Review: A Christmas Carol
Most people are familiar with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, who hate all things Christmas.
It’s Christmas eve, Scrooge’s business partner, Jacob Marley has passed away seven years before, and the old miser hates Christmas, and refuses an invitation from his nephew, Fred, to spend the festivities with his family. Scrooge, although a very wealthy man, then refuses to give any donations to the poor and grudgingly allows his overworked clerk, Bob Cratchit Christmas day off work.
During that night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Marley, who warns scrooge of what will happen if he does not change his ways. Over the following hours Scrooge is visited by three more spirits, the ghost of Christmas past, present and yet to come. Will seeing a glimpse in to the future and how his actions affect the people around him be enough to change Scrooge’s ways…?
Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol during a time of great social change in Britain. There were changes in traditions and around this time we start to see the first Christmas trees and sending of Christmas Cards. Eastern Angles takes this very traditional and well know tale and turns it into something quite magical!
Staying true to the original, a cast of four very talented actors bring the story to life. There is the correct balance of audience participation and fun that perfectly compliments the darker tale of Scrooge and his ways.
The staging of this production is just fantastic, it’s so cleverly executed as we follow the characters as they prepare for Christmas. This show has everything. Brilliant acting, a fabulous set, puppets, catchy tunes and snow, well snow balls…
There are two children that play the parts of Cratchit’s children, these are on a rotation and the pair that performed the evening we saw the production were brilliant.
Eastern Angles have managed to bring a familiar, and the quite dark Story of A Christmas Carol to life in the most amazing way. Breathing much life into the tale, making it fresh and exciting, but without losing that traditional feel, creating a truly magical theatre experience full of that festive spirit.
A Christmas Carol is on at the Eastern Angles Centre in Ipswich until 5th January 2025 and Seckford Theatre in Woodbridge from 8th – 11th January 2025, with BSL interpreted performances at both venues. For all the latest information and the all-important booking details, visit easternangles.co.uk or phone the Eastern Angles Box Office on 01473 211498.
Review: Wendy Cook, Ipswich24 Magazine