Review: Present at Live Theatre, Newcastle
Heartfelt, heartbreaking and heartwarming. Sam Wonfor's ticker had quite the workout at the return of a Christmas story everyone should see
If you were making a list entitled, Things to have in a Christmas theatre production, it’s fair to assume homelessness, loneliness, grief, addiction and despair wouldn’t immediately spring to mind.
Ali Pritchard’s seasonal play, Present has them all.
Thankfully it also boasts a massive heart, an excellent sense of humour and a liberal dusting of hope and goodwill - all channeled via a truly wonderful performance from Malcolm Shields and a spellbinding live soundtrack courtesy of Ceitidh Mac.
Written and directed by Pritchard, the one-man play premiered in 2019 at Alphabetti Theatre - where he was the founding artistic director until earlier this year - to a stockingful of lovely reviews.
For its 2024 revival at Live Theatre, the script - created in collaboration with homeless charity, Crisis - has been reworked and extended for a bigger stage.
Dave, a homeless alcoholic, is full of Christmas cheer (and it’s fair to assume a not insignificant amount of accompanying beer) when we meet him.
Can in hand, he’s dancing up a storm - partying ‘like it’s 1994’ - to a pumped up version of Mariah Carey’s festive classic, All I Want For Christmas Is You when a text from his estranged daughter arrives on his flip phone.
It’s December 23 and she’s getting in touch to let him know his six-year-old grandson Albert, who Dave named but has never met, just wants to see his grandad for Christmas.
A panic-laced but palpable excitement descends as Dave makes plans - and cardboard signs - to get together enough money to buy Albert a present and make his debut as Grandfather Christmas.
We’re all in it with him as Dave navigates various challenges - antipathy, prejudice and temptation to name three - alongside an internal monologue seeking to thwart his every effort to make this Christmas the beginning of new traditions.
Dave doesn’t need middle of the night visits from the ghosts of Christmases past. A carousel of his darkest memories and regrets revolve around every thought of redemption.
Shields, who is reprising the role he made his own five years ago, powerfully portrays all the nuances and complexities of Dave’s situation.
His self-choreographed dance moves - particularly during an inspired windscreen washing sequence - are also off the charts and a scene which sees Dave duet with a floating can of gin and tonic is simply sublime.
Pritchard’s script manages to hit hard while never losing its ability to conjure lots of laughs out of the bleakness while Ceitidh Mac’s gorgeous vocals and music underscore the story from start to finish beautifully.
An It’s A Wonderful Life-style happy ending was probably too much to wish for, but as Dave disappeared from view, we were at least left with a hopeful one.
Present plays Live Theatre, Newcastle until December 21. Visit the website for tickets.