A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

The Wonder, the Culture, and Some Good Old Fashioned Laughter 

Canterbury is such a special destination, and today it was where I headed to see the show A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong by Mischief Theatre. 

I had heard so many amazing reviews about The Play That Goes Wrong that I thought I must go, especially since my amateur dramatics group, the Axstane Players, had "done" the strict Dickens version a couple of years ago.

 I joined a cluster of unknown people on the platform to be met by Glynis with a clipboard. The Theatre Team had certainly done their stuff; all information, paperwork, and tickets were in order. 

In true u3a inclusive style, I started chatting with Pam and didn’t stop for the rest of the day. It was such an easy route from the station. We had time to stop for a coffee in Westgate Gardens in the shade of an amazing tree known locally as the "Baobab Tree." I wondered why it had such a broad and knobbly base, so I pointed my camera phone and pressed the AI button. Within seconds, I was told not only that it was a London Plane tree, but that the distortion was caused by a non-fatal virus, it was 200 years old, and it was situated right there in Westgate Gardens. I had expected AI to identify the species, but it felt a little weird when it knew the exact tree we were looking at, its history, and even its local nickname. "Big Brother" sprang to mind. 

After a short stop for a bit of culture at The Beaney —a museum and community centre, for their landscape art exhibition, we made our way to The Marlowe.

The play was very funny. Perhaps not quite as "rib tickling" as I had expected, but funny nonetheless. The set changes were inventive and transitioned smoothly, and the slapstick was performed with immaculate timing. All in all, a show well done— thank you, Mischief. I would award it 3¾ out of 5 marks. 

Thank you to the Theatre For All Team, too. 

If you would like to be on their list for information on future shows, please contact theatre@tonbridgeu3a.uk to be included in their email communications. 

Debbie Fryer