A Christmas Carol
The holidays are officially here. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is back at Goodman Theatre, now in its 46th year; the classic tale delights tourists and Chicagoans with another awe-inspiring performance — and with the incredible performance from Larry Yando, who has formally become the universal image of Ebenezer Scrooge, it's hard to find a reason why this one-person redemption epic shouldn't be seen annually for years to come. The story's message about empathy and the significance of treating the less fortunate with kindness is genuinely touching. It reminds us of the importance of having a sympathetic heart and how it can heal the soul of humanity. This holiday treat is something that every family should experience and cherish. This famous story known worldwide doesn't need my narrative as many know of Ebenezer Scrooge, a crotchety old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley along with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and the Future, Yet to Come— that overwhelm Ebenezer with joy, redeeming him before Christmas Day. Now in its 46th year, the classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL is back at the Goodman Theatre, delighting tourists and Chicagoans with another awe-inspiring performance. Delivering top-notch performances, songs, singing, and dancing, this year's show provided a different twist, with Andrew White narrating the entire show. The cast features Larry Yando as Ebenezer Scrooge and Thomas J. Cox, who is remarkable as Bob Cratchit. Cox's impeccable delivery and witty rendition of this abused yet beloved Scrooge character have made him unreplaceable as Bob Cratchit.
Lucky Stiff, Bethany Thomas, and Daniel Jose Molina, as The Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, respectively, were the three spirits that haunt Ebenezer Scrooge and prompt him to repent. Oddly enough, The Ghost of Christmas Future, with whom Scrooge fears his message most of all, resembles a crow and has two other crows. Surprisingly, there was a 1954 adaption of A Christmas Carol (the first color televised version of the tale), where a myna bird caws Scrooge to the graveyard, where he finds his grave and Tiny Tim's. Other notable performances came from Robert Schleifer (Mr. Fezzwig), Gregory Hirte (Dick Wilkins), Amira Danan(Belle), Kareem Bandealy (Young Marley) and (Daniel Jose Molina (Young Scrooge). Penelope Walker returns to the role of Mrs. Maud Fezziwig. She has delighted audiences in this production with several roles since 2005 — and playing the courageous cripple boy Tim Cratchit's (Tiny Tim's) was Christian Lucas. I had the pleasure of meeting Christian Lucas's mother. I miss the high-tech animation in the set design. Still, its normality, the original adaptation with a few changes here and there, and quality performances continuously bring audiences into the epic story. I've had the pleasure of seeing this production for several years. This year's show had a compressed storyline but flowed effortlessly. Although I enjoyed the high-tech, spooky version produced some years ago, this light-hearted version was more captivating. Goodman stayed with the original theme with a few changes here and there; however, you can never get enough of that classic line, "bah-humbug," and any of the famous one-liners Scrooge boorishly utters. A Christmas Carol is more than a holiday performance; it's a touching story about the power of family love to overcome even the most hardened hearts.
"A Christmas Carol" is a classic tale perfect for the holiday season. If you're looking for a fun and festive activity for the whole family, getting tickets to the show at the Goodman Theatre would be a wonderful treat. It runs for about two and a half hours, so you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the story and get into the holiday spirit.
4 STARS ****
Goodman Theatre Presents
A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by Tom Creamer
Directed by Jessica Thebus
Now – December 31, 2023, in the Albert Theatre
Click above for tickets and below for reviews
