SCROOGE: Touring
SCROOGE: the musical by Leslie Bricusse, adapted from the story by Charles Dickens
Runs: 2h 25m, one interval, Alexandra Birmingham till 3 December then on tour (Tour details and phone numbers below; fuller details www.kenwright.com)
Review: Rod Dungate, Alexandra Birmingham, 28 November 2005
Whatever you feel like when you go in, you'll feel a lot better when you come out
Scrooge, in the musical version by Leslie Bricusse, is a shamelessly feel-good show. And after watching Shane Richie's performance you'll feel, well . . . , even gooder.
It's a vigorous show, and the story moves rapidly from scene to scene, no sooner do you reach the summit of one song than you find yourself quickly climbing towards the summit of another. The big numbers are shared equally between solos (M.O.N.E.Y. is an early contender from Scrooge) and company – MISER CHRISTMAS comes early on, led by Ben Heller's irrepressible Tom Jenkins, the hot soup man.
I have a sneaking suspicion that Richie was a Scrooge waiting to happen. He has a fine strong singing voice; he builds marvellously to his major songs in the second half – A BETTER LIFE and I'LL BEGIN AGAIN. He appears to have boundless energy which he dollops out in generous helpings, his vibrancy and good humour are infectious – and his sense of comic irony, delicious. He may be the star of the show but he is not always the centre of attention. So he scores too when listening and watching others – and Scrooge does a lot of this. He's terrific.
Among many good moments is Fezziwigs' party; a rumbustious affair presided over by a suitably jolly Mr F from Bryan Kennedy. Your head whirls and your feet tap as the partiers move from one dance to anther. The other big Christmas party (Scrooge's nephew) offers us the truly delightful MINISTER'S CAT.
James Earl Adair's hilarious Jacob Marley is lugubriously outrageous and he makes a fine hellish arrival wreathed about in smoke. A word must go, too, to Paul Kieve for devising some great illusions. Paul Farnsworth's attractive designs ensure the pace doesn't slacken and the whole is energetically orchestrated by director Bob Tomson.
Scrooge: Shane Ritchie.
Geoffrey Abbott, Stephen Weller, Ellie Baker, Nathan Hunter, Sarah Ford, Sophie Caton, Keiron Harris, James Bisp, Alison Guill, Aidan Bell, Ben Wheeler, Tony Stansfield, Bryan Kennedy, Kara Lane, James Earl Adair, Aidan Bell, Sheri Copeland, Robyn North, Anthony Stuart Lloyd, Julia Nagle, Chris Gosling,
Max Griesbach, Oliver Chatham, Anabel Smith, Ben Roberts, Alice Newbold, Karine Harber, Grace Gwynne, Andrew Exeter, Luke Bajjon, Elliott Sansom, Ellie Thomas, Jarleth Eaton, Jamie Sawbridge, Elene-Marie Pando, Tara Harrison.
Director: Bob Tomson.
Design: Paul Farnsworth.
Illusionist: Paul Kieve.
Choreographer: Lisa Kent.
Musical Director: David Steadman.
Lighting Designer: Nick Richings.
Original Sound Designer: Mick Potter.
Associate Sound Designer: Crispin Covell.
2005-11-29 15:53:48