Mark Mander’s skill as a puppeteer is extraordinary. His character inventions are slightly sarcastic, rude but not crude, belligerent and very funny – and when it comes to making a point never miss the target. Assisted by the very dexterous Ruth Calkin and Mark Esaias, his timing is precise and by including integrated video playback allows for costume and set changes that emphasise the high production values Mark excels at.
He is a natural showman and with renditions of catchy tunes like “I Get A Kick Out Of You” – we certainly do. Clementine is a living fashion doll, existing on a diet of glamour glitz and pizzazz and Mark as her creator proves that if variety is the spice of life, then as a really skilled comedy entertainer, variety is alive and well. Inventive and zany, it’s jingle jingle bells all the way and I urge you to catch this show and enjoy the sleigh ride into Clementine’s Christmas Cracker. A true seasonal treat.
****
Clementine’s Christmas Cracker runs to Saturday 21 December at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, 2 Shepperton Road, London N1 3DT. Box office 020 7704 2730 rosemarybranchtheatre.co.uk
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