Who hasn't seen some version of this classic tale, possibly the best known Christmas story in the world? Almost everyone knows miserly Scrooge's transformational story by heart. But with so many stage, film, TV and print versions around, how do you decide which one you should see this year? If you have kids, the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre's production for Young Audiences is the one. This merry, melodic version of the Dickens classic is new, fast-paced, family-friendly and an absolutely joyous experience.
Originally conceived a few years ago as an over-the-top annual holiday extravaganza for New York's Madison Square Garden Theatre, this Alan Menken ("Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast") and Lynn Ahrens ("Ragtime," "Once on This Island") musical has been streamlined into a slick hour of delightful characters, hummable songs, great special effects and the positive premise that there is good in everyone.
The cast of 17 is just plain superb, with many of the actors playing multiple roles requiring fast set and costume changes. Gene Weygandt's crusty old Scrooge provides many comic moments, as the script offers audiences a look into Ebenezer's past so we better understand how he became such a penny-pincher. Weygandt's considerable talents as a song-and-dance man are also mined in production numbers such as "Abundance and Charity," brilliantly performed with the Ghost of Christmas Present (Matthew Jones) and his enticing young Christmas Goodies. George Wolff and McKinley Carter hit all the right notes as the Cratchits; Vanessa Panderosa is an exquisite Ghost of Christmas Past; and as Marley, the effervescent George Keating leads a wonderful, ghostly production number in "Link by Link." Plan to stay afterward for the post-show talk-back; Keating and the rest of the cast encourage younger audience members to ask questions and learn about theatrical production.
This timeless morality tale, staged and choreographed by super-director Rachel Rockwell and supported by Michael Mahler and Jeff Bell's musical supervision, Tom Ryan's flexible sets, Nancy Missimi’s colorful period costumes and Jesse Klug's atmospheric lighting, is the perfect holiday entertainment for all ages, depicting joy, hope and love for the season.
Reviewed by Centerstage!
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