If you’re feeling festive and missing musical theatre, then All I Want For Christmas Is Theatre is the place to be
“But it’s not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here”
Thespie’s Reunited series has been a fun way of getting your musicals fix over the past few weeks and in a rather clever move, they’ve managed to put together a Christmas special featuring the companies already featured, plus some brand new special guests. So All I Want For Christmas Is Theatre so we get to see Team Schwartz and Team Girl Power again and my personal faves, Team Juliet as they tackle a range of festive classics.
For me though, it was the promise of concerts to come that proved most exciting. The tight harmonies of Heathers alumni Sophie Isaacs, Jodie Steele and T’Shan Williams were a particular delight on both ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ and ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ and the women of Pretty Woman are in wonderfully high spirits on both ‘Last Christmas’ and ‘Santa Baby’ so consider my appetite whetted for their forthcoming gigs.
Solo moments also shine through, ensuring variety in the mix. Bob Harms croons gorgeously about his ‘chestnuts’ and Natalie Paris unleashes her titanic voice on a heartening and soulful ‘Miss You Most At Christmastime’. But not even the amassed talents of the cheery Dear Evan Hansen cast can redeem Slade’s ubiquitous ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’, that’s a step too far for me 🤣 But if you’re feeling festive and missing musical theatre, this is the place to be.
