It’s the most wonderful time of the year once again, the time when Grimes and McKee put on their annual festive show!
Welcome to the Dander Inn, deep in the Sperrins, one of the many claimants to being the highest pub in Ireland. It is Christmas Eve and a once-in-a-century snowstorm rages over the country. Various travellers take refuge in the pub as the road becomes impassable.
All communication with the outside world has been cut off by the storm. It soon becomes clear that they will have to camp out in the pub, until they can be rescued. Nobody wants to be there, but they take solace in the fact that there are worse places to spend the night than a pub, right?
This is only the second time I’ve seen Grimes and McKee’s festive show and after enjoying last year’s take on a Christmas Carol I was looking forward to seeing what they did with an original concept. The show opens with a big ABBA number, set in an old peoples home, that has the (already merry) audience clapping along and enjoying the Christmas Craic, it also it sets the tone for the night and is a great snapshot of what’s to come – music, characters and a lot of black comedy.
The show has a relatively small cast of just 6, including Grimes and McKee, but each person inhabits their character for maximum effect. Every opportunity is taken to introduce absurd scenarios, poke fun at all things local and incorporate a song and dance number when they can. There’s a touch of ‘The League Of Gentlemen’ about the whole thing, backed up further as the plot takes some unusual turns and ends of a note that I really didn’t see coming!
It’s easy to see why Grimes and McKee have become the mainstay of the Lyrics Festive offering each year, their shows are consistently funny, well-produced and actually have a lot of heart. Throw in excellent casting and some proper song and dance numbers and their shows are a great choice to get you in the Christmas spirit.
