A CHRISTMAS CAROL – Written by Charles Dickens as adapted by Richard Hellesen; Original Music adapted by David De Berry; Directed by Anthony Powell. Produced by the Denver Center Theatre Company (presented at the Wolf Theatre, Denver Center, 14th and Curtis, Denver) through December 28. Tickets available at 303-893-4100 or DenverCenter.org.
No matter how you cut it, the Denver Center’s version of this classic is the penultimate CHRISTMAS CAROL. The music, the costumes, the scenery, the colors, the ghosts, the redemption that brings you to tears no matter how hard you try to ignore it . . . . it just can’t be beat. But every year, there’s a little something they do differently or someone who has never been in this show in this place before that adds a new little sparkle to the whole evening of fun. If you want a true CHRISTMAS CAROL experience, it’s there for you to enjoy.
We must start with Scrooge. He’s always the key. If you can believe in
his Scroogy-ness, it will be easier to believe in his turn to good. David Studwell came to Denver to play Mr. Mushnik in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and stayed to play Scrooge. He is sadistically mean in his early scenes with the Gentlemen collecting for the poor and his clerk, Bob Cratchit – to say nothing about his nephew Fred and the people on the street. His conversation with the Ghost of Jacob Marley and the first two ghosts gets more comfortable as they continue, but his fear of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is genuine. His change of heart becomes exuberance unleashed and everyone in the audience rejoices with him as he makes up for his bad boy self. David does an excellent job of drawing us in and letting us care about what happens to him. That’s a tall order but he fills it.
There are lots of lovely performances along the way with actors jumping in and out of various costumes to become new characters. Elise Frances Daniells, as a Street Singer, starts the whole show off with a lovely carol. Geoffrey Kent comes back to his role as Bob Cratchit with a twinkle in his eye and love in his heart for his young son. His tears are genuine when we are shown a possible future for Tiny Tim. Mr. And Mrs. Fezziwig are played with great energy and humor by Shabazz Green and Stephanie Lynn Mason. Then they both appear together in a later scene fighting over Scrooge’s clothes.
Jacob Dresch makes the most of his incredible entrance as the Ghost of Jacob Marley. It’s so fearful, you can’t help but jump. Then he turns around and becomes a well-dressed guest at Fred’s party. Alia Munsch dons one of the most beautiful costumes to become a wistful Ghost of Christmas Past while Topher Embrey gets to be the jolly Ghost of Christmas Present who has such a short life. Even though you can’t really see him in the costume of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Nathan Karnik provides a spectral presence that would cause anyone to rethink their future. But that’s only after he has already portrayed a handsome earnest young Ebenezer. Chloe McLeod gets to be Scrooge’s fiancé in a heartbreaking break up scene; then turn around and provide laughs as Mrs. Fred’s sister who is expecting an engagement ring for Christmas.
And on and on – all working together as a well-tuned clavichord – to provide a perfect way to start your holiday. The Denver Center KNOWS how to do this show. There will be other productions that capture the heart perhaps as well as they do, but It’s just hard to match the spectacle. Give it up.
A WOW factor of 9!!