★★★
The dreaded C-word is banned in my house until at least November, so Gerry Carroll’s one-man show A Gerry Christmas Carroll perhaps seems like a strange choice to catch at the Fringe. But even though outside was hot, muggy and not in the slightest bit festive, Carroll puts on a heart-warming and entertaining performance.
It’s a retelling of the classic Christmas tale we’ve all heard before, whether we’ve read Dickens’ book, or watched one of the many film adaptations. Carroll adds a personal touch through his own little anecdotes from time to time, explaining how as a child, he didn’t understand what torch lights were, or pointing out that Mrs Cratchit is only known as a wife, and never given a first name. I would love to see more of these included, although it might take away from the story, which Carroll does well to cram into the hour performance.
Carroll has the charm and soothing vibe of a children’s narrator. He is the perfect person to star in a one-man Christmas themed show; with his long white beard and generally comforting presence, he even looks a bit like Santa. He does a great job of portraying all the different characters, and a highlight is the grumpy Ebeneezer Scrooge. His passion and knowledge of A Christmas Carol is commendable, and it’s impressive that he performs wearing a full suit despite the blazing summer heat. Understandably, he has to pause to take a drink, which does break the narrative slightly. Working in some breaks at natural points during the show by including other elements would benefit Carroll, in addition to helping the show flow more.
What is missing for me is more of a sense of childish whimsy. As Carroll points out, it’s good to be childlike at Christmas time, and the show should embrace this, and lean into it more. With perhaps more Christmassy staging, particularly towards the end of the story, and a run closer to the festive period, the show will melt even the frostiest Humbug’s heart.
A Gerry Christmas Carroll was performed at Just The Tonic – The Mash House as part of Edinburgh Fringe.
Words by Ellen Leslie
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.