A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Nuffield Theatre to 12 January.
Southampton
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
by Charles Dickens
Nuffield Theatre To 12 January 2002
Runs 2hr One interval
TICKETS 023 8067 1771
Review Timothy Ramsden 1 January
Surprisingly serious Dickens adaptation that still finds time for a party on stage.As Puritanical a spirit as you can find with his year-round repertory, artistic director Patrick Sandford lets his hair down at Christmas, handling popular classic stories in high cavalier fashion. This is never more so than when he teams up with Granville Saxton.
So it's a surprise to find the pair not having a high old time with Dickens. But no; Sandford adapts details freely, but always with a point. Practicality apart, Scrooge's having his bed at the office emphasises his obsession with making money. It also allows Marley's ghost to emerge aptly from the huge office safe.
And the first evidence of strange goings on, Marley's face replacing Scrooge's door-knocker becomes a face pressed half-through a door-panel. It's silently pointed out to Scrooge by a street urchin, forerunner of the young pair Ignorance and Want, who are introduced to Scrooge as the result of his stern philosophy.
Nuffield audiences expect participation to go beyond calling out, and Sandford allows a good number of volunteer children on stage to the party at Fred Scrooge's house, where they decorate the tree and join in a carol or two. Somehow it manages not to interrupt the plot, but fits with the prominence of children in the action introduced by that street waif pointing out Marley's Ghost.
After a cheery pair of Christmas Spirits, the final, huge figure looming over the stage side seems more grim than ever. And Saxton is just the person to make clear, after this fearful experience, that Scrooge's change of heart is shown less in buying turkeys or raising salaries than in the way he enjoys playing a joke on Bob Cratchit: Scrooge's redemption isn't only a matter of generosity, but one of cheerfulness and fun as well.
Mr Scrooge: Granville Saxton
Bob Cratchit/Dick Wilkins: Declan Wilson
Fred Scrooge/The 3 Misses Fezziwig: Damian Myerscough
Landlady/Mrs Fezziwig/Fred'sc Jolly Wife:Joanna Monro
Marley's Ghost/Mr Fezziwig/Topper: David Alcock
Sp[irit of Christmas Past/Mrs Cratchit: Melody Brown
Young Scrooge/Spirit of Christmas Present: Ben Redfern
Belle/Laundress: Helen Linstead
Tiny Tim: Christopher Burningham/Samuel Cripps/Paul Cataffo
Children: Bryony Stafford, Lauren Williams, Hannah Braithwaite, Paul Ainsworth, David Slattery, Roxy Dunn, Daniel Warwick, Sophie Napleton, Luke Williams, Charlotte Williams, Charles Gill/Hannah Rood, Jerome Jacob, Sarah Bishop, Elizabeth White, Hollie Moisey, Melissa MacDonald, Adam Nowell, Adam Rood, Daniel Burman, Thomas Isaac, Mark Shepperd/Stevie-Lee Bennett, Lee mingay, Adam Gaunt, Carly Cataffo, Jade Downie, Rui Brito, Abi Onuoha, Emma Trim, Wil Sammes, Adam Skeats, Jess Farnhill.
Director: Patrick Sandford
Designer: Ti Green
Lighting: David W. Kidd
Sound: Matt Valentine
Movement: Clare Cannock
Musical Director: Carlton Edwards
2002-01-10 00:52:29