LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets Reviews | News | West End | Off-West End | UK Touring Productions

Book Tickets for London Shows
  • Home
  • Top Selling Shows
    • Musicals
    • & Juliet
    • Anything Goes
    • Back To The Future
    • Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
    • Come From Away
    • Dear Evan Hansen
    • Dirty Dancing
    • Frozen The Musical
    • Heathers
    • Jersey Boys
    • Les Miserables
    • Mamma Mia
    • Mary Poppins
    • Matilda the Musical
    • My Fair Lady
    • Moulin Rouge
    • Only Fools and Horses
    • Pretty Woman the Musical
    • Six the Musical
    • The Book of Mormon
    • The Drifters Girl
    • The Lion King
    • The Phantom of the Opera
    • Tina the Musical
    • Wicked
    • Popular Plays in London
      • A Christmas Carol
      • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
      • The Mousetrap
      • The Woman in Black
      • Witness for the Prosecution
    • London Theatres
      • Seating Plans
      • Adelphi Theatre
      • Ambassadors Theatre
      • Duke of York’s Theatre
      • Fortune Theatre
      • Harold Pinter Theatre
      • Lyceum Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
      • Piccadilly Theatre
      • Richmond Theatre
      • Trafalgar Theatre
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • ATG Tickets
    • Alexandra Theatre
    • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
    • Brighton Theatre Royal
    • Bristol Hippodrome
      • Bristol Theatre Seating Plan
    • Edinburgh Playhouse
    • Glasgow Theatre Royal
    • Grand Opera House York
    • King’s Theatre Glasgow
    • Kit Kat Club London
    • Leas Cliff Hall
    • Liverpool Empire
    • Manchester Opera House
    • Manchester Palace Theatre
    • Milton Keynes Theatre
    • New Theatre Oxford
    • New Victoria Theatre Woking
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Princess Theatre Torquay
    • Regent Theatre Stoke
    • Rhoda McGaw Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • Stockton Globe
    • Sunderland Empire
    • Swansea Arena
    • Victoria Hall Hanley Stoke
  • Dancewear
  • Newsletter
Home » Reviews » Review of Santaphrenia at Leicester Square Theatre

Review of Santaphrenia at Leicester Square Theatre

December 23, 2013 Last updated: September 23, 2015 11:24 pm By Tori Jo Lau

SantaphreniaSantaphrenia can best be described as a naughty Christmas musical. Santa Claus wants to retire and the North Pole computer system (named C.L.I.T.) has found the perfect candidate to take over the job. Unfortunately, they pick up his twin brother Malcolm instead, who has spent his life living in the shadow of his book smart, perfect brother. Santa’s wife is frustrated from lack of attention, Crystal the elf has a dirty secret, and NutKracker is a bad influence from Krackertown who schemes with Mrs Claus to use Malcolm’s access to C.L.I.T. and teach Santa a lesson.

Santaphrenia is a show about Christmas that isn’t as cringe-worthy as panto. And I got what I wanted! It is a naughty show from start to finish. A boy in his pants pulled down to expose his bottom as he masturbates in the top bunk, Santa smoking crack cocaine, the NutKracker being heavily into S&M, and suggested reindeer sex, this show has it all, including a reference to candy crush, and with songs.

From Malcolm’s lament about being born ‘Seven Minutes’ after his perfect brother, via ‘Let’s Play’, sung while characters are going at it in a crack den, to the hilariously ridiculous ‘Santa’s Not a Paedo’, the songs are varied, and generally quite short. 16 musical numbers in one 75 minute show is impressive, and the quality of the material is high. The biggest surprise number was Rudy (the reindeer)’s song ‘Don’t f*ck with my Santa Claus’, sung by Nick Martland. As Martland was an elf background character for most of the show, I did not expect him to come on and blow us completely away with his fantastic voice. This is a man I want to hear sing again!

The plot is a bit silly and not really resolved for Santa by the end of the show, but as everyone has hooked up with their love interest by then, no one really cares about what happened to the Santa paedo allegations, although I can reveal to you that the show thankfully does not actually suggest that Santa Claus is a paedophile.

The show has fun costumes and props, a great cast with brilliant comedic timing and sweet little dance numbers. If you’ve ever wanted to see an elf with a ball gag being spanked, this is the show for you. Even with all the naughty bits, the show has a strong message about acceptance of people being different, and as they say so nicely at the end, the best gift you can give someone is your time, and I would be happy to give this show more of mine.

Santaphrenia was sold out for the last week of the run, and the show promises to come back bigger and naughtier next year. Although how it can get naughtier than this without going too far into the crude side to be amusing is anyone’s guess. But I know I’ll be there, and I’m bringing friends.

23rd December 2013

Sister Act Tickets

Figure presents a semi-staged performance of Handel’s Serse

Handel’s 1738 opera Serse (or Xerxes) is an exploration of power, love and human frailty. King Serse falls in love with the voice of his brother … [Read More...]

Lea Salonga Dream Again, Royal Albert Hall

Lea Salonga has her fans. She also has some superfans, the ones who yell, “I love you Lea!” at almost every opportunity. If that wasn’t enough, there … [Read More...]

Singin’ in the Rain at New Wimbledon Theatre

I have no hesitation in saying that the 1952 movie “Singin’ in the Rain” and its 1985 stage version is one of the greatest musicals of all time, … [Read More...]

Metamorphosis at the Lyric Theatre, London | Review

There are, Maria Caruso was keen to emphasise in a post-show discussion, no wrong answers when it comes to responding to Metamorphosis or even … [Read More...]

The Fellowship by Roy Williams at Hampstead Theatre

Children of the Windrush generation, sisters Dawn and Marcia, grew up in the 1980s. In Roy Williams’ new play Dawn is shown struggling to care for … [Read More...]

London Theatre 1 and London Theatre One are Registered Trademarks Copyright 2022 www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - Newsletter - Contact Us

As an Amazon Associate our website receives a commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.