Truth be told, I usually shy away from any theatre production that promises laughter because they very rarely meet my expectations. For this reason, I’m glad I didn’t realise that Richard Higgins & Matthew Kelly are a comedy duo when I headed off to see their production The Listies Ruin Christmas at the Sydney Opera House with the kids for its opening night.
The show format is loosely based on a classic British pantomime. I feel that Rich and Matt may have been a little influenced by The Goodies, Monty Python and The Two Ronnies (all whom I think are pretty funny) as that UK sense of humour flows beautifully throughout their work.
From the very start of The Listies Ruin Christmas, the kids and I were in hysterics. There were moments when I was laughing so hard I had to cross my legs and hold my tummy. The banter between Rich and Matt was hilarious. It’s quite amazing that the guys have been able to pull something together that is seriously funny for both adults and children. They are masters of comedy which results in continued laughter and applause throughout the hour or so length of the show.
I must warn you, there are a number of fart and poo jokes. Justin Beiber and Taylor Swift are both mentioned. There is even a whole scene dedicated to Jack and the Beans Talk (no, I didn’t get that wrong 😉 ). But there are also Christmas Trees, snow, presents and a few new original Christmas carols. For this reason, it’s probably best suited to school aged kids. They’ll get the jokes and will be thoroughly entertained for the entire course of the show.
The Listies Ruin Christmas is certain to be the most laughter filled festive experience you will have this December!
Master R is the biggest critic when it comes to theatre. I noted that he was laughing throughout the show. We always ask both kids to rate the productions we see. For the very first time EVER, Master R gave a 10/10 rating (as did Miss N). When he heard that Rich and Matt were signing books in the foyer, he basically dragged us there so he could meet them too.
The Listies Ruin Christmas is currently running at the Sydney Opera House daily until 24 December, 2015. Each session runs for around 60 minutes with tickets available from $24.00. Highly recommended for kids and their families 6+.
Thank you to the Sydney Opera House for inviting us to the opening session. We were under no obligation to write a review but enjoyed the show so much that we had to share.