Download the new logos for the programme and poster competition

Christmas Comedy Crackers

Author: Jo Sykes

Information

Date
14th December 2024
Society
Huddersfield Thespians Limited
Venue
Longwood Mechanics Hall
Type of Production
Concert
Directors
Alistair Cheetham and Lynne Whitaker
Accompanist
Keira Watson

What an hilarious afternoon with Huddersfield Thespians bringing to life the best Christmas Comedy Crackers in their adult comedy revue containing some of the funniest TV and radio sketches of the last sixty years.  The sketches ranged from Abbott & Costello to Catherine Tate, from Monty Python to Victoria Wood, from the Fast Show to Fascinating Aida and,  having published an age restriction of 15, The Thespians were out to show their naughty side!

With a strong ensemble of seventeen players the directors Alistair Cheetham and Lynne Whitaker had a lot of talent to work with and it was great to see The Thespians do something different.  Opening with ‘Comedy Tonight’ the full cast sang with gusto.  Never having witnessed the group sing before it was great to hear them with good voice in this and other very entertaining numbers including ‘The Internet is for Porn’, ‘The Ballad of Barry & Frida’ and ‘Dogging’ all of which the cast seemed to really enjoy performing.   Adding to the atmosphere with live music was accompanist, Keira Watson.

The material with which they were working has huge longevity and where things were perhaps slightly outdated they had been ‘sensitively’ updated to not lose the humour, but to make them current.   The Mastermind scene was particularly well done, it retained its excellent format, but was relevant to today’s audience.  Similarly ‘Four Yorkshirewomen’ had been well adapted and was excellently performed.

It’s challenging to know where to start as all the sketches were great and personal preference to some of the material has to play a part.   ‘Giving Notes’, ‘Nursery School Nativity’, ‘Bronteburgers’ and ‘Suits You’ were highlights for me.  ‘The Classroom’ was brilliantly presented and thoroughly enjoyable as was the work of the newsreaders who cleverly linked each scene together.  It is important to reflect that there were no weak elements and all the performers worked well with the material and ensured their delivery was excellent without using personal mics.

Ending with ‘The Rudest Christmas Song Ever’ the cast concluded the afternoons entertainment having made the audience smile, giggle and laugh out loud with their great timing and comedic presentations of some of the most classic Comedy Crackers – huge plaudits to all involved.

Costume and set were simple, but effective and on-stage dressing was deftly moved to allow the show to have great pace.  The cast and production team had worked hard to bring a vast array of material to the stage and certainly ensured this adult comedy revue is something the audience won’t forget in a hurry!

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.

Other recent show reports in the North East region

Funders & Partners