HSC "A Christmas Carol" familiar festive holiday treat

HARTFORD - Perhaps because of the more somber economic mood this holiday season, the Hartford Stage Company’s beloved production of Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol- A Ghost Story" seems to carry an even more important statement of what is most precious in life - family, friends, and love.

Year after year the timeless tale of "Bah Humbug" Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from miserly, miserable, greedy old man to generous, loving, and happy old soul winds it’s way into thousands of hearts in hundreds of theaters across the country.

Directed by Michael Wilson, this interpretation of the classic tale uses just the right amount of gold dust and sparkles to entrance even the most hardened theatergoer. The choreography, by Hope Clarke is seamless, as always, with creative use of the cutout white umbrellas that help make the show a visual feast.

White grotesque ghosts, with blank scary masks, axes in their heads, and swords piercing their bodies dance with rigid grace - some flying through the air with rattling chains and lighting strikes, making this show too scary for very young children.

Alan Rust plays the mean skinflint Scrooge to perfection - hoarding every penny with glee, which makes his eventual transformation all the more uplifting and hopeful.
Scrooge’s nephew Fred, well-played by Curtis Billings, says to Scrooge: "You fear the world too much," and tells his family that he feels sorry for his uncle, since he recognizes that Scrooge’s mean behavior really only hurts the old man in the end.

The Spirit of Christmas Future is the scariest of the three ghosts, because the creature says nothing at all.

In the Hartford Stage Company’s production, the spirit is a metallic futuristic ghost, much like some nightmarish character out of a Tim Burton movie, riding an oversized tricycle, which makes it tower ominously over the trembling and ultimately humbled Scrooge.

At the end of the frightening night, Scrooge is thrilled to be alive and have the opportunity to help those closest to him.

His employee Cratchit, played with feeling by Robert Hannon Davis, his angry wife, Rebecka Jones, and their sweet family including the adorable Tiny Tim, played alternately by Brendan Fitzgerald and Jacrhys Dalton, are all benefactors of Scrooge’s cathartic transformation.

Bring your loved ones and share the heart and soul of what makes life worth living in this soaring, exuberant production of Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol."

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - A CHRISTMAS GHOST STORY

3½ Stars
Location: Hartford Stage Company, 50 Church Street, Hartford.
Production: Story by Charles Dickens. Adapted and directed by Michael Wilson. Associate director Jeremy B. Cohen. Choreographer Hope Clarke. Scenic design by Tony Straiges. Costume design by Zack Brown. Lighting design by Robert Wierzel. Original music and sound design by John Cromada. Dialect coach Gillian Lane-Plescia. Music direction by Ken Clark.
Running time: Two hours with one intermission
Show Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and selected Sundays at 7:30 p.m. There is no evening performance Wednesday, Dec. 24; matinees are Saturdays Sundays and Wednesday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. through Dec. 28.
Tickets: $25 - $66. Call 527-5151 or visit their Web site at www.hartfordstage.org.

ACTOR...CHARACTER
Alan Rust ... Ebenezer Scrooge
Bill Kux ... Ghost of Jacob Marley, Mrs. Dilber
Robert Hannon Davis ... Bob Cratchit, Mr. Fezziwig
Curtis Billings ... Fred, Scrooge at 30
Jeffrey V. Thompson ... Spirit of Christmas Present, Bert the fruit and cider vendor
Johanna Morrison ... Spirit of Christmas Past, Bettye Pidgeon the doll vendor
Rob Cunliffe ... Mr. Marvel a watchworks vendor
Himself ... Spirit of Christmas Future
Rebecka Jones ... Mrs. Cratchit
Natalie Brown ... Mrs. Fezziwig, Fred’s sister-in-law, Old Jo, and others
Noble Shropshire ... first solicitor, undertaker
Gustave Johnson ... Second solicitor
Michelle Hendrick ... Belle
Deirdre Garrett ... Rich lady
Kurt Peterson ... Scrooge at 15
Tiny Tim Cratchit ... Brendan Fitzgerald or Jacrhys Dalton
Veronique Hurley ... Nichola, Fezziwig’s daughter
Ellenkate Finley ... Wendy, Fezziwig’s daughter
Amanda Karmelin ... Fiddler
Daniel Toot ... Dick Wilkins
Sarah Goosmann ... Martha Cratchit
Michelle Hendrick ... Fred’s wife
James DiMatteo ... Mr. Topper