Set in East Tennessee in the 1930s, Dolly’s Dickens follows the story of Scrooge fairly closely.
Almost entirely sung-through, the piece depends on the songs and aside from one or two standouts – Appalachian Snowfall in particular – most of them are generic Dolly and more than usually sentimental.
The sedate setting of the Queen Elizabeth Hall is serviceable rather than sympathetic to a piece that cries out for atmosphere and while the cast and musicians work hard, it is only intermittently entertaining.
As the Ghost of Future, excellent fiddle player Corey Wickens alone brings a sense of supernatural menace.
A little more of that wouldn’t have gone amiss.
- Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol, Southbank Centre until January 8 2023, Tickets: 020 3879 9555
source: express.co.uk