The Scouse Christmas Carol – Review
For me, there are two things that mark the start of the festive season: Noddy Holder shouting “It’s Christmas!” and curtain-up on a decent panto.
This year, both arrived at once, as Slade’s 1973 classic Merry Christmas Everybody blasted out right at the start of The Scouse Christmas Carol at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre.
And when I say “a decent panto”, I’m not talking about the usual innuendo-ridden, “it’s behind you” kids’ shows. There are plenty of those up and down the country. I mean a full-on, raucous, rock ’n’ roll panto, crammed with adult humour, the very thing the Royal Court has built its reputation on.
Their Christmas shows are always a treat. Every year, you come out thinking, “How on earth are they going to top that?” And every year, somehow, they do. This time, though, they’ve outdone themselves. This year’s offering is exceptional.
The show is packed with music from start to finish, performed live on stage by four excellent musicians. The nine-strong cast tear into numbers like I’m Too Sexy, Ghostbusters, Night Fever and Thriller, with familiar Royal Court favourites Helen Carter, Adam McCoy, Paul Duckworth and Lenny Wood all on top form.
When it comes to belting out a tune, few can match the lung power of Lindzi Germain, yet she also showed her softer side with a genuinely moving rendition of Adele’s When We Were Young.
The comedy is nothing short of brilliant, with the Scouse one-liners coming thick and fast. The ever-wonderful Keddy Sutton flits effortlessly between five different characters, keeping her trademark Barbara Windsor giggle and “sexy sod” catchphrases going throughout.
The action is fast-moving, with the theatre’s revolving stage serving up rapid changes between three cleverly designed sets. There is a particularly hilarious moment when the revolve apparently breaks down and the platform has to be shoved around by actors and stagehands. Planned or not, it brought the house down.
The Scouse Christmas Carol is a superb start to Christmas, the perfect antidote to the winter blues and just the pick-me-up you need as the nights draw in. It fits perfectly into the Royal Court’s now classic brand of musical comedy, while still hanging on to the essential spirit of Scrooge, Scratchitt and Marley, even if Charles Dickens himself might be spinning in his grave at what they get up to.
More importantly, the audiences will be turning up in their droves. This is a full Five-Star show, and your Christmas will not be complete if you miss it. Get your tickets booked quickly before they sell out by contacting the box office here: Ticket Link
