A Hit and Miss Christmas

The Hit and Miss Theatre Company is in need of a good Christmas show. There is a requirement for bums on seats, some festive cheer, and of course, a play with a moral. The tried and tested favourite with the company and local audiences is A Christmas Carol. However, there is a new artistic director in town with new ideas and new members to stir up the preparations. Added to that the Dickens yuletide classic has been performed locally every decade in living memory. So, the heart and soul of the company are up for grabs as the battle begins and we learn more about the players and their personal ghosts of Christmas’s past, present and their potential  Christmas wishes for the future.

Performed in the intimate space of The Studio at the Carriageworks the set was so impressive that some audience members entering actually tried to purchase drinks from the bar. It was very cleverly laid out with ensemble members gently walking around in the build up to the play. The small cast were enhanced by the presence of an ensemble which included Emma McGrath, Elaine Jackson, Linda McHale and Diane McHale-Fannon, who skilfully added volume to the ‘crowd scenes’ and naturally milled around with presence and without detracting from the action.

The players were well cast with Matthew Jones playing Tom, frustrated actor and writer looking for love. Jones gave some great facial expressions and frustrated shrugs when things weren’t going his way. In contrast was seemingly self-assured Charles, long standing member of the Hit and Miss Company who felt a strong need to continue the tradition of the annual Dickens extravaganza. Played by Jai Jai Ekins the audience warmed to Charles who showed a gentler side as he shared his own personal Christmas experiences. The transition from bombastic, outlandish member to a more sensitive team player was well-managed by Ekins.

Grace Harper as Ash was delightfully naïve and enthusiastic about the opportunities being presented as the newcomer to the group. She fails to notice that Tom is falling for her and hasn’t shared that she already has a partner, Jax (Jacqueline). Rose McMahon was confident and imposing as Jax, the Director brought in to manage the Christmas production. McMahon led the workshop scenes with great ease and realism (anyone watching from the am dram community had surely been at workshops just the same.)

Walter, the cantankerous and officious Company president, was well played by Graham Siddle. A real-life Ebenezer Scrooge determined to not find space in his heart for new traditions and newcomers. Due to unforeseen circumstances the role of artistic director Carol, was played by one of the plays directors Carolyn Craven. Craven was excellent and managed to disguise the use of her script in so many different ways that had it not been mentioned in the programme it would have been difficult to determine if she was reading. Great delivery from Craven who was a very believable character.

The biggest laughs were reserved for Gillian Myers as Dawn. From the symbolic knitting at the start of the play, (which could be likened to a Parisian ‘tricoteuse’ -the women who used to take their seats at the Place de la Révolution and watch the guillotine as they knitted) to her desire for “just a line in a play before she dies” Myers was great.  Her delivery was spot on and her composure whilst the audience howled at the ‘camel toe’ reference was wonderful. As she took the main role in the Companies ultimate production the true spirit of Christmas was revealed when Dawn handed over the lead to Charles.

Another clever reveal was also included within the set, but I won’t reference that further to avoid spoilers for those still to see the play. The audience were engaged and involved in the production and the play -within-a-play was well thought through – especially the puppeteering. The set and props were managed by stage manager and one-woman crew. The set dressing was especially festive.

The play does explores the wider issues of inclusion and separation looking at how communities and families can be found lacking when it comes to the true meaning of Christmas.    The ultimate outcome was a touching and very funny pre-lude to the festive season, the cast and crew had all worked hard with Directors Carolyn Craven and Jan Morrell to bring Emma Woods play to life. Conclusion – a definite hit for Cosmopolitan Players.

 

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