bah

Murray Andrews as Keith, who likes After Eights but hates Christmas and Christmas telly, confronted and confused by Alison Hellings as a sort of Christmas Carol.

Bah Humbug!

Swan Theatre Studio, Worcester.

****

For all of you out there shouting the ‘C’ word from the rooftops or those of you grumbling about queuing and forced frivolity, Bah Humbug will bring that festive spirit and warmth needed to Worcester on these frosty nights in the run up to Christmas and encourage you to embrace Noddy Holder and his jingles.

For a modern twist on the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol then look no further than the Swan Theatre’s Vesta Tilley Studio and Bah, Humbug written by Chris Jaeger MBE, FRSA, the artistic director of Worcester Repertory Comp.

This comedy sees Keith, a grumpy, cantankerous, single, rich man enlightened by a visit from a strange woman called Carol or whatever you want to call her. Carol lets herself into Keith’s bachelor pad and helps him to seek redemption and become a happier soul.

Keith, Murray Andrews, doesn’t like Christmas and wants to hit Noddy Holder with a baseball bat. He can’t help buying After Eight Mints and is angry about all the Christmas specials on the TV, Only Fools and Horses and even Sky Sports.

He claims to be an only child as his bitterness runs deep about being sent to boarding school as a child and when he wakes up from a doze on Christmas Eve he is met by an uninvited guest in his flat. The woman, Alison Hellings, doesn’t answer any questions directly but manages to get Keith to admit how he’s let down his family and left his brother to rot on the streets in a heroin haze.

Chris Jaegar has written an extremely enjoyable hour long, witty play that takes the audience on an emotional journey. With only two actors on stage, this intimate setting really encompasses all the highs and lows of Keith’s mood swings but Andrews and Hellings bounce off each other with charismatic stage presence.

Tickets are available at £13.50 from the box office 01905 611427 or online from www.worcesterlive.co.uk from now until Saturday December 22nd.

Emma Trimble

12-12-18 

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