A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Little
Baddow Drama at the Memorial Hall
20.11.13
Jim Hutchon was at the first night -
Alison Woollard’s
refreshing version of A Christmas Carol took the Little Baddow
Players back to basics, and stripped out much of the dross that has
accumulated on this classic over the years. With a simple, soaring
set – a trademark of the director – they were able to create
spectacular tableaux punctuating the action.
John Peregrine’s
Scrooge revelled in his badness, though his conversion from “Bah
Humbug” to “Go buy a turkey” was a bit sudden. His nephew, Fred
(Paul Bonnici) was persuasive. Especially convincing was Steve
Holding, who speaks with his eyes, as the ‘umble Cratchit. Ken
Rolf, too, every inch the jovial Victorian gentleman, shone a new
light on the Fezziwig’s family dance sequence. And Jeff Green was
compelling enough as Marley’s ghost to put shivers down my spine.
The children were
at the heart of the production, Matthew Turner as Young Scrooge, Alex
Dale-Doczy as Oscar, Lily Beer as Cratchit’s daughter and,
especially, small, frail-looking Steven Turner, struggling manfully
with his crutch as Tiny Tim.
The play was shot
through with all the good nature of a well-organised village
production, in the Ambridge tradition (but a bit more convincing).
The costumes were superb, the ensemble work by the large, unwieldy
cast was totally in character and, joy of joys, an actual real, live,
violinist, Anton Archer, to squeeze the last dregs of melodrama out
of the production.
1 comment:
There were Brechtian influences galore in Alison Woollard's cosy production of the familiar story adapted by John Bush. This stripped it down to essentials, telling the tale with economy. Brian Greatrex's magnificent building of the set including a dominant staircase, a mocked -up bed and a door which came and went as needed.
Anton Archer's mournful violin rendition of Where Shall We Be In A Hundred Years From Now? set the scene for Scrooge's office with its barely guttering candles and even more sparsely furnished with charity.
The action sped along at a gallop through Scrooge's youth and adulthood as he learned his lessons from the ghosts of his past, present and future. John Peregrine made a highly effective miser through to his cheerful transformation while the lovely Vicky Tropman created a series of lively characters.
Other eyecatching performers included Chloe Wiles's Belle and Martha Cratchitt; Jeff Green's Ghost of Jacob Marley; plus Ruth Carden's Christmas Past and Fred's Wife.
The only drawback to this entertaining evening of seasonal theatre came from the physical dimensions of the hall's stage. This meant that there was a lot of cross interference with the cast from the very efficient stage crew which was caused by the necessity of turning back on themselves to get furniture offstage left.
But still an evening of enjoyment for the audience.
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