REVIEW: THE TRADITION CONTINUES WITH “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” AT CHATHAM PLAYHOUSE

By my count, I have seen the Chatham Community Players' biennial production of Philip Wm. McKinley and Suzanne Buhrer's adaptation of A Christmas Carol about 12 or 13 times, and I never get tired of it! While the music, lyrics and book are the same, each production sports a new look, with redesigned sets and new additions to the large cast, but the lovely melodies and gorgeous costumes are the same. Ditto the nifty special effects, deliberately left here unrevealed, that scare Scrooge—and the audience —whenever the ghosts appear, which will be reassuring to those who have seen the production before, either as children or bringing their own offspring to extend the holiday tradition

Most of the cast is new to the production, except for Alan Semok (above, center), who returns to play Scrooge for the tenth time. Even the director (Jeffrey Fiorello), choreographer (Megan Ferentinos) and musical director (Chris Curcio) are first-timers for this venerable show. Yet while the production is a bit different, it retains the charm of the original without feeling tired and predictable.

In case you're unfamiliar with the play, Dickens’ ghost story involves the old skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge who, in the course of one eventful night, is visited by ghosts who reveal to him his Christmas Past, Present and Future. As a result of these experiences, the emotionally cold and grasping miser is transformed into a warm and loving man.

As Charles Dickens, Gordon Wiener avuncularly guides the audience through Dickens’ tale, drawing connections between the story and his own life and sometimes inserting himself into the action. Semok's Scrooge is the quintessential skinflint who scares strangers as he makes his way through the town—all of which makes his transformation at the end, when he kicks up his heels with glee at discovering his love of humankind, all the more delicious! In this production, though, his nastiness has been toned down, and instead of fingering his coins and letting them drop into his strongbox just to hear the lovely sound, he shakes three bags, which kind of softens his avariciousness.

Cast standouts include Chip Prestera as Scrooge’s eternally upbeat nephew Fred and Gus Ibranyi as the earnest clerk Bob Cratchit; his delivery of “If I Could Hold You in My Arms” is especially touching. Paul P. Aiello is a genial Mr. Fezziwig; he's ably supported by the tittering Shannon Ludlum asMrs. Fezziwig, ebulliently exhorting her party guests to “Dance with Your Dumpling,” and later as the grasping Laundress out to make money from the curtains she's stolen from the barely dead Scrooge's bed. Jennifer Bogush as a sad Mrs. Cratchit, and Gira Marie Derise as Scrooge’s lovely ex-fiancée Belle sang well, but were often difficult to hear. (Above (L-R: Shannon Ludlum, Paul P. Aiello and Chip Presetera)

The group of adorable children in the 26-member cast are led by Annie Reynolds as Scrooge’s sister Fan and Lucas Schultz as Tiny Tim; the latter sings a beautiful rendition of "Tiny Tim's Dream." Katie Shults is a magical Ghost of Christmas Past who twirls around and uses her lovely voice to lead Scrooge through his sad and difficult past. As the hearty Ghost of Christmas Present, Paul Salvatoriello (left) shames Scrooge into feeling bad at seeing the Cratchits’ pitiful holiday feast. And Jason Jackson as the Ghost of Christmas Future is scary and imposing even though he's silent.

Bill Motyka's set depicts a streetscape of brick and timbered facades, and Richard Hennessy 's lighting creates a spooky atmosphere when needed. Fran Harrison's costumes evoke the period with their lush fabrics and ruffles and ribbons while the wigs and make-up of Ben Reisebeck and Jessica Phelan complete the Victorian effect. Fiorello's direction keeps the complicated action humming along, although I wish he'd have stressed Scrooge's nastiness a bit more strongly and gotten some of his actors to speak louder.

There’s nothing miserly about this production at the Chatham Playhouse. The troupe pulls out all the stops for A Christmas Carol, artistically and creatively, to give us a real holiday treat. The audience’s gasps at the ghosts’ appearances remind us of the ability of the theater to awaken our imaginations. So give the family the gift of theater with tickets to A Christmas Carol (although I'd leave the little ones at home; they might be scared by the ghosts) before it closes December 23. (Above: the Cratchit family with Lucas Schultz as Tiny Tim, center)

A Christmas Carol will be performed at the Chatham Playhouse, 23 N. Passaic Avenue, Chatham, through December 23. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets are $25 for adults and $23 for youth/senior. For information and tickets, call the box office at 973.635.7363 or visit online at www.chathamplayers.org.

Photos by Howard Fischer