Podcast Summary: MickeyJoTheatre – "Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (Apollo Theatre, West End) – ★★★★ REVIEW"

Host: Mickey Jo
Date: December 29, 2025

Overview

In this lively and insightful episode, theatre critic Mickey Jo reviews Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, now playing at the Apollo Theatre, West End. Created by the renowned Mischief Theatre Company — the team behind shows like The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and more — this production returns to the beloved "Goes Wrong" format while introducing fresh dynamics and inventive comedy. Mickey Jo offers an in-depth look at the show's structure, standout performances, and the company’s enduring appeal, all while preserving the podcast’s trademark mix of enthusiasm and sharp theatrical analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to "Christmas Carol Goes Wrong"

• The Mischief Brand:

  • Mischief Theatre Company are known for expertly crafted farcical comedies and "shows within a show" hijinks (01:46).
  • "There are few things to my mind funnier than the thespian types determined that the show must go on in spite of everything utterly descending into chaos around them." (03:30)

• Origins and Adaptations:

  • This stage version adapts the previously televised Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, itself part of Mischief’s broad multimedia trajectory (02:10).
  • "It’s a brilliant return to classic Mischief Theatre, featuring all your favourite beloved characters from the Cornley Drama Society." (02:25)

Format and Story Structure

• Not Just a Parody:

  • The show starts with Cornley Drama Society’s auditions and production meetings before getting to the "Christmas Carol" performance, providing deeper insight into the group’s offstage mishaps and relationships (05:00).
  • "We see not only the auditions, but production meetings... with the tension of this one dialed up even more when they find out that a reviewer is coming. The egos and anxieties of all of Cornley's personalities were even more heightened than usual." (06:10)

• Character Dynamics and Comedy:

  • Unlike previous Mischief offerings, much of the comedy here is rooted in recurring character quirks and relationships, especially the rivalry between Chris and Robert for the role of Ebenezer Scrooge (07:00).
  • Running gags, callbacks, and set-up/payoff jokes (like the fate of a model set box) fuel the mayhem and laughter throughout (08:30).

• Meta-Humor and Self-Awareness:

  • The production playfully references its own theatrical tradition, poking fun at A Christmas Carol’s ubiquity in UK theatre and Mickey Jo’s own ambivalence about ‘straight’ productions of the classic (10:00).
  • "A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is the only type of Christmas carol I have any interest in seeing right now." (10:00)

Performance Highlights

Cast and Characters

• Daniel Fraser as Chris:

  • Steps into a character originated by writer Henry Shields; commended for presence and chemistry with long-timers.
  • "It is quintessential Chris Bean... but Daniel Fraser was great in this role and the brilliant chemistry of his rivalry with Henry Lewis as Robert is always such a great part." (11:40)

• Henry Lewis as Robert & Jonathan Sayer as Dennis:

  • Described as "singular," "so challenging to imitate," and masters of comic despair, self-deprecation, and physical mishap (12:50).
  • Jonathan Sayer’s Dennis shines in running gags about memorization, highlighted when his "research" on A Christmas Carol is clearly based on The Muppet Christmas Carol.
  • "Hearing him talk about the frog falling in love with the pig was a joy to everyone in the audience." (13:40)

• Nancy Zamit as Annie:

  • Praised for both her comedic timing and physicality, particularly in her ballet-dancer-as-Ghost-of-Christmas-Past moments (14:40).
  • "This frenzied, demented ballet dancer energy... is astonishing, actually." (15:00)
  • "It's also always a great show when Nancy Zammit is playing a man with some kind of a pompous accent. That's always a great day." (15:10)

• Supporting Cast:

  • Matt Cavendish as Max (multi-rolling with infectious energy), Chris Lees as Trevor ("a real underrated gem"), Sasha Frost as Sandra (bringing her own over-the-top twist to the resident "leading lady") (16:00–17:00).
  • Notable for job-sharing and diverse alumni, reflecting the longevity and flexibility of Mischief’s casting.

Ensemble Chemistry

• Compliments the group dynamic and the interplay of new and original cast members, reinforcing the show’s heart amid the chaos (18:10).
• "We actually land a really emotional moment by the end of the show... ultimately, it’s like all of their productions, one which brings them closer together." (18:00)

Set, Direction, and Technical Achievements

• Set Design by Libby Todd:

  • Integral to the comedy, especially with set pieces resulting from broken model box (the ongoing Maltesers and puppet gags) (18:40).
  • "The set here... is a particular component of the comedy this time around, and more involved than the likes of The Play That Goes Wrong." (18:40)

• Direction and Stage Management:

  • Directed by Matt DeCarlo, lauded for balancing pace and sentimentality, while the backstage crew ensures that the “planned chaos” runs seamlessly each night (23:30).
  • "To make Going Wrong go correctly every single night takes an extraordinary amount of backstage dexterity." (23:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Character Commitment:

  • "It takes brilliantly capable and funny actors to play performers this bad. It takes really smart people to write jokes this dumb." — Mickey Jo (04:00)

• On the Play-Within-a-Play Formula:

  • "The comedy of all of these characters in a Goes Wrong show is the dreadful situations that they find themselves in." — Mickey Jo (12:10)

• Favorite Jokes (Spoilers):

  • The rule-breaking moment: "When Nancy is left holding a couple of those (Maltesers) rather than the coins... she says, instead of like, take a couple farthings... 'have a couple of Maltesers,' which was the joke that made me laugh the most in the entire thing." (21:00)
  • The “Gay Bar” sign mishap: "When enough letters fall down that it just says gay bar, he (Chris) in the script looks up at it and says here, in this gay bar. And he does with such an expression on his face. But he says it regardless." (20:40)
  • The terrifying oversized Tiny Tim puppet: "When Tiny Tim appears, it’s a giant version of this puppet… and speaks with this booming, terrifying voice... Bob Cratchit and his wife... asking if he wants any, and he’s replying, 'feed me' like he's Audrey 2 from Little Shop of Horrors." (22:10)

• On Why Mischief Endures:

  • "By this point, the Goes Wrong concept is a formula that works. They've got it down to a careful science." (25:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:25] — Show introduction, context for Mischief Theatre
• [05:00] — Structure of Christmas Carol Goes Wrong: Auditions, production meetings, and the show itself
• [11:30] — Cast performances analysis begins
• [18:40] — Set design and technical comedy
• [20:11] — Spoiler section: Deep dive into favorite jokes and running gags
• [23:30] — Backstage appreciation and technical achievements
• [25:30] — Final thoughts, recommendations

Tone and Takeaways

Mickey Jo's review is enthusiastic, affectionate, and rich in detail, mixing analytic critique with palpable joy in the Mischief formula. He balances description of specific gags with reflections on why "Goes Wrong" shows work, even acknowledging where the formula risks repetition.

Bottom line:
"If you’ve loved their previous shows, you’ll love this. That’s all I need to say." (25:20)

Mickey Jo strongly recommends Christmas Carol Goes Wrong as both a celebration of the Mischief tradition and a fresh, heartwarming farce ideal for the holiday season—or anyone in need of a good laugh.