The Season review – chutzpah and charm in New York romcom
Clare Brennan
Updated
“Even impossible dreams come true,” sings the wonderstruck Dougal in this new musical that is itself a seemingly impossible dream. Its tyro writers, childhood friends Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, deploy the bare basics of a single set, a cast of two and a three-strong band to create a classic, New York Christmas Day romcom, with scenes set in JFK airport, Brooklyn, Central Park, Macy’s, Chinatown... also subway rides, street dancing, ice-skating and a high-kicking, pre-interval walk-down number. Hubris threatens, but chutzpah wins through.
The emotional objective of the action takes a double focus. On Christmas Eve, young Brit Dougal (tiggerish Alex Cardall) arrives in the Big Apple for the first time, invited to the wedding of the father he has never met. His over-enthusiasm for the city he recognises from its film incarnations grates on native New Yorker and Grinch-like sister-of-the-bride Robin (Tori Allen-Martin, hard-boiled, soft-centred), sent to collect him. Two relationships appear possible, father-son; boy-girl: will one or both work out? And there’s a time pressure: Dougal has only 36 hours before his return flight.
Barne and Buchan were winners of the 2018 Stiles and Drewe mentorship award, and the benefits show. A naive quality to the overall feel is achieved through sophisticated means: solid structuring (a touch too mechanical at times) and clever musicality (a pastiche duet of Christmas songs signals possible connections; a drum beat builds the anger of an argument). The writing (one crass, unnecessary plot twist excepted) is witty and well-served by the production. Amy Jane Cook’s spare design offers multiple surprises. Tim Jackson’s direction is sure-footed and, in Allen-Martin and Cardall, he has young performers who are surely stars in the making. On only its fourth performance, the show is yet to fully play in – it’s still a little over-frenetic at times, not quite relaxing into its strengths – but, even so, this particular Grinch was won over by a promising blend of audacity, charm and talent.
Prince Harry has reportedly extended an olive branch to King Charles and asked if the pair can meet during his upcoming visit to the UK and he received a 'four-word response'
A member of the Britain’s Got Talent audience has commented on the long-running rumours that a part of the hit entertainment show is faked each week for TV viewers
Jennifer Gothard won £10,000 on a £3 "triple cashword" scratchcard in March - but is still waiting for her winnings due to a new rule introduced by operator Allwynn
The mum couldn't believe the rude response of the stranger following her daughter's naturally curious question and explained the context behind the incident online to get the opinions of others
TV presenter Piers Morgan has claimed King Charles should sit down with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to discuss the pair's use of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles
Benidorm actor Jake Canuso, who portrayed bartender Mateo Castellanos in the ITV show, looks worlds away from his former role, six years after the ITV show finished