A new holiday treat has arrived on the Boston scene — an enduring story which never fails to move me. It cuts right through the Christmas chaos, and gets to the heart of the season: CHARLES DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s inaugural production of this touching tale, is an instant classic! Company artistic director Steven Maler has assembled Boston’s finest players onstage at the beautiful Emerson Cutler Majestic, a perfect backdrop for this timeless and timely Victorian fable set on Christmas Eve.
This adaptation (Steve Wargo) is a musical, magical, merry take on the story of a skinflint who’s as pinched as his name sounds, Ebenezer Scrooge, and his harrowing otherworldly journey into the dark recesses of a life impoverished by the accumulation of wealth at the expense of real worth in the way of human connection. Will Lyman is a splendidly sour Ebenezer who “bah humbugs” his way to new levels of Scroogery. He will spend one Christmas Eve in a state of wonder and terror undergoing a major attitude adjustment, as a remarkable cast embodies the ghosts who haunt him.
The first to appear is Jacob Marley, Ebenezer’s late partner, played by a wild-haired, chain-lugging Bobbie Steinbach who comes with a warning. The Ghost of Christmas Past, played by the beautiful Kathryn McKellar, enters next all aglow sparking early memories of celebrations when a young Ebenezer could still shake a leg. Then a giddy and glorious Carolyn Saxon arrives as the Ghost of Christmas Present in time to let Scrooge glimpse the fun he’s missing that night at the home of his charming and patient nephew Fred–Jared Troilo whose vocals soar. Scrooge is also allowed to witness the humble life of his underpaid employee Bob Cratchit (Robert St. Laurence), and the feisty and resourceful Mrs. Cratchit played by Aimee Doherty as they valiantly stretch a meager Christmas dinner to feed their brood–including brave Tiny Tim whose crutches never slow him down despite his grave circumstances.
Damon Singletary puts the final nail in the coffin of Scrooge’s heart as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, towering over the set and signaling the looming darkness of what may come to pass…One quibble: this pivotal scene could have been more frightful and eery, and the bereft family tableau post Tiny Tim’s passing laced with even more pathos. Scrooge’s change of heart would have felt that much more gratifying and even funnier if he had added a little jig to the shock of passersby stopped in their tracks on the street.
Nevertheless, sets and costumes are simply gorgeous, appearing almost gilded by candlelight, while this all-star cast –including Kathy St. George who shines in multiple roles–seems lit from within. That brings me to masterfully staged musical numbers arranged (Dianne Adams McDowell) for maximum jubilation. Neal Ferreria and Laura McHugh as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig nearly take the roof off as they kick up their heels and belt out the hearty joys of the season, along with the entire ensemble singing their hearts out and illuminating the best in all of us.
DO NOT MISS CHARLES DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL presented by COMMONWEALTH SHAKESPEARE COMPANY at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre only through December 22– just in time for Christmas if you can still get a ticket!!
