SNOW! THE MUSICAL. To 7 January.
London.
SNOW! THE MUSICAL
by Richard Marsh from an idea by Holly Kendrick.
Sound Theatre To 7 January 2006.
Mon-Thu; Sat 8pm.
Fri 6pm & 9pm Mat some Sats 4pm.
Runs 1hr 50min One interval.
TICKETS: 0870 890 0503.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 19 November.
Few jingling bells in a jangling musical.
London’s newest venue, up Wardour Street from Leicester Square, gets in early with an alternative Christmas offering. It's strong on disenchantment with Christmas iconography – malicious Santa, boorish Christian, family squabbles. Yet its ramshackle construction’s going to rely a lot on goodwill and seasonal spirits.
As for any deeper meaning of Christmas, here it’s an Oedipal version of pagan temporary kings. Each Father Christmas is slaughtered by his son; this Santa sets out to do his heir in first, while also planning to assassinate every other celebration in the calendar so he can rule all year round, OK? He enlists some Hallowe’en vampires in the task, who do for Saints Valentine, George, Patrick, etc.
Meanwhile, back on earth poor Jack’s having trouble with girl-friend Jilly’s Dad, while sprouts, potatoes, turkey and anything else supposedly part of the big day’s cheer cause heartache and squabbles. Love goes awry, but turns out all right, if not because it’s Christmas then because it’s a musical.
The Santa and family stories are connected by Bennett Andrews’ unfailingly cheerful Nick, the elf who makes all right after some magic-mistletoe misunderstandings, employing one of the plot’s few neat tricks. But these stories hobble along together rather than enhancing each other. Characterisation is routine. In other words, this musical needs considerably more work.
Meanwhile, it gets by on affability. Partly this is the zinging deployment of every secular Christmas song you can think of and partly it’s thanks to a strong cast who give it all they’ve got, which is often considerably more than the story or their characters are worth. Adrian Beaumont suffers resolutely as put-upon Pete, Louise Davidson could have a role in any British soap as the still glamorous-mum who copes with what life throws at her and Hannah Spearitt has the lithe heart-enhancing attraction of any panto principal boy without the drag get-up.
But in this piece of supposed disenchantment, it’s fitting someone downbeat should shine out. Victoria Bush is resplendently comic as calorie-addicted Lizzie, equipped with some of the script’s best one-liners and delivering them with killer precision in a
beautifully sharp performance.
Nick: Bennett Andrews.
Pete: Adrian Beaumont.
Lizzie: Victoria Bush.
Easter Bunny/Frosty/Vampire: Laura Checkley.
Father Christmas: Anthony Clegg.
Sue: Louise Davidson.
Jack: Daniel Reeves.
Jilly: Hannah Spearritt.
Director: Adam Speers.
Designer: Simon Scullion.
Lighting: Simon Wilkinson.
Sound: Paul Tarry.
Original Music & Lyrics: Andy Caine, Richard Marsh, Guy Pratt.
Musical Director: Darren Reeves.
Choreographer: Kate Prince.
Costume: Annalise Harvey.
Assistant choreographer: Ellen Jakubiel.
2005-11-21 16:42:06