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The Night Before Christmas
Playwright - Anthony Neilson
Director - Sandy Neilson
Lighting - Richard Moffatt
Company - Dundee Rep Resident Company
Venue - Dundee Rep www.dundeerep.co.uk
01382 223530
Tay Square 7 mins walk to train station
Dates - 11 - 22 Dec at 10pm
Go as an elf on the 22 Dec and maybe win best dressed elf prize
Reviewer - Brett Sheffield
Great bit of late-night fun
Tired of tinsel? Chafed by Christmas cheer? Fear not - ye'll nay find
it here!
Already well-impressed with their main house production of Puss In Boots,
I was curious to see what Dundee Repertory Theatre Company could do with
almost nothing. Relying on little more than their acting talent and about
£5 worth of props, The Night Before Christmas by Anthony Neilson turns
out to be the perfect antidote to all that damn cheerful Chrissy spirit
that quite frankly gets on my tits, particularly as the decorations started
appearing in October.
Alexander West's face says it all as our overgrown Elf. Indeed, with
few words and some great silences this hour-long comedy gets off to a
hilarious start and keeps the laughs coming throughout. Rodney Matthew
is Gary, well used to dealing with goods that fall off the back of a truck,
but not so used to elves that fall off the back of a sled. Helping him
deal with the problem is Simon, John Ramage, and Cherry, Meg
Frazer.
Together, while sprouting streams of invective at one another, they discover
their own meaning of Christmas and pose us some interesting questions
along the way. The ending was a little loose on opening night, but otherwise
this is a great bit of late-night fun. Put the kids to bed and get down
to Dundee Rep. for a good laugh.
© Brett Sheffield 11 December 2001
Last year's good review
of the same play
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