Review: Christmas Actually at the Brisbane Powerhouse

Review by Georgia Wright

Walking into the Brisbane Powerhouse for Christmas Actually felt a bit like déjà vu, but in the best way. This was my second time seeing the show, but my first time reviewing anything for Theatre Travels, taking over from unwell regular, Regan. The Luke to my Naomi. So the nerves were there… somewhere under the excitement and the overpriced glass of Sav. I already knew I loved the show, which both helped and made this whole “first review” gig feel slightly riskier. But if you’re going to start somewhere, starting with something you actually enjoy seems smart.

The Little Red Co have built this show into a bit of a Brisbane Christmas ritual, and the moment Naomi Price walks out, you remember why. She’s impossible not to watch. Her voice hits you immediately, and her comedy lands just as quickly. She has this annual tradition of scoping out someone in the crowd who’s never seen Love Actually, and this year she scored big. Her “victim” ended up being Shake & Stir’s own Johnny Balbuziente. You could see the delight on her face the moment she realised who she was dealing with. From that point on, the entire room basically sat back and watched her roast him with the confidence of someone who absolutely knows the person they’re mocking. It was hilarious, and it set the tone for the night. Relaxed, a bit messy in the fun way, and completely self-aware.

The cast around her is stacked.Tom Oliver? A stage god. Full stop. Everything he touches looks effortless. Even when he’s doing the dumbest, most chaotic bits, he’s still somehow the coolest person on stage. Irena Lysiuk once again sounds like she’s been hand-built in a secret lab to sing Christmas shows, or anything for that matter. Her voice is just that clean and warm. And Luke Kennedy doing that Prime Minister dance down the steps? The booty shake? Still iconic. Still funny. Still way better than it has any right to be.

The band deserves their own applause, especially Hemi Time on guitar. Every year the musicians are good, but this year Hemi felt like he was playing on a different plane. His moment in Santana and Rob Thomas’s Smooth absolutely stole the room. It stopped being a Christmas show for a solid few minutes and turned into an actual concert. Easily one of the musical highlights of the night.

Naomi also leans into a few topical jokes every year, and she’s very good at doing it without making the crowd groan. Her Prince Andrew and Epstein references were pretty sharp; the kind where you laugh and then quietly think, “yep, fair.” It’s exactly the right amount of bite for a show that mostly avoids getting too serious.

Now, as much as I love Love Actually (and I really do) and as much as I love this show, my favourite part has nothing to do with the movie. It’s the final Christmas Carol remix where the cast turn into every Australian carols personality we’ve ever grown up with. It’s chaotic, it’s ridiculous and it feels like a fever dream version of Carols in the Domain. The audience eats it up every time. This section could honestly be its own mini show.

And then there’s the lobster.Tom Oliver’s first entrance as the lobster remains one of the funniest and most bizarre things you’ll see on a Brisbane stage in December. I knew it was coming (obviously) and it still got me. There’s just something so stupidly joyful about watching him shuffle out in that costume, shaking his little lobster butt like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Christmas Actually isn’t trying to reinvent anything, and that’s part of why it works. It’s comfortable. Fun. A little chaotic in the exact way a Christmas variety show should be. The cast all feel like they actually enjoy doing it, which makes the audience settle into the same vibe.

As far as first reviews go, I’m glad this was the one I got to write. The show is warm, stupid, talented and extremely Brisbane, all in the best possible ways. If you want something that’ll kick your Christmas spirit into gear without making you feel like you’re trapped in a shopping centre playlist, this is the one.

Image Supplied