Christmas Carol Goes Wrong will make your cry with laughter. So good, even the set manages to be funny, a must see!
Calamity ensues in Mischief Theatre’s production of Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, ultimately meaning it was an absolute success. This company arrive at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow, bringing the usual hijinks and tomfoolery they have become so synonymous for.
Another addition to the Goes Wrong universe, Mischief once again take on the collective roll of the Cornley Drama Society, filled with zany, temperamental characters each seeking to be cast in the company’s new production of A Christmas Carol. Despite a most embarrassingly unprepared audition process, everyone is cast as they are the only 5 people who show up for auditions. Much to the chagrin of his fellow cast mates, director Chris Bean takes on the title role of Scrooge in an attempt to have further control over the success of the production. However, as we can all gather from the title, control doesn’t go very far when disaster strikes.
For fans of slapstick comedy, this really is an absolute riot. The running gags throughout this show had the audiences in stitches, myself included. There’s a golden rule in comedy known as the rule of three. This is utilised consistently in the gags within the show and to great effect. For those wishing to avoid spoilers, now would be a good time to skip to the end. Perhaps the best gag throughout the show is the set itself. Director Chris has a model of what he plans for the set to look like, asking production to follow the design exactly. What he is unaware of is that the cast have messed around with it before being delivered (as well as a stage light crashing down upon it). This leads to set pieces such as a giant Malteasers box in Scrooge’s office and a Barbie’s Kitchen Playset for nephew Fred’s home. The absolute highlight though revolves around Tiny Tim and the use of puppetry. The less said the better as it truly needs to be seen but this may be the funniest part of the entire production. The Glasgow audience were in fits of laughter.
The wacky nature of each character really fuels the fun with this show. Whether it’s Dennis writing all his lines on props and even castmates to help throughout the performance or Robert constantly trying to incapacitate Chris so he can play Scrooge. Each character really feels fleshed out and unique which is a testament to the writing as well as the brilliant talents of all members of the company. It was greatly appreciated. The positive (if somewhat oblivious) nature of Annie’s character shines through, both as herself and in the various parts she plays within the play. These characters are all very rewatchable so, it helps that there are multiple shows surrounding the fictional company.
In truth, the only way I can fault this production is that it is now February, meaning this is very off-season to be watching something that centres on a story so inherently Christmassy. However, to their credit, the focus really boils down more to the characters within the play and the comedy so, it is definitely worth catching, even if you’re the type of person who likes to keep Christmas contained to December.
Overall, it’s absolutely hilarious! This show provides the kind of levity that only great comedy can and if you enjoy silly humour and crazy shenanigans, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong will take care of you, whether it’s your first Mischief show or your fifth.
This production is on at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow from now till the 22nd February. This is the final stop on their tour.