PicksInSix Review: A Christmas Carol - Goodman Theatre
“A Man’s Actions Foreshadow Certain Ends”
PicksInSix Review | Ed Tracy
The corner of Randolph and Dearborn was abuzz Sunday afternoon with the thriving Christkindlmarket on Daley Plaza and patrons, all decked out for the holidays, pouring in and out of Petterino’s that has a festive seasonal atmosphere all its own this time of year. And next door at Goodman Theatre, carolers entertained the crowd and lit the Goodman tree prior to the press opening of the 47th annual production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
If you are counting, that’s a magnificent accomplishment. Presenting a timeless classic for nearly five decades—over 20 of them in the Goodman’s elegant Albert Theatre—takes some inventive twists and artistic turns to keep it fresh and engaging for multiple generations of returning audiences and edgy enough to attract newcomers. The Goodman, now under the artistic leadership of Susan V. Booth, succeeds again on both counts.
In Director Jessica Thebus’s delightfully haunting new offering of Tom Creamer’s adaptation with contributions from Neena Arndt, Christopher Donahue wraps his own distinctive style of demonic humbuggery around Ebenezer Scrooge as he transforms from an embittered loner to the toast of the town after facing three spirits who show him the implicit error in his ways. Right from the start, Donahue infuses Dickens erasable miser with a dark and heavy dose of disgust for all things Christmas, from chastising his earnest clerk Bob Cratchit (Anthony Irons) over a lump of coal and dismissing the loving affection of his niece Frida (Dee Dee Batteast), to summarily rejecting the appeals for support from Mr. Ortle (Wai Yim) and Miss Crumb (Penelope Walker). The levels of meanness in Donahue’s Scrooge appear to have no bounds early on and provide the brilliant actor a wide range of emotions for the transformative scenes that follow.
The story—which is smartly narrated throughout by the charming Kate Fry—follows Scrooge and the spirits in a trip to his own past, present and future, foretold in the chilling visitation from his dead-as-a-doornail partner Jacob Marley (William Dick). In Scrooge’s high-flying encounter with the Ghost of Christmas Past (Lucky Stiff) a visit to his former school and sister Fan (Tafadzwa Diener) is followed by a vision of his apprenticeship with Fezziwg (Robert Schleifer) who communicates with sign language and the aid of his interpreter Max (Mark Bedard). The festive Fezziwig party atmosphere is shrouded by the ambitious young Scrooge (Daniel José Molina) and Marley (Arash Fakhrabadi) who hatch a devious plot at the expense of any future relationship that Scrooge might have had with the lovely Belle (Amira Danan).
The Ghost of Christmas Present (Bri Sudia) drops Scrooge in to observe Bob Cratchit’s family and the plight of Tiny Tim (Ava Rose Doty) which leads to the dark predictions of the Ghost of Christmas Future (Danan). It’s then all up to Donohue’s masterfully jubilant self-realization and redemption in understanding the true spirit of Christmas.
There are supreme elements of joy for everyone in Goodman’s fine production of “A Christmas Carol”—the superb on-stage musicians, long a distinctive element of this show, here performed by Hillary Bayley, Brian Goodwin, Malcom Ruhl and Gregory Hirt; Todd Rosenthal’s arresting scenic design colorfully awash with Keith Parham’s lighting; elegant period costumes by Heidi Sue McMath; and, a multi-talented ensemble playing many roles—all making this satisfying and heartfelt show a perfect family destination for the holiday season.
PHOTO|Liz Lauren
Goodman Theatre
presents
Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol
through December 30
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(312) 443-3800
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