The Comedy
All the well-known characters of the story are played by famous contemporary celebrities of the present or iconic figures of the past. Some are actors but here are also politicians, television presenters, sports personalities and cartoon voices. And each ‘performer’ brings with them not just a recognizable persona that cleverly reflects the character they are playing, but also their own distinct theatrical style. Patricia Routledge as Mrs Cratchit is presented as if she is in an Alan Bennett monologue, talking to the audience as if they were one of her confidants. Robin Williams as Scrooge’s nephew Fred delivers a eulogy to the audience as if he were doing one of his stand-up routines. Graham Norton at the Fezziwig Christmas party actually goes into the audience to play a game of ‘Christmas Forfeits’ as only Graham Norton could. The comedy of the show comes not just from a series of funny voices cleverly cast but an ever-changing theatrical style where the ‘audience’ changes its identity as often as the shape-shifting performer.