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'A Christmas Carol' at the New Rep (theater review)
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Let’s face it. When it comes to holiday-themed theater, the menu is slim pickins. Outside of the typical ho-ho-ho-hum fare of The Nutcracker (this version notwithstanding) and a few tired mountings of the nativity story, there just isn’t really much to choose from.
So imagine my delight when I took in the New Rep’s fresh and poignant adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Here is a production that takes all the worn-out old elements of the Dickens’ classic and injects them with music (the actors sing, dance, and accompany themselves on assorted instruments), special effects (the otherworldly visit from Jacob Marley is particularly inventive), and artistic integrity (director Rick Lombardo adapted this version, which is running for the fourth consecutive holiday season at the New Rep). In short, this Christmas Carol has been given a new lease on life.
Paul D. Farwell is an unforgettable Scrooge. In his fourth year in the role, Farwell is a commanding stage presence, yet also nicely attuned to the nuances and tender moments of Lombardo’s adaptation. His performance is big and blustery when it needs to be, but also contains some quite touching moments of genuine pathos. He even manages to make some of the story’s more classic lines (i.e. “Bah, humbug!”) truly his own.
Farwell is ably supported by a talented supporting cast. The Cockney accents are a little too affected, but it’s hard not to get swept up in the spirit of the thing since the actors are clearly having a blast. Most of the performers play several roles (as well as musical instruments) with great success. Particularly strong are Joel Perez and Becky Webber, two New Rep actors who seamlessly disappear into the myriad of roles they’ve been called upon to play. This is a lot tougher than it looks: one minute you’re a sea captain, the next minute you’re a rich merchant, the next you’re a serenading vagabond. Employing tangible devotion to each and every incarnation is something of a challenge, and these actors do it exceptionally.
The kids of A Christmas Carol – members of Watertown Children’s Theatre – are little bundles of light and energy and holiday cheer. Young Sofia Julia Hauser is a terrific, gender-bending Tiny Tim.
What especially moved me about this production was the generous balance it provided to the darker side of Victorian England. The brutal class divisions and struggles, the utter bleakness of the lives of the poor, the understated social commentary on money, happiness, and family. It’s a very thoughtful perspective – and certainly appropriate in these challenging economic times.
But what makes the shadows bearable and undespairing is knowing that when the Christmas lights come on, they’ll be that much brighter.
A Christmas Carol runs through December 28 at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown.
For more info: For tickets and showtimes, visit the New Rep ticketing page.
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