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Satisfying bumps in the night
Birmingham Rep **** IT IS almost 170 years, December 17 is
the anniversary, since Ebenezer Scrooge first encountered the ghosts and
spirits that put the fear of God into his miserly, penny-pinching soul,
and that 1843 spirit of Christmas past has become as much part of
festivities as holly and ivy. The original is a powerful morality tale which
not only popularised the phrase Merry Christmas but helped popularise
both Christmas itself as a time of goodwill and giving to the poor and
needy. This latest version, from Birmingham Rep, adapted
by Bryony Lavery with music and lyrics by Jason Carr avoids trying to be
too clever and keeps very much to the original story aided by an
excellent set from Ti Green cleverly lit by Mark Doubleday. We all know the tale of the miserly Scrooge who is
visited by the ghost of his seven year’s dead partner Jacob Marley (Marc Akinfolarin) and the ghosts of Christmasses past (Guy Lewis), present
(Angela Wynter) and future who make him see the error of his ways. Christmas Future being a huge puppet operated by
a cast of six – War Horse has a lot to answer for – and looking like a
giant turkey carcass with the addition of spidery claws
Matthew Ashforde, who played Scrooge, has broken
his jaw and so Jo Servi, who was to play Jacob Marley, was returned to
the land of the living as Ebenezer, learning the part only on Sunday,
two days before Press night, which made his excellent performance the
more remarkable – although quite what youngsters made of the obviously
white young Scrooges played by Iddon Jones and Roddy Peters turning into
the obviously black old Scrooge of Jo Servi I have no idea. The ghosts were perhaps not as scary, or larger
than life as in some productions, Guy Lewis, for instance gave us a
Christmas Past much in the Dr Who mould, as he showed Scrooge his
unhappy childhood and blossoming romance as a young man, before pursuit
of wealth took over his life. Angela Wynter was more fun-loving, a lady
bountiful as she showed Scrooge his happy go lucky nephew Fred
(Roddy Peters again) and downtrodden, impoverished clerk Bob Cratchit
(Guy Lewis again) celebrating Christmas and even toasting the miserable
old Scrooge’s health. Christmas future is not so much scary in itself
as for what it portrays as a terrified Scrooge sees people celebrating
his death and undertaker, laundress and cleaner off to the pawn shop
with his meagre possessions, while Cratchit’s crippled son, Tiny Tim, is
no more. Enough to turn anyone into Mr Nice Guy for the rest of their
life. I am not quite sure why chairs were fixed to
walls in the bleak, London tenement set, or why people were sitting on
them, halfway up a wall, but it was effective, in a strange sort of
surreal way, as was the pit below the stage from where appeared
Scrooge’s office, his bed and where he disappears to his death. Director Tessa Walker manages the task of mixing
sinister and scary with light hearted and even at times funny while
Jason Carr has produced a mix of jolly and sombre songs played by an
excellent band under Tim Jackson. The result is an entertaining telling of the
traditional festive tale which is not too scary for youngsters and is
full of Christmas spirit. To 04-01-14.
And full of Christmas spirit **** THIS brand new production of the Charles
Dickens' classic was 'spooked' when lead actor Matthew Ashforde had to
miss the opening performances with a fractured jaw - not suffered in
rehearsals though. But one man's misfortune can be another man's
opportunity, and Jo Servi stepped up from the role of Jacob Marley's
ghost to play the old skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge with considerable
success. While he may not have appeared quite as miserable
about Christmas as, say Alastair Sim was in the 1951 film, he was superb
in the scenes where, having been haunted by ghosts, he realised the
error of his ways and turned into a Mr Nice Guy. This is the first show directed for the Rep by
Tessa Walker, the theatre's Associate Director, and she has certainly
made her mark. This is no stereotyped version of the much-loved
Christmas story. When the musical play opened I wondered 'what the
dickens' was going on, with people perched on chairs bolted to the set
high above the stage, and old fashioned street lamps being wheeled
around stage by the cast. But suddenly a huge trap door opens centre stage
and up rises Scrooge's office where he works with his underpaid clerk,
Bob Cratchit (Guy Lewis). The transformation clearly impresses children
in the audience, and even more surprises are in store with Ti Green's
designs. While Angela Wynter is a bundle of fun as The
Ghost of Christmas Present, there's nothing too scary for the kids to
cope with until Christmas Yet To Come turns up, and wow! This spectre is
an enormous creature with a head like a vulture, operated by six
people...War Horse with wings, and an attitude, if you like. A very impressive performance is given by Roddy
Peters as the kindly Nephew Fred, and the enjoyable Christmas show
includes some pleasant music and lyrics by by Jason Carr
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