BWW Reviews: The Rep's Glorious A CHRISTMAS CAROL Melts Hearts

This December, Milwaukee Repertory Theater relives a 39-year old tradition in the beautiful Pabst Theater: Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. In this recent adaptation by Joseph Hanreddy and Edward Morgan, familiar English carols and melodies echo through the theater so the audience believes they might be standing on the streets of London, Christmas Eve, mid-1800's. Director Aaron Posner returns to inspire another Ebenezer Scrooge, Milwaukee's own Jonathan Smoots.

While the mid 1800's seems far in the past, spoken in the 21st century Dickens's words equally reflect any cultures that might value money and profit over benevolence and charity. The former business partner of Scrooge, Jacob Marley, returns as a beastly ghost bundled in chains and a cloud of smoke to warn Ebenezer to mend his ways, because Marley now knows, "Mercy and mankind were my business."

In an effort to reclaim Scrooge's soul, Marley sends three different spectres to an elegant Smoots who imbues Dickens's iconic character with an eloquent insensitivity. Where these Christmas spirits of past, present and future need to break into his hardened, frigid heart and Scrooge's inherent steadfastness to his business principles. A heart Scrooge fiercely holds closed, under ice instead of merely mean and curmudgeonly.

Also on stage in this Christmas Carol, American Players Theatre actors Brian Mani and Sarah Day partner in several witty duos: Mr. Philpot and Miss Twyce, Scrooge's former employers Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, and the two gravediggers assigned to bury Scrooge in a Christmas future. Throughout the production, Mani and Day exude a presence that further illuminates Dickens's story through this superb casting.

Jonathan Wainwright and Marti Gobel capture equal charm playing Mr. and Mrs. Cratchit, a diverse couple appropriately suited to the 21st century, while Michael Doherty and Beth Mulkerron delight in the roles of Scrooge's nephew Fred, and his wife, Catherine. Scrooge disinherited Fred, his only living family, because he failed to marry for a dowry or money, and instead chose to marry for love.

A grand supporting cast also features incredible children, especially Tiny Tim and Smudge. Each actor contributes in creating the most gorgeous moments on stage when words mingle into music on the two level set designed by Marjorie Bradley Kellogg complemented by the lavish period costumes envisioned by Martha Hally. Whether the casts sings the more unfamiliar carols, "Tomorrow will be my dancing day, oh my love," or the recognizable "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and a personal favorite, "The Holly and the Ivy," melodic songs embellish Dickens's message summed up when Fezziwig asks of Marley in a Christmas past: "Will our modern progress crush our human progress, our human values?"

When Scrooge eventually realizes the happiness Fezziwig gave was "quite as if it had cost a fortune," Scrooge's heart begins to melt, a slight crack placed in the frozen soul, under the warmth of generosity, kindness and joy.

The beloved story endures for future generations. At this Friday evening performance, a mother traveled from Janesville, Wisconsin with her 12 and 14-year old daughters, and two of their friends. The event became the mother's first time at the Pabst Theater, when she returned to Milwaukee after a 20-year hiatus, and she bought tickets as Christmas presents for her children because she loved this story. Claiming the production "amazing,' she would bring her younger daughter and a friend next year.

This speaks to the distinct privilege of revisiting classic stories again, whether a person experiences the wonder for the very first time as the Janesville family, or the wonder of anticipating the production year after year. Returning to A Christmas Carol often melts and reawakens the heart to the needs of ignorance and want and replaces them with benevolence and charity in any season, in any decade.

During the production, The Rep sponsors the Children's Outing Association (COA) an organization with a more than 100-year legacy of working in Milwaukee. One graduate from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design grew up under COA's after school programs and guidance, was fed meals by COA, kept warm at COA, and personally survived because of COA. He moved more than 40 times during his childhood and at one point shared a small two-bedroom apartment in the city with close to a dozen people, including his grandmother, mother and aunt. COA, charity and generosity do make a difference

In today's society, believe there are children without homes, or 20 and 30-year old somethings unfamiliar with Ebenezer Scrooge's story---invite one, or invite someone for the first time while the wonder appears equally marvelous every year when Scrooge finally shatters his hardened heart into pieces with an exceptional laugh. At The Rep's glorious A Christmas Carol brimming with humor, rejoice and sing in the soul. Open the human heart to Dickens's beguiling spirits throughout this holiday season with genuine compassion.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in the Historic Pabst Theater through December 24. For information or tickets, please call 414.224.9490 or visit www.milwaukeerep.com

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