Jessica Harris gets festive with A Christmas Carol at Birmingham Rep.
A stage awash with old filing cabinets and dusty boxes, all piled up impossibly high. In the foggy background, the tall spires of London, below a parade of beggars in rags. A soundtrack as lean and gaunt as Ebenezer Scrooge himself. So opens the Birmingham Rep’s atmospheric retelling of Charles Dickens’ well-known yuletide story, A Christmas Carol.
When Scrooge’s business partner, Jacob Marley, dies at his desk of a sudden heart attack, when his accounts books are thrown by some mysterious force to the floor, when his quill pen turns of its own accord in its bottle of ink, we know we are in for a riveting encounter with phantoms and ghosts.
Adapted by Mark Gatiss, known to many as co-creator of, and actor in, the BBC’s Sherlock series, this production comes up with the goods time and time again. The transformation of Scrooge from miser to benefactor is life-affirming and heart-warming. The portrayal of the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who show him his life as was, is now, and will be hereafter, is fully captivating.
Matthew Cottle in the central role commands our empathy as we witness Scrooge’s gradual realisation that, in pursuit of wealth, he has missed out on all of the other riches that life offers, and that there are choices to be made.
Rufus Hound’s performance of the ghost of Marley is ghastly and ghoulish. With the sound of clanging bells echoing around, he appears wrapped in huge chains, weights dragging behind him. His revelation to Scrooge that he wears the chains he forged during his lifetime presents a powerful and terrifying image.
The three Ghosts are striking in their diversity. Presaged by whispy spectres flying around the auditorium, Grace Hogg-Robinson is the harpy-like Ghost of Christmas Past, spiteful and cruel. Mark Theodore is a stately Ghost of Christmas Present. In a sumptuous gown of green and gold, he sprinkles Christmas cheer on all, especially the poor. The Ghost of Christmas Future, Marley himself, is truly haunting, towering over Scrooge in a dark cloak, his face concealed in its huge hood.
The scenes conjured up by the three ghosts are also strikingly different. Some richly textured and some threadbare, costuming, sound and lighting are all used to great effect. The home of Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, played by Lance West, is full of Christmas joy and of jigs which are danced most charmingly by the cast.
In contrast, the Cratchit family home is poor and humble. Yet, though barely able to put food on the table, their love for one another, well-illustrated through Oscar Batterham’s performance as Bob Cratchit, provides a quiet content. Most revealing is their affection for Tiny Tim, played by Ryan Weston, and their support for one another when he dies.
Gattis’ version of A Christmas Carol is framed by a Narrator, played by Geoffrey Beevers. His commentary on proceedings encourages us to also comment on what we see before us, and on the meaning of kindness and selflessness in our lives. The message of the story is there, without the feel of a heavy hand.
With its fantastic set, strong performances and brilliant soundtrack, coupled with its delightful cast of children and moments of sheer exuberance, this is a show that will certainly get you into the Christmas mood.
A Christmas Carol was directed by Adam Penford. Set and costume designer was by Paul Wills. Sound design was by Ella Wahlstrӧm.
Birmingam Rep’s age guidance for the production is 12+. It runs at the Rep until 5th January. For further information see birmingham-rep.co.uk.
Pics – Ellie Kurttz