A Very Naughty Christmas - Alex Theatre (VIC)
Created by Alex Woodward and Daniel Venz. Directed by Daniel Venz and Alister Smith
Reviewed by Annika Loci
Alex Theatre, St Kilda
Running until 23rd December
WARNING: Adults only (18+yrs with valid ID), partial nudity
4.5 STARS
A Very Naughty Christmas is ready to treat audiences to the raunchiest silly season celebrations that would make Santa himself blush
After entertaining over 25,000 patrons with seven highly successful seasons in Brisbane, A Very Naughty Christmas has now made its cheeky way to Melbourne audiences at The Alex located in St Kilda. Created in 2017 by Alex Woodward and Daniel Venz, it brings the celebration of Christmas to the stage with a different edge. Even if you’ve been nice, enjoying this show might have you on Santa's naughty list this year!
Honouring the traditional English pantomime, AVNC has developed into a hilarious and tight Christmas variety show, cabaret and concert all rolled into one. Full of cleverly parodied Christmas songs and carols such as “I Touch My Elf” and “Jingle Balls”, together with some fabulous original festive music, it's all intertwined with brilliantly developed skits and creative burlesque style dance numbers - personally I appreciated the inclusion of a full impressive tap number. Also included is one thing many audiences members fear the most… participation! It’s all in good fun and you get to wear a “crappy” festive hat too.
A Very Naughty Christmas Melbourne Full Cast. Photos by James Terry
This very talented cast is led by the comedic condom throwing swearing Bad Santa himself Tim Paige who, even with some laryngitis, keeps this fast paced show on track. Along for the naughty ride with Bad Santa is the very sexy, vocally outstanding trio of Kate Yaxley, Jordan Twigg and Rebecca Rolle, as well as Joe Kalou who is enjoying being is as far from his career in High 5 as you can get. Kalou and Joshua Spiniello look like they are both ready to audition for Magic Mike, while the fabulous Madeline Pratt & Shay Debney manage to find the right balance of sexy and funny. Although AVNC is overall an ensemble production, every cast member has their moments to “reveal their talents” as it were.
This riotous production’s lighting design (Declan O’Neil) works very well in the intimate space of The Alex with the two-story set design (Josh McIntosh). Using the theatre and stage space to its most effectiveness, with the fabulous live three piece band on stage, this bold and highly entertaining production is designed to push the boundaries. With a mocking commentary on holiday traditions, behaviours we only seem to accept or feel the need to hide at this time of year, and unspoken observations ‘outed’, it is full of adult only festive humour and surprises.
If you're ready and willing to put your inhibitions aside for a night of some adults-only ‘elf-care’, A Very Naughty Christmas will have you laughing like bowl full of jelly, and celebrating Bad Santa’s “non-denominational day” on your feet with a naughty Christmas wish for more!
CREATIVES
Creator/Producer: Alex Woodward
Director/Creator: Daniel Venz
Director: Alister Smith
CAST
Joe Kalou
Jordan Twigg
Joshua Spiniello
Kate Yaxley
Madeline Pratt
Rebecca Rolle
Shay Debney
Tim Paige
