Jingle Bells Sucks Baubles | Ad Astra
Performed and commissioned as part of Astra Nova Youth Creatives, Jingle Bells Sucks Baubles is a show that will 110% get you in the Christmas cheer, but is definitely not one for the children. From hallucinogenic cacti, to in house workouts via a smart watch to silent marches in Chermside over the environmental impacts of Christmas, Pierce Gordon’s script has it all. Through the lens of comedy, Gordon is able to explore what it is to live in your twenties and be a young adult by constructing each character to represent a different stage or thought process that we experience during that time. This includes the existentialist, the overachiever, the person living their ambitions, the person in denial about everything and the person who has no idea what direction they’d like their life to take.
We’ve all been there. At least, I know that I have.
Speaking of ethereal high, Jarvis Taylor (Jayden) had me fully convinced that he was stoned. How do I know that he wasn’t stoned in real life? Well, if he was stoned that I can guarantee you that Taylor would not have been able to successfully stand in a straight line with the other actors at the curtain call. From every twitch, glare, subtle mannerism and emotional outburst, Taylor was brilliant and your eyes couldn’t help but focus on him in the group scenes, especially in the rehearsal dinner. A crowd favourite were the colourful lighting states and vibrant soundscapes that were used to illustrate the drugs taking their hold on Taylor’s characters.
Huge praise also goes to Hayden Parsons for his portrayal of Cameron who gave off strong football coach energy. At every chance he got, his character tried to hype up the in-house workout program he had designed during COVID via a smart watch, even at a wedding rehearsal dinner. I’d honestly commission Gordon to write a one-man show for Cameron so that we can get even more of a backstory on how he designed his hugely successful program as well as the what happens with it next.
Some of the many character moments that stood out to me included the conversation between Lara Rix (Max) and Dani (Aliandra Calabrese) about social media and influencers, in which they were at each-others’ throats with their divergent opinions. Another was Mitchell Bourke (Andre) taking over the mic at the wedding reception to talk about his own personal issues, as well as sing L-O-V-E with the crowd. The latter was such a wholesome and festive moment, especially for the patron in front of me who was having the best time singing along while sucking on the biggest and most colourful lollypop that I’ve ever seen anyone have at a theatre.
Overall, the group dynamics between the troupe was excellent. Complimented the writing of the script so beautifully, each actor had such fantastic comic timing that I couldn’t help but release my loud, obnoxious laughing shrieks on yet another batch of innocent Ad Astra audience members. This will definitely be a Christmas experience that I will not forget…
Jingle Bells Sucks Baubles plays at Ad Astra, The Valley, until 20 December.
