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A Christmas Carol

Published Thursday 26 November 2009 at 17:40 by Evelyn Curlet

Part morality tale, part pantomime, the Arts Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol is by turns sincere and tongue in cheek, righteous and riotous. Characterised by a short attention span and lack of artistic coherence, it retains a joyful, unruly spirit.

In Susie McKenna and Steve Edis’ adaptation, four people - two workmen and two audience members - find themselves trapped in a theatre and obliged to perform Dickens’ classic tale to the expectant audience. Cue many ad-libs, asides and high jinks. Into the mix are thrown a talking theatre cat and mouse - puppets voiced by Sharon D Clarke and Matthew White respectively - and a ghostly musical director who provides the accompanying score.

Gareth Hale, of old-school comic duo Hale and Pace, gives the most convincing and detailed performance as Scrooge. The others have a tendency to play caricatures rather than characters. Simon Lipkin is eye-catching in his versatility, from Scrooge’s upright nephew to money-grabbing spider, while Michael Matus gives a good ghostly Marley and timorous Bob Cratchitt. The musical score is underwhelming, but has an appropriately music hall feel, while Charlie the mouse as Tiny Tim steals the show with his heartfelt solo. It’s ludicrous and lovely.

Most importantly, the exuberant show exudes goodwill and good humour and, as a result, provides a merry couple of hours. Surely it would be churlish to demand anything else.

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