It was the best of times, it was the worst of times – for the audience and ‘cast’ respectively, as the Cornley Amateur Drama Society tackled Dickens’ Christmas tale.
This spin off from the original The Play That Went Wrong sees Mischief Theatre’s fictional, and hazard-prone, local theatre group attempt to stage A Christmas Carol in another play-within-a-play.
The schtick is now familiar: everything that can go wrong does, and more besides, with the action growing increasingly farcical as the show goes on, but on it must – whatever the human or physical cost. The ‘cast’ bicker with each other, fluff lines, mishandle props, and blunder through mostly unaware of their own incompetence.
It’s a successful formula and it hits all the right notes in this festive version. Sure the action becomes increasingly surreal, stretching the suspension of misbelief, but it also gets increasingly funny.
Adam Elliot is the piece’s straight man as Chris, the director and thesp trying to keep everything together, while ensuring no one steals his limelight. He actually gives a great portrayal of Scrooge, breaking only for some brief audience interaction.
But the rest are determined not to let him have his night. Dave Hearn gurns for every possibly laugh as the irrepressibly cheery Max, while James Akka as Dennis has ever more inventive ways to hide his cues about the stage.
Matthew Howell channels Steven Toast for his portrayal of Robert, the luvvies’ luvvie with a soaring voice and a plundering talent – he gets many of the script’s best lines, particularly his frequent misplacement of Scrooge among the Christmas canon from Home Alone to Die Hard.
Luke Pierre is enjoyable to watch as nervous Cornley veteran Jonathan, while Aein Nasseri as stage manager Trevor is always on hand to put things right – at least until his own five minutes of fame as the mute, faceless – but somehow Scottish – ghost of Christmas future.
Also highly spirited is Dumile Sibanda as Annie, the chirpiest of the crew and an eagerly fluttering Christmas past, with the cast completed by Ashley Tucker as pouting narrator Sandra.
The genuine backstage crew contribute massively with skilfully executed physical jokes, with Matt Dicarlo’s direction ensuring that going wrong looks very right.
This is fun romp – a cracker of a show, guaranteed to tickle even the most miserly of funny bones.
- Christmas Carol Goes Wrong continues at Norwich Theatre Royal until Saturday 7 November 2026. The run is sold out, but check with the box office for returns. Touring nationally, including Cambridge Arts Theatre, 2-7 March 2027.