Cantering out riding Rudolph, Adam Riches storms the audience at the start of this show, and the torrent never subsides.
With a energy that is overwhelming and captivating, Riches cajoles and delights the audience into a sort of parlour version of the Hunger Games led by his hyperbolic parody of greatest living Yorkshireman Sean Bean.
With rounds themed around “the actor you nan most wants to bang”, moderately willing recruits from either side of the aisle are pitted against each other representing Team Sean and Team Bean, to win the ‘beans of Christmas’. Whatever they are.
It’s a high wire act, relying on the bast’rds and double bast’rds in the audience to play along while Riches’ throws out Sharpe and Game of Thrones references, but he is always in control and in over-blown character.
The show is a surreal stream of consciousness and pitched perfectly, with the hour-ish run time giving plenty of big laughs but not overstaying its welcome. A closing rendition of the 12 Beans of Christmas – the partridge becomes a kestrel with a bad knee, the turtle doves severed heads – rounds the show in suitably festive spirit.
With just one showing at Norwich Theatre’s Stage Two for this tour, you may need to travel to experience this particular gem, but Riches is definitely one to watch out for. He fights hard, and fights well.
- The 12 Beans of Christmas is touring nationally, including Soho Theatre, London on 15 and 16 December, and Cambridge Junction on 19 December.
