What a festive time it is, all around the town! Princeton’s McCarter Theatre sees the return of the family favorite, David Thompson’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol!” Adam Immerwahr directs one of the most beloved stories of the season, and while it may be about Christmas, per se, it is a broad look at what is common to all society–love for our fellow travelers while we shuffle through this mortal coil. McCarter sprinkles community players and Broadway professionals together to brilliant effect.
Greg Wood returns as skinflint and all about dour sour codger Scrooge. Scrooge is surprisingly limber as he does his own stunts, like rolling over the bed in surprise, when Marley’s ghost (Frank X) confronts him. Though Wood has done this role dozens of times, it is still fresh and beautiful for each new audience. The children are delightful, and there are tailor-made portions for the children to be highlighted, playing violin or piano, gymnastic floor exercise, and dance as well as being impossibly adorable. Steven Rattazzi and Anne L. Nathan as the Fezziwigs put us all in fine Holiday fettle–who wouldn’t want to attend their festive soiree? And the color blind casting of the Cratchit family featuring Jon Norman Schneider as Bob, Sharina Martin as Mrs. Cratchit, Ethan Chang as Peter, Romy Johnson as Martha, Alicianna Rodriguez as Belinda, and Alexander Perez as Tiny Tim reminds us that we are all one another’s family and love and care are shared with everyone. When you see Zahra Lohoue as the Ghost of Christmas Past, the suite of lights is something to see! One of my favorite performers, I confess, is Adele Batchelder as the Ghost of Christmas Present in one of Linda Cho’s best costumes ever!
Two tips–first, arrive early. Parking is readily available, but you’ll want to attend the accent events and get pictures with cast members prior to the show. Second, get your tickets NOW as this is a tradition with many families and soon to become a tradition with yours. Every year, there are new cast members and the beautifully cinnamon-spice feel of the Holiday is in every word. Oooh, one more tip–bring a hankie … there are sentimental parts where you’ll be leaking a bit from the eyes, even if you’re more of a Scrooge than a Bob.
“A Christmas Carol” runs through December 29, so reserve NOW while there are still good seats left. While there are seats left at all. Contact the box office at www.McCarter.org or via telephone at 609/258-ARTS (2787).