BWW Reviews: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at The Stage Theatre Inspires the Christmas Spirit

The holiday season is in full swing, and holiday magic is all around. Especially at the Denver Center's production of A Christmas Carol. The classic tale by Charles Dickens has been told countless times, and every variation brings the same wonder and spirit of giving to life. As the lights dim and the hum of the pre-show crowd settles, the audience can't help but wonder what variation of the tale they will be treated to in this annual tradition at the DCPA.

Right off the bat, I was struck by the incredible sense of awe in the detail and grandeur of the set and lighting for the production. Vicki Smith (Set Design), Kevin Copenhaver (Costume Design), and Don Darnutzer (Lighting Design) transport the audience into the classic Victorian setting. Every detail and nuance of the combined design effort was beautiful and sharp, and created a perfect mood for the story.

As most who are familiar with the tale know, the story focuses on Ebinezer Scrooge (played by Philip Pleasants), the tightfisted miser whose heart is initially closed to the Christmas spirit, but is then changed through the magical intrusion of four ghosts on Christmas Eve. Pleasants delivered a spectacular performance of Scrooge, and offered a version of the character that was both curmudgeonly and heartbreaking. As the story followed his change of heart, the ensemble of actors playing various characters throughout the story both narrated and populated the Dickens world. The ensemble members were all energetic and eccentric, and delivered grand performances that enchanted the audience.

As I have mentioned, the story of A Christmas Carol has been told in hundreds of variations, from the traditional script to a Muppet version on film. This production included musical numbers scattered throughout the show. While I wouldn't consider the performance a musical, in the traditional sense, the addition of music was used to amplify the scenes and intensify the emotions of the story. Though I normally love musical theatre, I felt like the music in this production, while fun and lively in the moment, was itself largely forgettable. Again, because this wasn't a musical, where the music is the focal point of the production, it was appropriate and welcome in the show, and added a festive element.

In all, director Bruce Sevy has put together a marvelous production filled with vibrant actors, breathtaking technical elements, and the perfect amount of holiday cheer. I would definitely recommend bringing family and friends to share in this DCPA tradition, and to simply enjoy the magic of the giving spirit that was so wonderfully displayed in this production. A Christmas Carol plays the Stage Theatre November 28-December 28th. For tickets and more information visit www.denvercenter.org or call 303-893-4100.

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