The Night Before Christmas

Published Tuesday 28 November 2006 at 15:35 by Rene Butler

Guy Picot’s contemporary lyrics have given The Night Before Christmas enough tang to draw the attention of the modern child. Picot’s music extends beyond the occasional good singsong and neatly binds the show together. This is no simple task - aiming your songs at three to seven-year-olds is a tricky business. Kids this age will be bluntly honest if they do not like your work. Thankfully, every nipper in Finchley’s plush ArtsDepot was wearing a delighted face.

The plot is productively basic; Eddie Mouse senses little Emma’s excitement on Christmas Eve and becomes captivated by the joyful vibes. Perhaps rightfully he asks himself why Christmas should be kept just for humans and so sets off in search of Father Christmas. During his adventure Eddie meets the world’s biggest cat and a comical toy soldier who is sulkily jealous of Buzz Light Year for going mainstream before he did.

While all the cast perform admirably, Cheryl Blaize as Eddie the Mouse rates as the show’s main triumph. Her skills match all the necessary requirements one might look for in a family-show performer such as an immaculate vocal clarity and striking agility. The latter allows her to carry out what can only be described as Olympic standard back flips.