A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Mike Maran at the Cramphorn Theatre

19.12.10

Stark railings, a bare tree, snow. Mike Maran's unique re-telling of Dicken's seasonal classic uses all his special skills and techniques as a story-teller – repetition for one – to bring new life to the characters. Maran's naïve, slightly hesitant delivery persuades us that he is discovering the plot for the first time, before Scrooge became a by-word for miserliness and “Bah Humbug!” entered the language, and so we relive it anew with him.

In our mind's eye we see the transparent ghost, the hide-and-seek house, the barrels of oysters, and Fezziwig's warehouse filled with party guests.

A faithful dramatic adaptation – the latest in a line that began only weeks after the story appeared in print. Though after the interval, when the tree was dressed and the railings were crowned with candles, there was more music - including a song – accompanied by the silent witness to the tale, Norman Chalmers, standing in for Cratchit and one of the spectres, rattling chains, lighting candles and playing thumb piano, whistle and squeezebox.

The music was specially composed by Alison Stephens, long-time collaborator with Maran, for her mandolin. She died last October, before she could join the Christmas Carol tour; this wonderful production is dedicated to her, and is helping to raise funds for a scholarship in her memory.