A Chritmas Carol

I must preface my review by stating that I have no use for Xmas or anything it allegedly stands for. Over the years IÂ’ve developed quite the hang up when it comes to anything Yuletidish. Imagine my shock then, when I came away from seeing this production feeling more Xmasie than I have since I was a kiddie!! Quite simply put, Attic's inaugural show is an absolute JOY!!!!!! I rediscovered the love of a tale that has to be one of the most reworked in literary history and is as pertinent today as it was when first penned.

The venue is stunning!! ItÂ’s an amazing building with perfectly tended gardens and is a really top spot for putting on the Classics. The whole space was used to great effect, so that at times you felt as though the story swirled around you. I canÂ’t wait to see how the space is utilised for the next two Attic shows.

Steve, as always, has cast this show impeccably. The cast is strong and work beautifully together. The pace was cracking and the energy levels did not drop at any point. The use of songs and music and lighting all added to the magic.

As usual, I have sat down to write a review without my programme, so I hope the actors will forgive me for not knowing some of their names. Special mention must be made for a few of the performances. The fellow playing Bob Crachett was a delight to watch. I've not seen him before, but hope to see much more of him in the future!! I nearly went to pieces each time the child who played Tiny Tim appeared. Gees, what a poppet! And the actor who played the second spirit was hilarious!!! Again, I apologise for being grossly unprepared, as always.

Lastly, I must make special mention of Sir Kingsley Judd. I’ve been a huge fan of his work since he floored me with his performance of “Danny” the drug dealer in “Withnail and I” a few years ago. I have seen many of Kingley’s shows since and always leave a little bit blown away by the depth of his range and talent. Scrooge is right up their with his best work. The transformation of the character, the physicality and the voice were all delivered with emotion, generosity and incredible energy. Thank you, Kingsley, for one of the most beautiful performances I have seen this year.

Honestly, I canÂ’t rave about this show enough!! Take the parents/grandparents, take the kids, pack booze and nibbles and DEFinitely take a cushion if youÂ’re sitting on the seats provided, as they can have a numbing effect on oneÂ’s arse.

Bugger it! Skip church on Xmas Eve and go see this instead. A couple of the carols mention baby Jebus, so itÂ’s practically the same as going to mass, only waaaaaaay more fun.

Huge congratulations to Stephen the cast and the crew for a truly magical Christmas experience!!

J