Book & Lyrics: Nick Mohammed
Music: Oliver Birch
Director: Matt Peover
Following a first tryout at Soho Theatre in 2022, A Christmas Carol (ish) has returned new and improved, dazzling audiences just around the corner on one of London’s newest West End stages – @sohoplace. Penned and performed by acclaimed comedian Nick Mohammed, this festive celebration is weird, wacky and wonderful.
A Christmas Carol (ish) resembles Charles Dickens’ original tale in the same way ketchup resembles a tomato. This stark departure is deliberate, of course, and Mohammed has a lot of fun spinning his version of the classic Christmas tale. As a chaotic show within a show, the final product shares some characteristics with The Play That Goes Wrong. Mohammed’s production doesn’t just ‘go wrong’, however, so much as consistently questions its very existence.
Mohammed leads the piece as his stand-up character Mr Swallow, who in turn is fulfilling the role of Scrooge under the guise of Santa. Joining him is Kieran Hodgson as Jonathan, playing ‘a’ red-nosed reindeer, Martha Howe-Douglas as Rochelle, playing an unnamed role, and David Elms as Mr Goldsworth, playing pretty much everyone else. This may sound a little complex, but the narrative is surprisingly easy to follow. In fact, the production can sometimes come across as a little too simple and silly in certain moments, which befits its status as a family show.
Mohammed’s comedy shines through in the script, but not every joke is gold standard. The show’s rapid-fire dialogue glosses over this for the most part, as the audience finds themselves laughing at the next joke before anything can really flop. However, when a similar success rate is applied to the songs, the audience is occasionally left checking their watches.
Despite playing a brash, egotistical and fairly dislikable lead, Mohammed gives a fantastically enjoyable performance. Generating quick quips while interacting with an audience member, Mohammed’s natural comic ability and intelligent wit are clear as day. Most impressive, however, is the unexpectedly strong belt he produces while singing. Kieran Hodgson also shines as Jonathan, a meek role which lends itself to his signature style of comedy and showcases his own vocal talents with a beautiful rendition of Silent Night in German, as originally written.
A Christmas Carol (ish) certainly delivers in terms of production value, offering a range of fun costumes, playful props and a genuinely daring finale. In an unusual turn of events for the venue, @sohoplace has sacrificed its usual in-the-round format, halving the auditorium into an end-on seating arrangement. The benefit of this is that it allows for a grander, more detailed and interactive set design, plus the opportunity to make some magic behind the scenes.
The theatre world is certainly not lacking in adaptations of Dickens’ winter tale, but Mohammed manages to subvert all expectations (and most of the source material) to create something truly fresh, fun and festive with A Christmas Carol (ish). This energetic production could easily join London’s array of pantomimes as an annual Christmas tradition.
Runs until 31 December 2024
