Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL - Lights Up The Holiday

A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, adapted and directed by Dave Steakley, currently playing at ZACH Theatre, has become an Austin tradition and is by far the best way to kick off the holiday season. Retooled to include new contemporary songs every year, the musical is performed by a Broadway caliber cast. The Dickens' classic has never been more entertaining, and with the addition of GREATER TUNA star Jaston Williams as Scrooge, this year is an extra special treat with a cherry on top.

I admit to being a fan of Charles Dickens. My annual tradition is to pull out my tattered copy of A CHRISTMAS CAROL and revel in the wonderful characters, pointed social commentary and ultimate redemption that is the story's hallmark. Beginning with its publication in 1843, A CHRISTMAS CAROL became an instant sensation and has never been out of print in 173 intervening years. The story of cold-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge (Jaston Williams) has been modernized in dozens of different ways but none as satisfying as Steakley's adaption. This version manages to add depth and pure joy to the seasonal tale. We meet Scrooge's nephew, Fred (Michael Valentine), as he makes an annual visit to his uncle's office to offer unwanted greetings of the season and plead with Scrooge to attend his celebration on Christmas Day. The old miser rejects Fred's overture and berates two gentlemen collecting for charity (Kenny Williams and Vincent J. Hopper) before heading to his cold and lonely abode. Scrooge is later visited by the restless apparition of his former partner Jacob Marley (Roderick Sanford) who warns that Scrooge is forging a heavy burden in the afterlife by being avaricious and uncharitable. Marley announces that three spirits will visit that very night. The ghosts of Christmas Past (Kenny Williams), Christmas Present (Chanel Haynes-Schwartz) and Christmas Future (Boyce Templin), visit the old man in turn and lay bare his soul using memories, harsh reality and comfortless death. In a wonderful addition to the original, the Cratchit family is an adopted group of seven children. Dickens masterful storytelling and keen insight into the human experience have kept this tale timeless, while the masterful hand of Steakley keeps it fresh and appealing to a modern audience.

The best shows come from a talented writer, a creative director and a stellar cast, A CHRISTMAS CAROL has such an overflow of these ingredients there are times it is difficult to focus on one aspect because you could miss another facet that is equally stunning. David Steakley's direction is flawless; the entire show flows as if were but a dream. Costumes designed by Susan Branch Towne are bright and captivating. Bob Lavallee's set design is clever and surpasses imagination. The cast is uniformly outstanding, the actors shift scenes so seamlessly that the audience scarcely notices when the turntable revolves and a new scene is revealed. The entire performance is slick and professional, every song, pitch perfect, every dance on the mark, every actor engaging, emotive and true to the characters written so long ago. The ensemble is outstanding in every way, playing multiple roles throughout with top notch singing and beautifully executing dazzling choreography by Christina Oliver-Torres. Cast standouts include Tyler Jones in the dual roles of Apprentice Scrooge and Topper. His masterful transformation of character from the eager young lover at Fezziwig's party proposing to Belle (Sara Burke) to the work driven man who lets the love of his life walk away, is heartbreaking. Jones' Topper is pure comic awkwardness until he breaks into Pitbull's Don't Stop The Party that brings down the house. Sara Burke plays Belle with depth and her rendition of Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody gives a heartrending meaning to the song. Kenny Williams as the Ghost of Christmas Past, delivers some of the best laughs of the evening and his voice is unmatched in its pure clarity. As the Ghost of Christmas Present, Chanel Haynes-Schwartz makes one wonder why the role would ever be played by a man. Her vocals are out of this world amazing and her arresting charm is joyous. Turning in a spectacular performance of Beyoncé's Halo is Marianel Marquez as Martha Cratchit, her grief is palpable. Paul Sanchez as Bob Cratchit performs the show stopping number with his operatic tenor; I saw many audience members wiping their eyes in the wake of O Holy Night. As Jacob Marley and Fezziwig, Roderick Sanford delivers the goods in stellar fashion with Michael Jackson's Man In The Mirror. He is truly haunting as Scrooge's deceased business partner, reaching deep into the collective soul of the audience. Michael Valentine as Fred, the eternally optimistic nephew of Scrooge, plays the role with heartfelt sincerely along with brilliant vocals. It's Fred who leads this version of the tale and Valentine makes it look all too easy. Last, but in no way least, is legendary comic actor Jaston Williams as Scrooge. Williams has been a star of the stage for decades with good reason, he is utterly magnetic in performance, charming even when playing an iconic miser. I have seen Scrooge played by some of the best actors of all time, and I must say that his delivery of "Humbug!" is my new favorite beating out Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Michael Caine hands down. To say he is hilarious is a monumental understatement so I will suffice to say that Jaston Williams' performance is not to be missed.

Holiday performances are usually run of the mill affairs aimed at small children and include syrupy sentiment. Zach Theatre's A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a pure delight that will stay with you long after the season has ended. Give yourself the gift of joy and make reservations now.

Photo by Kirk R. Tuck

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
by Charles Dickens, Adapted by David Steakley
Directed by David Steakley
Zach Theatre, Topfer Theatre
November 23 - December 31

Running Time: 2 hours with one 15 minute intermission

Tickets: $89 - $29 zachtheatre.org

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