The tradition is once again traditional! Ford's Theatre has presented a
version of Charles Dickens' classic tale every holiday season for as long as
many can remember. For years it was the version adapted by the company's
Artistic Director through the 1980s, David Bell. That version, while more
pageant than play, became the Christmas Carol for generations
in the Potomac Region. New management decided to replace that in 2003 with a
new adaptation by Michael Wilson. It featured a gimmick of having the actor
who was to play Scrooge begin the evening as Mr. Dickens himself, and in the
past few years, it has been presented on sets that looked more like a modern
pop-up book than early Victorian London. Now, Ford's has put it all back
together. While retaining some of Wilson's adaptation, they have dropped any
gimmickry and reverted to a straightforward telling of the story, much as
Mr. Dickens wrote it in the first place. Once again it is more pageant than
play, but that is what has made it a favorite over the years, and the
casting of Edward Gero as the parsimonious skinflint who sees the light and
finds the milk of human kindness gives the evening at least a hint of the
heft it requires. |
Storyline: A straightforward presentation of the Christmas eve when mean and
miserly Ebenezer Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas as the ghost
of his former partner, Jacob Marley, sends him the Ghost of Christmas Past
to show him the error of his ways, the Ghost of Christmas Present to show
him the opportunity to change and the Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come to
show him the consequences of failing to change.
Gero is a good choice for Scrooge, for he knows
quite well how to set up a character's change of heart and if nothing else
this is a show about a change of heart. In the early going he's not quite as
nasty as some Scrooges have been, and he ends up not being as unbelievably
giddy as a few. This makes the transition less unbelievable as well, and
that is the key to the success of his portrayal. Other highly talented cast
members do as much as they can with their roles but there's not a lot of
meat there for them to chew on. Christopher Block, Erin Driscoll, Eleasha
Gamble, Amy McWilliams, Steven F. Schmidt, Felicia Curry, Judy Simmons ...
sounds like a dream cast but you may leave asking yourself which role which
one had. Ah, but when they all lift their voices, there are moments of
beauty.
Michael Baron steps over from Signature
Theatre where he's an Associate Director. He directs this return to
pageantry with attention to casting and maintenance of mood as each scene
has its own feel. There are some significant special effects including, of
course, snow! There's even a working steam driven car. Most of those effects
are put to good use, but too much is made of the abilities provided by
flying D2 Flying Effects. Ghosts don't have to fly or even hover to be
convincing and leaving Felicia Curry just hanging about as the Ghost of
Christmas Past doesn't help much, and later there is a lengthy period when
the uncredited Ghost of Christmasses Yet To Come hovers about needlessly.
Baron places an emphasis on the musicality of
the season with carols being part and parcel of the evening. Jay Crowder
serves as choral director and it is clear from the sound that fills this
historic hall that he has worked with his cast to carefully blend their
voices and clean up any diction difficulties. Unsung dialogue also rings
true, thanks to the efforts of Leigh Wilson Smiley who paid attention to the
dialects which, in London where as anyone who ever saw My Fair Lady knows,
each Englishman's way of speaking absolutely classifies him. Add sprightly
choreography by Shea Sullivan and the details have clearly been attended to.
Written by Michael Wilson based on the
novel by Charles Dickens. Directed by Michael Baron. Choreographed by Shea
Sullivan. Choral direction by Jay Crowder. Dialects by Leigh Wilson Smiley.
Design: Lee Savage (set) Alejo Vietti (costumes) Charles G. LaPointe (wigs)
Rui Rita (lights) Josh Schmidt (original music and sound) T. Charles
Erickson (photography) Craig A. Horness (stage manager). Cast: Christopher
Bloch, Michael Bunce, Steven Carpenter, Felicia Curry, Nick DePinto, Erin
Driscoll, Drew Eshelman, Eleasha Gamble, Edward Gero, Amy McWilliams,
Michael A. Pizzi, Stephen F. Schmidt, Margo Seibert, Judy Simmons, Anne
Stone, Bronwyn van Joolen, Jacob Yeh. |
