9 December – 5 January

One of the joys of a Living Spit show is that one can always rely on the unexpected. A Christmas Carol is, delightfully, no exception. This is the Dickens story with the bones sucked out and reassembled in a recognizable, but quaintly idiosyncratic way that suggests both respect for the original and a chummy disregard for anything other than the author’s intention. Silliness and invention are both their stock-in-trade and under-the-counter merchandise. Bad jokes (intentionally) and near-swearing sit alongside Carry On naughtiness that’s had parental controls removed. The occasional contemporary reference suggests one finger, if not a foot, in panto-time convention whilst a sprinkling of potty humour is there to tickle the pre-teens’ funny bones.

Fair warning of the unconventional fare is given when Stu Mcloughlin gives us an armchair primer on the extraordinary talents of Craig Edwards, a Scrooge for our time. Mr Edwards, nothing loath, and looking at times like an ill-tempered Stan Laurel, sets off on his mission to spread grimness amidst the humbug (here lieth a running joke). The Cratchit family Christmas feast, if it weren’t so funny, would be a national disgrace and Scrooge a modern slavery gang master. However the show is face-achingly funny from start to finish with some surprisingly tender moments thanks to well-chosen and crafted music.

Mr Mcloughlin, who plays all the other parts, has the standup’s ability to connect directly with the audience and the confidence in their willingness to go with him as he scampers off down the next rabbit hole of silliness. A tattooed and lumpy Ghost of Christmas Present in white tutu and tights whisks a reluctant Scrooge back to the past where, care of a TV screen, the present Scrooge looks out on the past Scrooge, a gauche, coiffured lad, who tries to chat up Angharad from HR at Mr Fezziwig’s Christmas party. Some buttock clenching tongue action adds to the hilarity.

The Ghost of Christmas Present is taken literally, that is, he is a boxed present full of good cheer. The Cratchit children are a couple of toys whilst Tiny Tim is the smallest, thumb sized lad you’re ever likely to find on a stage. But hey ho, we’re all now so thoroughly invested in the mis-en-scène we go along with the absurdity. With the arrival of Christmas Future, Scrooge becomes terrified at the prospect of becoming Satan’s ‘joy toy’ and determines to change his ways (with reservations).

This is not the Christmas Carol you might have expected, but only the grumpiest of traditionalists could fail to be nudged into the Christmas spirit by this relentlessly entertaining seasonal offering.

★★★★★  Graham Wyles, 11 December 2024