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Alliance’s timeless ‘Christmas Carol’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE ALLIANCE THEATRE’S Broadway-scale staging of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” remains the granddaddy of all the city’s versions of the classic, a joy to see again and again. Here’s why.
IT LOOKS GREAT: Martyn Bookwalter’s lavish set is chockablock with objects that evoke Scrooge’s lair, the Fezziwigs’ ball and, at times, the whole of London. The overflowing stage is so full of stuff it looks like the decorator has used every prop in Atlanta, then flocked it all with snow.
NIFTY SPECIAL EFFECTS: Marley’s ghost flies across the stage Peter Pan style. The Ghost of Christmas Past sprouts magically from a cupboard in Scrooge’s living room, and Christmas Future pops up mysteriously through a trap door under Scrooge’s bed. The fog machine works overtime to keep London looking wonderfully mysterious.
IT’S A MUSICAL: Director David Bell seamlessly weaves Christmas carols throughout the show and uses a diverse cast. There’s a black Mrs. Cratchit (Tracey Copeland) and a white Bob Cratchit (Brad Sherrill), and the Cratchit children come in all sizes and shades.
CLEVER CASTING: This year Carol Mitchell-Leon fills in for Elisabeth Omilami as Mrs. Fezziwig and Mrs. Dilbert. She’s good but her voice doesn’t compare to Omiliami’s, who owned the part. Chandra Currelly (Bess) has a magnificent voice and good comedic chops, and to my mind would be a better choice in these crucial roles. The transformation of Chris Kayser (pictured) into a gray and withered Scrooge is remarkable, as always.
The Alliance Theatre’s Broadway-scale staging of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” remains the granddaddy of all the city’s versions of the classic, a joy to see again and again. Here’s why.
*IT LOOKS GREAT: Martyn Bookwalter’s lavish set is chockablock with objects that evoke Scrooge’s lair, the Fezziwigs’ ball and, at times, the whole of London. The overflowing stage is so full of stuff it looks like the decorator has used every prop in Atlanta, then flocked it all with snow.
*NIFTY SPECIAL EFFECTS: Marley’s ghost flies across the stage Peter Pan style. The Ghost of Christmas Past sprouts magically from a cupboard in Scrooge’s living room, and Christmas Future pops up mysteriously through a trap door under Scrooge’s bed. The fog machine works overtime to keep London looking wonderfully mysterious.
*IT’S A MUSICAL: Director David Bell seamlessly weaves Christmas carols throughout the show and uses a diverse cast. There’s a black Mrs. Cratchit (Tracey Copeland) and a white Bob Cratchit (Brad Sherrill), and the Cratchit children come in all sizes and shades.
*CLEVER CASTING: This year Carol Mitchell-Leon fills in for Elisabeth Omilami as Mrs. Fezziwig and Mrs. Dilbert. She’s good but her voice doesn’t compare to Omiliami’s, who owned the part. Chandra Currelly (Bess) has a magnificent voice and good comedic chops, and to my mind would be a better choice in these crucial roles. The transformation of Chris Kayser (pictured) into a gray and withered Scrooge is remarkable, as always.
*MODEL CENTRAL: With Clifton Guterman (Peter Cratchit), Eddie Gillot (Dick Wilkins), Christopher DesRoches (Young Scrooge), Daniel May (Fred), William Rushton (Tiny Tim) and Caleb Young (Ignorance/Match Boy), this is the best-looking male ensemble on an Atlanta stage. In Mariann S. Verheyen’s plushly upholstered Victorian costumes, these are some very pretty men, women and children.
Despite some fuzzy singing and unintelligible speaking by some younger cast members, this is an altogether lovely and miraculous "Christmas Carol." If you can only see a single holiday show, this is the one.
SHOW INFORMATION: $25-$45. 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 26. 2:30 p.m. Dec. 21-23. Alliance Theatre, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Midtown. 404-733-5000, www.alliancetheatre.org.
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