Just like the Christmas Carol itself, the Milwaukee Rep and their annual run of the stage play adaptation of the classic novel by Charles Dickens is a tale old as time, a Milwaukee holiday staple that is often on bucket lists of mandatory festivities and brought up in articles noting the must-see stops in the city, bringing families and friends together for decades now in the beautifully decorated Pabst theater with a rich history and surrounded by an enthusiastic community.
At this point, almost everyone knows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the fateful visits he receives from some ghostly presences that put his entire life into perspective, and for good reason. However, how does the rendition this year directed by Mark Clements hold up and continue the enduring tradition successfully? Is the performance an essential part of the seasonal celebrations that should be added onto the calendar right away, or is this portrayal skippable in the meantime?
To start, what cannot go unsaid any longer is the set design done by Todd Edward Ivins, which is impeccable and makes perfect use of the limited space of the relatively small stage, emulating the dirty streets of London while also embracing the uplifting holiday spirit simultaneously in a well-meshed contrast that never feels out of place or dissonant. The town scenery constantly unfolds and adds onto itself in a labyrinthian manner, with characters weaving and moving through the scenes so naturally without a second thought in their interactions, each showcased setting feeling believable and immersive from the gloomy office of the glum protagonist to the boisterous parties full of all-encompassing charm and cheer.
Not to mention, the visions of Scrooge were downright oppressive to the point that the children sitting in front were visibly shocked and scared by what they were witnessing, only to be reassured and warmed by the fake snow falling from the ceiling onto the audience. This factor is only accentuated by the lighting led by Jeff Nellis, which was always enchanting and served as a highlight of the production.
All around, the performances were solid and reliable throughout, with the standouts in particular being Matt Daniels as Ebenezer Scrooge, a role he has played in the past that shows in his well-worn sense of comfort in such an important part that he has eased into and carries with much charisma despite the character being so despicable, his definite familiarity never turning to staleness or boredom but instead emanating confidence and excitement that radiates and effects the theater. Moreover, Kevin Kantor steals the show thoroughly with their take on the Ghost of Christmas Past, lighting up the whole room with their electrifying costuming and causing laughs among the entire crowd, with their energetic presence being sorely missed after their eventual departure from the story. There were only a few moments with some of the child actors that needed a bit more practice and fine-tuning moving forward, but this can be chalked up to mere inexperience and assured nervousness.
There were a few technical problems in terms of the sound design and musical aspects, which rather than inspiring winter merriment, can take one out of the narrative and be a bit dampening. Unfortunately, the characters never seemed to be singing the songs, with some lines being visibly dubbed that the performers tried their best to match to mixed success. This disparity can detract from the serious character beats that the plot has been leading up to for hours now and are the heart of the moralistic lesson that demands gravitas but can be hackneyed at the current moment.
In short, this rendition of The Christmas Carol should be checked out for the dedication to the art of stagecraft alone and the clear passion the crew has for bringing a fully realized vision of this magical classic to life, with this special space feeling perfectly cozy and snug to bunker down in this holiday season. Despite some small hiccups and production oversights, the shining performances and stunning scenery more than make up for minor gripes that continuing to talk about would only inspire more scrooge and would bog down the exuding excitement shared by the elated crowd.