O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy serves up a whimsical party at the Massey Theatre, December 28
James & Jamesy’s family-friendly show sails through a series of slapstick and sometimes surreal journeys
James & Jamesy’s O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy
O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy is at Massey Theatre on December 28 at 3 and 7:30 pm
CAN YOU BECOME an expert at silliness?
It certainly seems so, as James & Jamesy have continued to pour their particular brew of British holiday theatre—O Christmas Tea—across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. over the years.
Think of it as a mix of Fringe Festival, classic Brit pantos, Monty Python, Mr. Bean, and a hint of Lewis Carroll surrealism, with the pair serving up a story that blends wordplay, slapstick, and generous doses of whimsy.
The story begins with a simple holiday tea table set for two and builds into a fantastical journey on a sea of tea, where James & Jamesy have a set of outrageous encounters drawing on everything from fables to current events. Along the way, there is singing, fourth-wall-breaking, and improvised, family-friendly fun.
To reveal much more would ruin the copious surprises in a show that easily ranks as one of the most wittily offbeat on the festive roster. Hitting the historic Massey just after Christmas, it offers a non-treacly way to keep the holiday magic going after all the wrapping paper has been put away and turkey has been eaten. ![]()
Janet Smith is founding partner and editorial director of Stir. She is a Webster Award–winning arts journalist who has spent more than three decades immersed in Vancouver’s performing arts, film, and gallery scenes. She sits on the Vancouver Film Critics’ Circle.
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