SCROOGE. To 10 February.

Tour

SCROOGE
by Leslie Bricusse

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton To 18 November then tour to 10 February 2007
Runs: 2hrs 15min One interval
Review: Ranjit Khutan 15 November at Grand Theatre Wolverhampton

A warm, well packaged and magical musical that deserves the ovations it has been receiving.
Here's a heart-warming Scrooge, Dickens sensitively adapted into a musical by Leslie Bricusse. The set is breathtaking – a cobbled street framed by tall twisted buildings with meticulous attention to detail down to the views through the doorways and windows.

Michael Barrymore’s Scrooge is miserable yet comic, allowing a comfortable transformation from penny-pinching miser to generous and kind hearted softie after his experiences with the three ghosts that visit him on Christmas Eve. He lends the character’s neat one-liners the lightest of touches, letting his strong facial expressions speak.

Paul Kieve’s superb stage illusions made people gasp along with Barrymore, as the Ghost of Christmas Past appears on a spinning chair, then exits through a mirror leaving Scrooge clutching her cape. And as the Ghost of Christmas Present appears on a bed that seconds earlier was empty, but now is surrounded by mounds of food.

Barry Howard’s spirit of Jacob Marley is bright and a little camp, Sheri Copeland’s Christmas Past is beautiful, with an angelic voice of irresistible charm. Anthony Stuart Lloyd (Christmas Present) has a vocal power that booms across the audience, adding to direction that gives the illusion that he is also large in stature.

Geoffrey Abbott’s Crachit is sensitive and endearing; especially during his moments with Tiny Tim – played with conviction by Alistair Winning. The company perform spectacular numbers, including ‘Sing a Christmas Carol’, ‘Miser Christmas’, ‘The Milk of Human Kindness’, ‘Thank You Very Much’ and ‘I’ll Begin Again’.

You can’t escape the personal drama Barrymore has gone through over the past few years, and Scrooge’s journey almost reflects his own. As this Scrooge thanks the Ghosts for showing him the way, it is clear that he’s also thanking the audience for their support, something he makes quite explicit in his final line, ‘Thank you very much….I am able to begin again’. Barrymore is back – stronger, funnier and more entertaining than ever.

Scrooge: Michael Barrymore
Bob Crachit: Geoffrey Abbott
Harry: Ben Fleetwood Smyth
Bess: Daniella Bowen
Mrs Dibner: Catherine Terry
Miss Dibner: Sophie Caton
Jacob Marley: Barry Howard
Ghost of Christmas Past: Sheri Copeland
Young Ebenezer: Ben Fleetwood Smyth
Ghost of Christmas Present: Anthony Stuart Lloyd
Host of Christmas yet to come: David Lyndon
Tiny Tim: Alistair Winning
Children: from Tettenhall College

Director: Bob Tomson
Designer: Paul Farnsworth
Lighting: Nick Richings
Sound: Mick Potter
Musical director: Stuart Pedlar
Illusionist: Paul Kieve
Choreography: Lisa Kent

2006-11-19 10:26:28