Alley's `Christmas Carol' pumps new energy into Dickens
What I saw at the Alley last week completely destroyed those assumptions. The phrase that kept running through my head was, "This is not your parents' Christmas Carol. " I'm used to A Christmas Carol being cute and sweet, everything a Christmas special should be. The Alley is offering a telling that finally remembers that, in many ways, this is a ghost story.
The production is overwhelmingly loud, eerie and spooky. I was surprised at times that this was a Christmas special and not a Halloween special. But the Christmas element is not gone. Tiny Tim still says, "God bless us, everyone," and Scrooge still learns his lesson.
James Black, currently one of Houston's most prolific actors, breathes an incredible passion and energy into the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge. It is tempting to claim that he stole the show, despite the fact that he is already the central character of the story. Black has always possessed a near perfect comic timing, and he uses it to every bit of its advantage as Scrooge. If there was ever any mystery as to why he stays so well employed as a professional actor, this should solve it.
The other major delight of this production is Jeffrey Bean as both Jacob Marley and Mrs. Dilber. No, that is not a typo. I did say "Mrs." Bean as Scrooge's housekeeper adds a wonderful comic relief to the show in an almost Monty Python style. And the "resemblance" between Marley and Mrs. Dilber contributes greatly to the humor. Scenes between Scrooge and the housekeeper are some of the best in the show.
While it would take a major thesis to discuss every actor in the cast, there are a few who definitely deserve special mention. John Feltch, another seasoned regular of the company, adds more to Bob Cratchit than the obligatory Christmas sugar and spice. He plays Cratchit as poor and exhausted, not as the dimensionless sap that appears in less original productions. Paul Hope, in the role of Scrooge's nephew Fred, is easily the one actor on this stage infused with the highest level of Christmas spirit. His presence warms the stage, even in the dank confines of Scrooge's office. And, as a whole, this cast shines. From ghosts of Christmas to townspeople on the street, this is one of the most energetic and engaging productions I've ever seen.
What made this production worth the extra attention in a market flooded with Christmas images was the original, fresh production style. From the set, designed by Jay Michael Jagim, to dance numbers involving suffering ghosts, the production seems to come at one like a haunted house with a holly wreath on the door. I've never seen a production of A Christmas Carol that scared me or kept me on the edge of my seat, but this one did.
Although Alley ticket prices continue to rise, "Pay What You Want" and student rush tickets are available. Call 228-8421 for information.
This item appeared in the Opinion section of the December 8, 1995 issue.
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