First time I got press tix to ACT’s A Christmas Carol I took my grandparents. Sunday I took my nieces. Both pairs of relatives thanked me profusely as we left the theater. Not too often will you find a show that’s a joy whether you were born under Coolidge or under Clinton.
I mean, what the hell’s not to like? The costumes are fantastic, the acting stellar, the dancing enjoyable, the jokes funny, the child actors impossibly adorable.
Scrooge with “the surplus population” (Photo: Chris Bennion)
You know the story, but that doesn’t make it any less affecting. When Scrooge hops out of bed Christmas morning a changed man, your face breaks into a wide grin. If not, you probably require your own three-spirit visit. (And I’m not talkin’ about lunch with Don Draper. Wacka wacka wacka!)
(Digression: Dickens! Wow! Can you imagine a world without the story of Ebenezer Scrooge? Without “There’s more of gravy than of grave about you?” And yet Dickens wrote it in six weeks. National Novel Writing Month participants now on your last day, take heart!)
ACT’s production, an annual treat, is presented in-the-round at the Allen Theater. Being surrounded by the audience forces the actors to stay on the move. This constant motion staves off restlessness from easily-bored young ones. The actors’ inventive interpretations of Dickens’ familiar lines keeps the older folks entertained.
Two actors alternate shows in the part of Scrooge, a particularly demanding role as you’re on stage for all 90 minutes (no intermission). Kurt Beattie, ACT’s artistic director, played Scrooge Sunday afternoon, as he will for about half the performances. It’s his first turn in the role since 1998. Says Beattie: “Ten years on…I think the ossification of the human soul is something I understand more now than I did then.”
The always-excellent R. Hamilton Wright will portray Scrooge for remaining half of the run (here’s a schedule of who plays Scrooge when).
Of note in the production: Brandon Whitehead is tremendous fun in Christmas Past as effervescent Mr. Fezziwig, and again in Christmas Present as Nephew Fred’s slightly douchey, flirtatious friend Topper. I also thought young Shereen Khatibloo did nice work in her too-brief appearance as Scrooge’s beloved sister Fan.
(Digression #2: You know how there’s those books based on Pride and Prejudice but written from the perspective of Darcy? Where’s one based on A Christmas Carol written from the perspective of Fan? Why was she so devoted to her brother? Did she try to halt his slide into miserdom? Who’s Fred’s dad and what happened to him? This shit keeps me up at night.)
Up in the audience, tons of kids. So you’ll hear a lot more shushes than you would at your average show, usually following whispered questions from young ones who aren’t quite following the story.
My favorite audience moment? Watching the rich dudes in the front row squirm a bit when Ghost Marley proclaims: “Business!! Mankind was my business! Their common welfare was my business!” One guy in khakis and a cashmere sweater started rubbing his finger on his nose, which I know from watching Lie to Me is a sure sign of guilt. I’m thinking that dude goes home and decided to grant the company bonus this year after all.
And not to get all mushy, but Dickens’ message of charity truly is a valuable one at this time of year. Even if you don’t like costumes, good acting, dancing, and jokes, you ought to see the show as a vehicle for self-improvement.
Um, can you tell I liked the show too? Add “born under Ford” to the list of people who’ll enjoy it. (That’s Gerald Ford, I wasn’t actually born under a car as I’m not an Allman Brother. Thank you.)
