New Rep Reviewer
Upon entering the Arsenal Center for the Arts, I was greeted by several cast members singing Christmas carols. After several carols, we were beckoned to join them in the theater. After the audience was settled, the cast marched into the theater, still caroling and began the show on a lovely note.
Music, mostly in the form of Christmas carols and a couple original songs, features prominently in this production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by former New Rep Artistic Director Rick Lombardo, but this is not a musical. Music appears many times within a scene, in between scenes, and as underscoring, although sometimes it was difficult to hear the actors over it. The music served more to set the tone rather than to further the story. The piece felt like several clips interspersed between narration and singing. This format did not draw me into the story and some of the elements such as the lost souls flying about and the ghost of Christmas future seemed almost ridiculous and made me want to laugh. I believe, however, that this could be an entertaining evening for families with kids.
The A-frame set served as a great backdrop with different elements coming on stage to create the various locations. Of special note is the set of Scrooge’s house where the ghost of Jacob Marley makes a grand entrance. Scrooge, played by Paul D. Farwell, has the right mix of humbug turned to joy and portrays a convincing Scrooge. He has played Scrooge at New Rep for several years and you may remember him when he appeared earlier this season in New Rep’s production of Mr. Roberts as The Captain. The entire ensemble is strong and each is a good singer, making the carols enjoyable. In the final scene when Scrooge wakes up on Christmas morning and begins spreading Christmas cheer, I found myself finally getting drawn into the story as it is hard not to at that moment to feel the holiday cheer that this story tries to convey. I only wish that the story drew me in sooner.
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