Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas – Lyric Theatre – Review
by Cathy Brown

Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas – by Conor Grimes and Alan McKee

Fri 1 Dec, 2023 — Sat 6 Jan, 2024 – Lyric Theatre Belfast

Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas, the Lyric Theatre Belfast’s Christmas production this year, sees comedy duo and writing partnership Conor Grimes and Alan McKee return with a new freewheeling show that is a little bit darker than the usual festive fare. This year’s offering – a kind of mash-up of Hallowe’en and Christmas entertainment – is suffering from an identity crisis, and unlike their previous show Driving Home for Christmas which winningly integrated creepy goings-on into the narrative, this production could do with a little more sparkle and a little less spook.

It is Christmas Eve at Darkwood Manor (Stuart Marshall’s Hansel & Gretel set doing impressive double duty), and absentee owner and antiques dealer Toby (Alan McKee) is home for his annual visit to his eventual inheritance and his ageing Aunt Alice. This year, he has brought his fiancé Nancy Nugent (Ali White), TV’s famous ghost-hunter and psychic along with a cunning plan to swap a priceless Japanese vase with a knockoff version to finance his gambling problem. Standing in his way are caretaker McKillop (Conor Grimes), Aunt Alice’s carer Ciara (Nicky Harley) and a mute butler, called Butler (Frankie McIlvenna) who provides live musical accompaniment with a deadpan silent routine and a constant glug of whiskey.

But what is really going on at Darkwood Manor? Can a seance reveal the secrets of the strange noises in the house? Or is the danger Toby Darkwood faces coming from a more corporeal source?

Without being tied to any recognisable Christmas story, the loose plot gives Grimes and McKee free reign to indulge in some amusing set pieces. There is a well-travelled monk (played with relish by Grimes) keeping his religious – and not so religious – options open, subtle nods to The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Beetlejuice, a brief appearance by Paul Daniels and his lovely assistant Debbie McGee and a crowd-pleasing recreation of an amateur theatre production of Forrest Gump.

The comedy in Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas is broad and often obvious, but there isn’t enough of it and the show seems to be lacking in some energy.  There are pacing issues, particularly in the second half, where a series of clunky flashbacks try to clarify the plot, however, director Frankie McCafferty, who has long collaborated with Grimes and McKee, leads proceedings with a light touch.

The capable cast all do their best in several roles each. Grimes and McKee are comfortable performers, but their usual ad-libbing, Northern Ireland gags and winks to the audience are missed this year. Ali White, always a strong presence, performs a terrific version of ‘I Will Survive’, while Nicky Harley, so good in the recent production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane has some fun moments as the droll and unappreciated carer Ciara, but is criminally underused. Frankie McIlvenna comes close to stealing the show as the hard-drinking, mute butler, not just for his fantastic musical accompaniment on piano, guitar and saxophone, but also for his closing appreciation of Christmas staple Mariah Carey, which gets the biggest laughs of the evening.

Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas has a lot of potential and should undoubtedly loosen up as the run continues. It may not be up there with their best, but fans of Grimes and McKee won’t be disappointed.

The Company

Conor Grimes – McKillop and Brother Butler
Alan McKee – Toby
Nicky Harley – Ciara
Ali White – Nancy Nugent

Conor Grimes & Alan McKee – Writers
Frankie McCafferty – Director
Stuart Marshall – Set Designer
Mary Tumelty – Lighting Designer
Niamh Mockford – Costume Designer
Frankie McIlvanna – Musical Director and on stage musician
Ian Vennard – Sound Designer
Sandy Cuthbert – Choreographer