The Twelfth Night Theatre in Bowen Hills is packed out for A Very Naughty Christmas, an evening of festive filth and perfect end-of-year leer, courtesy of Woodward Productions. Billed as Australia’s longest running adults-only Christmas show, mixing stand-up, sketches, powerhouse vocals and dancing you don’t want you Mum to see, AVNC prides itself as a loud, proud and gloriously unholy comedy-concert-cabaret mashup, and a must see for merry mischief.
The concept is clever and perennially popular, now entering its 9th year of production; AVNC parodies favourite Christmas numbers, borrowing musically from popular culture while also comically satirizing more topical and serious issues; Because Santa is a foreigner with a beard and headdress, he may need to be detained at Christmas Island this festive season in “Santa Won’t Be Welcome Here”. “The Snowflakes are Ruining Christmas” is another highlight, the ode of a Sky News Australia watching ‘Trad Dad’, bemoaning social progress and inclusivity to the detriment of his bigoted and entitled world views. There is also an enjoyable skit where an Olympic Games bid for the North Pole is mooted, before running into predictable (and somewhat familiar!) logistical concerns.
The standard and versatility of the Cast is very high, each singing and dancing and many taking on distinct characters; They all blend beautifully together with dynamic chemistry and charisma. Highlights include Steve Hirst as Santa, bringing cheeky cheer and everyman likability, even though we are in the end slightly concerned for Santa’s missing sack! Sam Ward is perhaps my favourite individual vocalist, with a smooth jazzy croon and striking presence on stage, while the female singing trio (I believe they were Nina Carcione, Olivia Horne and Aurélie Roque) harmonised beautifully and looked just as great. Lara Trevor stood out among the dancers, with mesmerising rhythm and remarkable flexibility, with Anthony Craig, Lachlan Greenland and Croft Phillips commendably completing the talented Cast.
The Live Band are another first-rate feature, effortlessly elevating the atmosphere and tone of the evening.
So much work goes into this type of a show, and enormous credit is due to the entire team of creatives, led by Director/Choreographer Daniel Venz, with special mention also to the work of Skit Writer and Composer of Original Songs, Matt Semple. Great comedy is easy to watch but very hard to create; Judging by the opening night crowd’s response, AVNC delivers like Santa Claus on Christmas eve. The show is as full of surprises as it is double entendre, and the Cast are equal parts fearless and shameless. As the name suggests, this isn’t A Slightly Naughty Christmas; But if you are prone to blushes, don’t worry – red is a very festive hue. AVNC is an irreverent, rude and slightly nude cabaret- that promises tremendous fun.
To book tickets to A Very Naughty Christmas , please visit https://twelfthnight.com.au/.
