ing and other noises directed via the on stage screens. There were also several moments where Séayoncé would bring audience members on stage to be involved with musical numbers. A traditional element of classic pantomimes.

Once the live TV special begins, we watch as the pair are haunted by the ‘true’ Christmas spirit, which they plot to destroy during the ad breaks. By Act Two, they’re ready to kill the thing that has been attacking them. The show ends on a truly uplifting message of togetherness and unity for those who do feel outcast at this time of year. After all the dark and dry comedy, you really do feel the queer joy that oozes from this piece.

My only gripe with the show is that some parts felt a little too drawn out with particular jokes feeling overdone. There’s one song about Jesus’ bedroom activities that felt like it was repeating the same gag over and over, which definitely made me switch off. This doesn’t affect the pace of the show overall, but a cut of a few of these moments of repetition could do wonders.

The set consists of a studio-like pop up set hosting a comfy armchair, piano, digital fireplace, a Christmas tree, a second pink tree that snows and various cardboard cameras. It feels wonderfully homely, the DIYish elements of the homemade cameras adding a nice touch. Séayoncé wears a deep burgundy caftan and head cover, their typical medium get up, and Leslie-Ann a lovely sparkly black dress, a staple for the winter season.

Overall, Perky Nativititties is an hilarious show that brings a fantastic piece of alternative and unique Christmas entertainment for audiences who connect with the weird, the wonderful and the downright wacky.


PERKY NATIVITITTIES at The Yard Theatre

Reviewed on 9th December 2024

by David Robinson

 

 


 

 

 

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:

THE FLEA | ★★★★★ | October 2024
THE FLEA | ★★★★ | October 2023

PERKY NATIVITITTIES

PERKY NATIVITITTIES

PERKY NATIVITITTIES

 

We’re now on BLUESKY – click to visit and follow

 

Peter Pan's Labyrinth

Peter Pan’s Labyrinth

★★★★

The Vaults

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PETER PAN’S LABYRINTH at the The Vaults

★★★★

 

Peter Pan's Labyrinth

“Creaky plot apart, Peter Pan’s Labyrinth is loaded with sparkling gifts for the audience.”

 

If The Sleeping Trees are back in town, it must be panto time. Well, sort of. For one thing, we’ve only just climbed out of our Halloween costumes. How lucky for us that The Sleeping Trees’ by now familiar formula of mashing together well loved folk tales, allows us to enjoy November and the holiday season in a whole new way. Putting together Peter Pan with Labyrinth is certainly an eye opening take on two classic favourites. If you are curious to see what happens when Peter Pan actually does grow up, and how he manages to end up trapped in The Goblin King’s Labyrinth, hurry along to the Vaults near Waterloo Station. But don’t take the kids with you this time. Because Peter Pan’s Labyrinth is an adult panto. Besides, who wants to spend time explaining the jokes to the kids when you could be singing and dancing along with Ziggy Stardust instead?

Peter Pan’s Labyrinth is the same kind of unlikely mash up as the Sleeping Trees’ 2020 Moby Dick Whittington. Sadly, the 2022 combo isn’t quite as successful as the earlier production, even though it’s fantastic to see the Trees back on stage instead of in front of the camera. The inventive energy of the performances, the set and costume design (Maeve Black), and effortless rapport with the audience is still there. Sound design (Ben Hales) and Lighting Design (Clancy Flynn) are strong in The Vaults’ rather gloomy setting. Perhaps the plot problem is that Peter Pan’s Labyrinth really is about Peter Pan, and the Labyrinth part of the story mostly functions as a way of bringing on David Bowie in his fabulous wig and costumes. At any rate, Peter seems to spend a long time finding his way out of the Labyrinth, even if it is explained by the fact that he is now middle aged and unable to fly. Not even Kermit the Frog, and random appearances of characters from Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth are of much help to a man who has lost his job, his flat, and the fairy who used to be his best friend. It is left to the Goblin King to take pity on Peter and get him to Neverland in time to stop an unfortunate wedding. You’ve probably guessed by now who gets to be the baby that the King takes as his reward.

Creaky plot apart, Peter Pan’s Labyrinth is loaded with sparkling gifts for the audience. The biggest gift is Dan Wye as Bowie, aka the Goblin King, himself. Wye almost steals the entire show. He’s too smart to play the role as pure drag, however. What we get instead is a very elegant, ironic performance all dressed up as an entertainer who can sing beautifully. It does honour to King Goblin, and it’s just Bowie-like enough to make us remember Ziggy and hope he’s somewhere cool, enjoying Wye’s performance. Wye has some serious competition in the trio of the Sleeping Trees, naturally. James Dunnell-Smith, John Woodburn and Joshua George Smith take on the roles of Wendy, Captain Hook, and Peter — and a whole host of unexpected cameos as well. The usual comedy mayhem ensues, and the audience is invited to join in often.

Peter Pan’s Labyrinth is a fun night out—not for the family perhaps, but the Sleeping Trees also have a family friendly show, Little Red Robin Hood, coming to the Battersea Arts Centre later on in the holiday season. In the meantime, you and your friends will get lots of pleasure from singing along with The Goblin King, and enjoying some fabulously punny cocktails at the bar.

 

Reviewed on 3rd November 2022

by Dominica Plummer

Photography by Alex Brenner

 

 

Top shows reviewed in October 2022:

 

A Single Man | ★★★★ | Park Theatre | October 2022
Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan | ★★★★ | Crazy Coqs | October 2022
Hofesh Shecter: Contemporary Dance 2 | ★★★★★ | Battersea Arts Centre | October 2022
Mary | ★★★★ | Hampstead Theatre | October 2022
The Choir Of Man | ★★★★ | Arts Theatre | October 2022
The Solid Life Of Sugar Water | ★★★★★ | Orange Tree Theatre | October 2022
The Two Popes | ★★★★ | Royal & Derngate | October 2022

 

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