As Christmas is approaching there can be no better way to get into the festive spirit than attending Dynamotion’s latest offering A Christmas Crisis. This theatrical and somewhat camp troupe is well known for its very funny and over the top shenanigans and this year’s fare lives up to that reputation.
Let’s start with the plot. In Auckland, an ambitious baker called Ashleigh is facing financial ruin as her Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe cannot sell enough of her, ‘innovative’ cupcake recipes. In the North Pole, Santa and Mrs Claus are close to divorce and the elves are threatening to strike. What’s happened? Mass consumerism and the advance of mega shopping apps have destroyed the soul of the season. The worst culprit of all is the rapacious Temazon company that is sucking up massive profits at the expense of small businesses and your average consumer.
On Christmas Eve, Ashleigh’s dreams seem to come true when she meets the heir of the Temazon fortune who orders 2,000 cupcakes which she must deliver to his mega yacht. Meanwhile, the elves take over Santa’s sleigh and set course for the Pacific to rendezvous and destroy the Temuzon empire and all of the rich hangers-on.
This show is completely mad-cap but lots of fun. The dance routines to a mix of music from classical through to rap and pop are simply brilliant and extremely funny. There were one or two potential inconsistencies, such as an iceberg in the mid-Pacific but it all just added to the mayhem. It’s hard to pick any one moment from the show that stood out, but Mrs Claus lip-synching to Lily Allen’s Fuck You during an argument with Santa would be one, and a counselling session between the couple led by Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer would be another.
With brilliantly tailored costumes, fab music and a wonderful sense absurdity and comic genius, A Christmas Crisis served up a wonderful slice of festive cheer.
A CHRISTMAS CRISIS
10-20 December 2025
Q Theatre Auckland
