By
Alec Clayton
Published in the Weekly Volcano, Nov. 30, 2017
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| Joseph Grant (left) as Ebenezer Scrooge, and W. Scott Pinkston as Jacob Marley, photo by Tim Johnson |
A Christmas Carol as adapted by James Venturini for
Lakewood Playhouse is probably as close to the way Charles Dickens himself
would adapted it for the stage if he were alive today.
In
his day, Dickens toured the world telling stories and reading from his books,
so it is appropriate that he shows up as the narrator for this show in the person
of actor W. Scott Pinkston who does a great job of playing the parts of both Dickens
and Bob Cratchit. He wonderfully transitions between these two characters on
stage in full view of the audience, not with an elaborate costume and makeup
change but by simply taking off his hat and coat, hanging them up, putting a
scarf around his neck, and undergoing a subtle but significant change of
persona.
Unlike
the popular musical version, this one is straight drama. But there is holiday
music in the form of carolers who occasionally wander the streets of London.
I
saw a preview performance, essentially the final tech rehearsal, two nights
before opening night, and it was flawless. Artistic Director John Munn said
there had been a 10-hour tech rehearsal of act one two days earlier and a
7-hour tech of act two the next night. That should give you an idea of how
complicated and vital the lighting, sound and other technical aspects are to
this production, and the evidence of how superbly they pull it off is seen when
the ghost of Jacob Marley (Alex Koerger) first appears on stage. Koerger is a
large man who looks even more imposing when seen next to Ebenezer Scrooge
(Joseph Grant), who is a small man. He comes in draped in chains and bathed in
a ghostly blue-white light, and his deep voice echoes as if coming out of a
deep cave. Outstanding special effects make audiences believe in the
unbelievable and accept what they see as real (suspension of disbelief) without
questioning what kind of hard work and precision timing is going on backstage
to create the magic. Combine that with great acting from Koerger and Grant, and
we are whisked out of our seats and set down in an old man’s haunted bed
chamber.
Koerger,
by-the-way, is not only an effective Marley, he also plays a delightful
Fizziwig and Old Joe. As for Grant, I have seen him turn in outstanding
performances in a lot of plays, and this one ranks right up there with his
best. His acting chops show not only in the big gestures and expressions of
horror and fear and remorse, but in his tiniest expressions of disdain for
underlings and the holiday spirit.
Also
turning in performances of special note is Callie Williams in the multiple
roles of a solicitor, Mrs. Cratchit, a charwoman and others. She is funny and
touching and larger than life, especially when playing Mrs. Cratchit. And her
voice stands out beautifully among the carolers.
Gary
Chambers, a memorable Riff-Raff in last year’s The Rocky Horror Show and as Sir Henry Baskerville in the madcap The Hound of the Baskervilles, is a
fun-to-watch Ghost of Christmas Present with his haughty but kind demeanor.
Director
Alan Wilkie and his crew does a great job of herding a large cast in a
theater-in-the-round space to present a ghostly, technically marvelous dramatic
production that is coherent and smoothly flowing, and Venturini’s adaptation
adheres to the spirit and style of the original. Special recognition is also
due to set designer Andrew Redford, lighting designer Jacob Viramontes and
costume designer Virginia Yanoff.
A Christmas Carol, 8 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m., Sunday, through
Dec. 17, Lakewood Playhouse, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd. Lakewood, $20-$26,
pay what you can Thursday, Nov. 30, 253.588.0042,
lakewoodplayhouse.org
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