Dial M For Murgatroyd, The Observer

The spoof to beat all spoofs this year has to be Eastern Angles' production of Dial M for Murgatroyd. This is the 13th Christmas show by writing/directing team Julian Harries (who also performs) and Pat Whymark. It's an eclectic mixture of humours, from sight gags to absurdities, prat falls and clowning, as well as puns, gorilla costumes and doubling (or, in one case, septupling) parts. A country house murder mystery, it combines a plot worthy of Agatha Christie, dialogue almost as good as PG Wodehouse and action as absurd as Monty Python. If ever American tourists return in numbers to asset-stripped Britain, this would make a great West End attraction.

Clare Brennan