REVIEW: 21 ROUND FOR CHRISTMAS at The Bridge House Theatre, Penge, 5 - 16 Dec 2022

‘a cheery show just right for the season … served up with plenty of piquancy’ ★★★★

The audience is so close to the set that the show feels immersive. There’s a turkey in the oven and there’s the appearance of mild chaos in the kitchen (yes, it’s Christmas day).   It isn’t long before actor Rebecca Crankshaw draws us into the world of the loveable Tracy who is being taken for granted by her guests. She’s alone in the kitchen cooking up the Christmas dinner for her extended family who are having a fun old time on the other side of the door. While her resentments grow so do her reminiscences, and a lot is revealed about her pursuit of sheer joy with her outrageous mate Jacky (who isn’t with her this year) and a posh x-lover amongst others.   But, her mate Jacky told her ‘lions and wildebeast never fall in love’.

The witticisms get more frequent, along with the time pressures of cooking for a bunch of fussy eaters. The sadness of Jacky’s absence is resolved with a heart-warming decision and a certain defiant action from Tracy.  

It’s a cheery show just right for the season.   Clearly Tracy has a warm heart, but she’s no push over, there’s plenty of piquancy served up with aplomb.  It’s fair to imagine that Tracy is a character who lives in the hearts of the writers, director and the actor as a living breathing person (who they know quite well in real life).

Delighted that this Christmas offering gets another outing after its debut in 2021 at The Hope Theatre. It could run for many years as a down to earth and contemporary alternative to the Dickens perennial.

21 ROUND FOR CHRISTMAS by Toby Hampton and Matt Ballantyne, directed by Luke Adamson and Joseph Lindoe at The Bridge House Theatre 5 - 16 Dec 7.30pm

Box Office https://thebridgehousetheatre.co.uk/shows/21-round-for-christmas/

Reviewed by Heather Jeffery, Editor of London Pub Theatres Magazine