A Christmas Carol
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Date Reviewed: 23/11/2022
An Old Vic Production of A Christmas Carol has all the sentiments of “Christmas”. This forever relevant tale, and not just at Christmas time, is presented in a way that transcends time creating a visceral experience. What is the magic? Well, as soon as you step foot into The Comedy Theatre, the world changes. Little lanterns are illuminating the darkness, they fill all the spaces of the ceiling. What a festival of lights Hugh Vanstone created! As people settle into their seats, a small band sets up in the middle of the stage, playing carols, setting the scene for the show. Rob Howell's set and costume design are highly effective. For example, four door frames are the main props on stage and yet they are so powerful! They represent the pathways that people and ghosts of the past, present and the future enter scrooge’s world. Sometimes less is more, giving the audience liberty to conjure up their own ideas of what the room, the doors look like. Simon Baker’s sound is impeccable bringing to life an atmosphere of a cold winter, the associated sounds for opening/closing of imaginary doors, the frightful entry and exit of the ghosts.
It seems the show is everywhere! Biscuits, mandarins are offered to the audience, actors roam around the seats, some sing and talk right next to where people are sitting, apples and other gastronomical delights are rolled onto the stage by audience members for the feast at the end of the show. Surprisingly, the musicians, Lauren Jennings on cello, Natasha Fearnside, reed, and Lisa Reynolds on violin, move to an ornate balcony section, a refreshing location for a small group of musicians. Christopher Nightingale created a superb score for the music that carries the performance from start to end.
A Christmas Carol, a story that brings a message for each of us. Dickens wanted to convey the inequality of the rich and poor living in London, side-by-side each other and yet, barely noticing the other. He wanted to inspire people to be kind, helpful, and connected to enjoy a happy life. Dickens conveyed this message through his character, Ebenezer Scrooge in his famous novella, A Christmas Carol. Playwright Jack Thorne (best known for writing the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) and director Matthew Warchus (director of Matilda the Musical) create a masterpiece adaptation of this tale on stage as the characters develop. It is a great delight to watch David Wenham do justice to the central, complex, character - Ebenezer Scrooge. Wenham carries the story effortlessly. He is the quick witted, solitary, stingy, and cold-hearted Scrooge. The story of Ebenezer Scrooge deepens with the help of the three ghosts who visit him (Debra Lawrence, Samantha Morley, Emily Nkomo). Scrooge is forced to confront his life, and so, he reflects. The ghosts show his past that shaped his present, and they show a path to a meaningful future and the flip-side, a life of loneliness and despair. The good wins over evil and Wenham transforms into a charming, giving and joyful Scrooge.
Whilst there are elements of the supernatural and some children may be frightened by some sounds and the idea of ghosts, I would highly recommend this show for both adults and children. It is exceptionally well done, and thoughtfully put-together. The audience entwines with the spirit of Christmas, and immerses into a wonderfully told fairy tale. This is an unforgettable experience.
Reviewed by Irena Begelfor