Chriskirkpatrickmas: A Boyband Christmas musical review

A Christmas Carol meets It's A Wonderful Life meets... *NSYNC.

Chriskirkpatrickmas. Photo by Matt Kamimura.

If you’re in the mood for some Edinburgh Fringe-like theatre, Chritmaskirkpatrickmas will hit the mark nicely. Showing in the intimate Seven Dials Playhouse a stone’s throw from Covent Garden, Chinatown, and Soho there are wonderful options for dining pre or post show.

 This week leading up to Christmas is perfect timing to see a play which begins on Christmas Eve in 2009. Seven years into NSYNC's indefinite "hiatus,” Founder Chris Kirkpatrick is ever hopeful they will continue to build on the success of their three hit albums by regrouping and heading back on tour.  At his Christmas Eve party Justin Timberlake, who remains NSYNC’s most famous member, is notably absent.

 Whether you’re an NSYNC enthusiast or not, this a universal tale of a whirlwind rise to fame of young pop stars followed by decline.

Chriskirkpatrickmas. Photo by Matt Kamimura.

With the help of “angel” Marky Mark (who passed away/died when Mark Wahlberg transitioned to a successful acting career) Chris is granted one Christmas wish and is encouraged to move on and reinvent himself. The journey with Marky Mark to reflect on the past leads to a message of self-acceptance and letting go of the past, all while maintaining a light hearted tone without being didactic.

This is not a flashy production with all the bells and whistles but more of a slick high school production with drawn on beards, stubble, backward baseball caps and cockiness. The irony of an all-female cast playing a famous boy band is amusing. Both actresses playing Justin Timberlake and Marky Mark skillfully capture their essence. The ensemble’s impressive vocal range, from manufactured pop to a cappella, along with energetic boy band choreography, ensures a lively and entertaining show that will get you wriggling in your seat. One leaves the theatre feeling satisfyingly well entertained and with a smile on your face.

Chriskirkpatrickmas. Photo by Matt Kamimura.

It’s a short play, you’ll be out of there just shy of 9pm, so if you are overwhelmed organising Christmas, you’ll be safe in the knowledge of making it an early night or consider a post-show visit to Covent Garden, where the hourly snowfall adds to the festive atmosphere.

Date: Until 30 December 2023. Time: 19:45 Location: Seven Dials Playhouse, Shaftsbury Avenue Price: £20.00-£29.50. Book now.

Words by Natascha Milsom