Immerse Yourself In A Christmas Carol At This Ghostly Dinner Party

A Christmas Carol, Immersive | LDN ★★★☆☆

Franco Milazzo
By Franco Milazzo Last edited 51 months ago

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Immerse Yourself In A Christmas Carol At This Ghostly Dinner Party A Christmas Carol, Immersive | LDN 3
Photo: Brendan Bell

Now in its ninth year, this particular version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is decidedly an oddball telling of the classic story. For starters, there are only two actors: Alexander Barclay takes on Ebenezer Scrooge with Jack Witham as his ex-partner Marley. Then there are the immersive elements, which cast the audience as a ghostly entourage seated around a dinner table (less Secret Cinema, more Secret Dining Room). Add to all that a Christmas feast conjured up by Flavourology and you have a decidedly strange brew.

Photo: Brendan Bell

There is audience participation here, but nothing that would shock a maiden aunt. As well as joining in on lusty renditions of seasonal hymns both sacred and profane, not least Fairytale of New York, there are parlour games, panto-style fun and other tomfoolery.

Photo: Brendan Bell

As a piece of theatre, it veers too near to am-dram at times with uneven directing and Barclay’s performance resembling a Christmas ham on occasion. Witham is, for the most part, a scintillating psychopomp who can switch from a casual and carefree manner to a biting intensity in less time than it takes to pull a cracker. The dueling duo do create magic at times but not enough dramatic interest to sustain the two-hour plus running time.

A Christmas Carol, Immersive | LDN, 56 Davies Street, W1K 5HR. Tickets £65.50-£71.50 including a two-course meal (£50.50 concessions), until 5 January 2020.

Last Updated 09 December 2019