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A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by Tim Gregory & David H. Bell
Directed by Tim Gregory
Produced by Provision Theatre Company
At Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theatre
2257 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL
Call 773-871-3000, tickets $15 - $25
Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 PM
Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Special Wednesdays at 8 PM Dec. 20 & 27
Running time is 100 minutes with intermission
Through December 30, 2006
“Mankind is our business.” - Scrooge
Gregory’s A Christmas Carol goes for the emotional jugular
The 2006 version of the Dickens classic, now playing on the main stage at the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theatre, continues to sustain the emotional wallop that it established a few years ago. Tim Gregory keeps the show fresh with new young talent and his attention to detail. This show works as a fine, sentimental holiday show strong on morality and good will.
Amazingly, Tim Gregory and David H. Bell’s adaptation of the Dickens holiday classic contains a walloping emotional impact unlike any other production of A Christmas Carol. This is a polished, efficient production with fine musical underscoring, rich in traditional English Christmas songs sung in smooth harmonies. The show has its center in the hope that a person can indeed change for the better simply if he truly seeks it.
We see Bradley Armacost as the ”everyman’s” Scrooge in that Armacost (a brilliant character actor) plays Scrooge first a befuddled, nasty anti-social money hoarding, heartless businessman. Armacost’s Scrooge is pessimistic, lonely tired old man whose only purpose is to make more money. He hates people, hates Christmas and hates himself.
Surrounded by a first-rate ensemble, we see Scrooge’s epiphany in a series of nicely stage scenes that combine emotional renderings, authentic English holiday songs with the classic dream sequences that propel the Dickens morality tale.
Armacost’s gradual redemption only happens when he is confronted with his own doomed life. The angst and remorse are excellently oozing from every breath Armacost’s Scrooge takes. We can almost feel Scrooge’s pain. Scrooge’s transformation is plausible.
Michael Patrick Sullivan's young Scrooge was intelligently played giving hints as what Scrooge will become. Brad Harbaugh's Bob Cratchit was convincing as the saintly devoted father. Sean Parker's Jacob Marley was eerie and effective while Brian McCarthy was a hoot as Fezziwig and the commanding Ghost of Christmas Present. Michael Mahler, David Marcotte and Katherine Banks were among the most notable of the fine ensemble players.
This is an emotionally centered yet hopeful show that clearly sends the message that spiritual change is available to those who sincerely seek it. The lesson is that if a nasty guy like Scrooge can be redeemed then there is hope for all of us. The spirit of Christmas fosters the good will we all potentially possess. The show has a warm heart and is family-friendly that dramatically delivers the important message of Christmas.
Provision Theater Company’s A Christmas Carol has fine family values in a tightly produced show that will melt the coldest heart. The spirit of Christmas lives on.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2006
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