A Christmas Carol, the musical: Stage or Tv Version?

[Jovie24]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 8:39pm

It is that time of year again where I pull out my OCR of A CHRISTMAS CAROL the musical and listen to it over and over again. This year I have two options. Even though I bought the original TV version last year when it was avilabale, I just started to listen to it and I have to say HANDS DOWN the OCR(Madison Square Garden) is the best.

I did not like the movie version at all (soundtrack or movie). I felt that they changed too much and Jennifer Love Hewitt (JLH) was just awful. She runined the whole # "A Place Called Home". JLH just made the song sound so poppy and just so bad...the guy who was playing Young Scrooge @ 18 (Steven Miller, movie) was just as bad. If you listen to the OCR Walter Charles and the two who played Emily and Young Scrooge @ 18 was just amazing...the three part harmony brought tears to my eyes.


In 1995 I wanted to bring the stage version to the small or big screen, using what score was perserved on the OCR. That is such a wonderful score and it is haunting and cheerful all at the same time. One of the best versions ever. Scrooge, the musical, A Chrismtas Schonner and even Tim, A Carol for A Later Christmas can not touch the remarkable effect that A CHRISTMAS CAROL, the musical has done to me (even though Tim, A Carol For A Later Christmas, has some good songs here and there).

So, with that being said, what are your guys thoughts on the recordings, film and stages versions?


Thanks..would love to read what anything you have to say about this!

[Phantom487]

Posted: 11/4/06 at 2:15am

The stage version was PHENOMINAL! I saw it with Tim Curry and again with Jim Dale... both were awesome. When I first heard they were making it into a TV movie, I was thrilled. However, after seeing it I was disgusted. I am a big fan of Kelsey Grammar, but I hated him in the role of Scrooge... he was just bad. I also adore Jesse Martin and Jane Krakowski, but they just did not fit the roles in this show.

I really wish they had scratched the TV movie idea and filmed a live stage performance. The special effects and staging were amazing... sad that they don't do the show anymore.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/4/06 at 2:27am

I adore the TV version......

[Jovie24]

Posted: 11/4/06 at 2:31am

I think the a TV version could still work. They just approached it wrong. Just use the original OBC score and do that...unless you have seen the stage version, TV people have not seen that and that would be considered new to them. A TV version can work, that was just not the right one!

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/4/06 at 3:35am

The TV version had actors who looked like they took two bottles of sleeping pills each before shooting...it was terrible!!! Only a hard core musical theatre fan could watch that until the end without snoozing.

The stage version I loved, but I always wondered why they revised some of the songs, I love how everything is on the OCR. I personally think is the composer's best.

[Hawker]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 6:08pm

I'd love to see what Sondheim could do with the 1951 film version staring Alastair Sim

Musical, play, or film, no one has brought the Dickens' classic to life better than Brian Hurst who both produced and directed it. Richard Addinsell's adaptation is as good as any other piece of fiction brought to film and Sim is the gold standard for Scrooge. Every line of dialogue is delivered spot on and in addition to Sim's timeless performance there are five or six actors and actresses in minor roles that give bravura performances.

I'd think I've seen this film well over 100 times and it remains just as evergreen as having seen it first more than 40 years ago.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 6:23pm

As much as I love musicals, I have to admit I gave up on the TV version after the first fifteen minutes.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 6:28pm

The stage version is much better. I enjoy listening to it hands down over the TV soundtrack.

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 6:47pm

i am partial to the stage version because i did it its final year (with jim dale). one of the best experiences of my life i still have a script and score at home, actually. glad to hear people miss it that much! (maybe it'll make a surprise return??)

[MotorTink]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 7:11pm

I saw the stage version in 1995, so I don't remember all that much, but I did really enjoy it. The TV movie, it was horrible in technicality, but I still adored it. If it has something to do with Christmas, there isn't much you can do wrong by me. The people I watched it with were like "I didn't know Detective Green" could sing!! Wow!" I just shook my head and sighed.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 8:24pm

I credit this show to have hooked me into theatre when I was 5 years old. Still love it and LOVE listening to it this time of year.

[mattnyc2]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 8:27pm

I was Peter Cratchit in a musical stage version of the show. It wasn't the version that was at MSG, but another that featured the song "Penny by Penny" and "One Family." That version will always hold a special place in my heart, although nobody else has seemed to have heard of it.