A CHRISTMAS CAROL -- Commonweal Theatre Company

script: Charles Dickens
adaptation: "the Commonweal"
director: Alan Bailey
cast: Anna Grace Bingham, Amanda Davis, Scott Dixon, David Hennessey, Eric Knutson, Matthew Luck, Simon Cropp, Magnolia Decker, Elsa Hennessey-Barnes
scenic design: Joel Sass
costume design: Greta Raatz
lighting design: Patrick Strain

Charles Dickens' classic tale of a curmudgeon who, after being visited by ghosts, becomes a loveable philanthropist.

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I will say, straight up, that I don't care for this adaptation. I first saw this two, maybe three years ago, and was utterly devestated that I had brought a group of young cub scouts, who were thoroughly bored. This adaptation is, in my opinion, readers theatre. The cast tells you what happened or what will happen, how a character felt, and then they act out a little bit. This is not why I go to the theatre -- to have someone tell me a story.

Why did I bother going, then? I went because the new director for the production is a friend of mine, and hopefully, bias aside, I can admit that I enjoyed this production more than I have in the past.

There is still a "reader's theatre" quality to it, that I don't care for, but much of that sense has been removed and the actors actually get to show us their emotions and the story, rather than tell much of it.

Director Alan Bailey keeps the story moving along well, and works the small cast through a large number of roles quite well. The action moves quickly and there is no change for the audience to be lulled to sleep.

The set is beautiful, and very functional for this version.

If you want to see something at the Commonweal, this is probably the company at their best. Unfortunately, I still can't recommend it as outstanding theatre.