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The Review - THEATRE by JOSH LOEB
Published: 18 December 2008

Daring take on a festive classic

A CHRISTAMS CAROL
Lion and Unicorn

HEADSCARFS, scullcaps and a ghost strapped with explosives feature in this daring production of a festive favourite.
With a nod to Christmas’s roots, Tiny Tim et al have been transplanted into modern Jerusalem. Prayer in many languages fills the air and references to war and financial crisis underline the enduring relevance of Dickens’s tale of redemption.
This could have been another strained attempt to make a point about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or turn Christmas into a politically correct multifaith love-in. Mercifully, it is far too clever, dark and subtle to allow for such simplistic descriptions.
The cast is huge for such a small venue. The actors, most of whom play multiple characters, sing, dance and strum their way through the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. The nightmare scenes are haunting and come complete with smoke and hallucinatory lighting.
Though the acting is splendid across the board, Edward Kingham in particular must be applauded for his energetic playing of Scrooge, coming as this does straight off the back of his performance in The Hostess of the Inn, the previous production at The Lion and Unicorn.
Giant Olive, the company responsible, have shown with this production that they can be as ambitious as the best of them. May their audacity long continue.
Until January 3
020 7485 9897

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