This is a delightful adaptation of the best Christmas story ever written, where a miserly old man has a journey of self-redemption after being visited by ghosts. It’s unlikely you’ve not heard of it before…
As with all the Eastern Angles performances they have the ability to transport you on a delightful journey to uncover the magical world of theatre. They can bring stories to life within a tiny space and a small cast and they do this with bundles of charm.
This adaptation includes links to local history and inspired by Daniel Goddard who devoted himself to public service. All Eastern Angles productions try to connect their work to the local region, which makes it even more endearing. Other variations to the story include the redemption journey Scrooge takes with the spirits, for example his past explores more of his younger years, when he was carefree and when he fell in love and here he relives the moments rather than watches it from the side. It links more to how our past decisions can shape our current situation and a reminder for us all to reflect.
Ian Crowe plays Scrooge and is superb. He is Scrooge throughout his whole body, even through to the end of his fingertips! The transformation from a cold-hearted meanie to a soft, warm and joyful character was a thrill to watch. His facial expressions were wonderful.
The Lamplighter (David Monteith), The Newspaper Seller (Felicity Sparks) and The Blacksmith (Charlie Venables) are characters which assist the story along with narrations through the performance, but also play out relevant scenes where Scrooge interacts with the world. As a small cast they were of course successfully multi-tasking as other characters in the story. These three actors playing the rest of the characters were amazing (although let’s not forget the two child actors who were in a few scenes, as this would have been impossible any other way). These three were able to morph in and out of the wonderful characters in the story and was marvellous. Their whole persona’s changed, this added to the wonderfulness of the storytelling aspect of the performance. They also were helping each other with costume changes and moving the stage furniture between scenes and the transitions were smooth for us to feel they were part of the overall performance.
David Monteith has a great stage presence, you couldn’t help be drawn to him, especially when he came out the fireplace through a cloud of smoke as the ghost of Jacob Marley – this was just spellbinding!
With the fantastically creative props and costumes, the small set managed to depect multiple scenes and the depiction of the ghosts in this production was exceptional. It was true wonderment seeing the ghosts appear, watching Scrooge fly above the clouds, and the ghost of Yet To Come also had a link to the regions dark legend and was spectacular (no spoiler!).
As a non-traditional panto, this performance still manages to have plenty of audience participation. There isn’t the ‘he’s behind you’ shouts but we were encouraged to oooo and aaaahhhhh, clap, and have a little sing song, throw the snowballs and a few other fund things too.
The whole performance captured the essence of wonder and if you are for a different type of panto this year, this is the one.
Photo Credit: Mike Kwasniak
A Christmas Carol will be at the Sir John Mills Theatre until 5th January – then it goes to Seckford Theatre from 8th to 11th January – click here for more information.