Review: Christmas Present & Correct at the Lichfield Garrick

Writer & Director: Feargus Woods Dunlop 

The New Old Friends bring a different flavour to their festive fun in this year’s production at the Lichfield Garrick with their comedy caper Christmas Present & Correct

Set in a recording studio for a popular radio drama, siblings Dorothy Richards (Kirsty Cox) and Herbert Richards (Stuart Tavendale) have to quickly improvise when their producer Wyllis Guthrie (Mark Collier) unexpectedly turns up at the station which threatens to uncover the station hasn’t employed and paid for a a full cast, instead Hebert is doing all of the roles and receiving five lots of wages for it.

Actor Saffron Smith (Rosie Coles), desperate for a role in the show, is brought into the charade, and chaos ensues.

While a number of the laughs come from the confusion and misshap, it’s the script by Feargus Woods Dunlop which gives the production a constant build up of energy and well timed comedy. Woods Dunlop treds finely creating a night full of laughs, but one that doesn’t take away from the heart the production has – touching on isolation and also how many sometimes people have to put on a charade for society.

With Woods Dunlop’s also directing, he creates this world of silliness, yet seriousness concluding with a bittersweet ending that gives you the festive feels.

While the first act would benefit from the increased pace of the second, it doesn’t take away from this production which moves from visual comedy, to tonguetwisters to a play on local places too all while creating an oddly realistic atmosphere.

The production wouldn’t be the success it is without its talented cast of four. Cox’s Dorothy is a strong central character providing dry wit, but also a character with struggles.

Tavendale’s Herbert has the biggest potential for slapstick humour, and he maximises it. His melodramatic caricatures each have their own visual queue to keep you following, all as equally as funny as the other while not taking away from the Herbert’s own inner insecurity.

Collier’s larger than life Wyllis provides some great laughs. His scene with a sound effects board is one of the stand out moments in act one, as is his scene where broken signal on the phone is used to maximum affect.

Coles rounds up the company as Saffron, a character which keeps you guessing until the very end.

Christmas Present & Correct is another top notch success from the New Old Friends and it has someone for everyone. Whether you enjoy a barrel of laughs or you’re after something that keeps you on your toes working things out, you’ll leave feeling full of merriness and festive cheer. With a sweet ending rounding up the evening, it’s all round great fun.

Value for Money Comments:

A festive fun night out priced show priced between £20 and £25.

🎁This production was gifted in exchange for a fair and balanced review 🎁