Writer: Matthew Lombardo
Director: Kirk Jameson
The last time you saw Cindy Lou Who, she was a child, aged only two. But her life has since taken a very dark turn: bad relationships, prison, there’s cause for concern. This adult Christmas comedy is a fun parody, sprinkled with sadness and stark clarity. Featuring Miz Cracker from RuPauls Drag Race, it’s a unique holiday tale in a festive little place.
Matthew Lombardo’s original spin-off of one of The Grinch’s well known characters pays great homage to Dr Seuss, delivered solely as a monologue of cleverly witty rhymes. While Cindy Lou Who’s role in The Grinch was brief and focused on her catching him stealing Christmas, she now gets her chance in the spotlight to continue her story from that night. Breaking the fourth wall and recounting the events from her life over a couple of G&Ts and a hash pipe, it’s clear Cindy Lou Who is no longer an innocent little girl, but instead a troubled young woman who’s desperate to be understood.
Surprisingly, considering the initially silly, humorous script of Cindy Lou Who befriending The Grinch as an adult and bearing his child, it swiftly and confusingly morphs into quite a sombre tale of woe and sadness, which zaps the festive energy from the room. While it’s still clearly a comedy, there’s too much of a focus on the maudlin to allow the funny rhymes to take hold and continue to entertain. If audiences are expecting a fun, light-hearted take on a popular Christmas story, they’ll be quickly surprised by the absence of festive frivolity half way through the show.
Miz Cracker, although an expected big presence on stage, at points loses herself to the script, obviously trying hard to remember the wordy monologue, which detracts from the freestyled humour and big personality that you would expect from a show with her as a headliner. However, it is impressive that she retains the entire script with no issues, and her rendition of Merry Little Christmas ends the performance on a wholesome high.
This is rhyme in its prime, doing Dr Seuss proud, but some tweaks are needed to entice the festive crowd. With some more energy and a focus on fun, this really could turn into a Christmas number one.
Runs until 7 January 2023
