Review: Portland Stage Continues the Dickens Tradition

When Portland Stage rang down the curtain on its last of the 2016 season performances of Dickens' A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve, the company was celebrating a long cherished tradition that has delighted generations of Maine theatre goers since 1996. Directed and designed by Anita Stewart, the production serves not only to bring holiday cheer to the company's audiences, but also to advance the theatre's commitment to theatre for children.

The venerable production uses a combination of Equity actors and local children to retell Dickens' classic tale. The almost two-hour adaptation stays close to the novel, making use of many of the Dickens' most famous passages, interspersed with snatches of familiar Christmas carols. Hans Indigo Spencer provides an atmospheric background score, played vividly by Shane Van Vliet; Stewart and Chris Fitze adds the supernatural touches in the sound design. moves the action swiftly, employing the ensemble as a spoken chorus to cement the narrative thread. Her darkly Gothic designs together with Byron Winn's spooky lighting effects and Susan Thomas' period costumes complete the socially conscious Victorian world of the novelist. But Stewart and her cast add small touches of humor that alleviate the underlying sentimentality and humanize the narrative.

This year's Scrooge was Joel Leffert, who brought to the role a feisty stubbornness that eventually transformed into an almost manic conversion. Ian Carlsen, having graduated from the children's ensemble many years ago, brought exuberance and bright good will to Nephew Fred, while Michael Thomas made a convincingly kind, genuine, not saccharine Bob Crachit. Caley Milliken differentiated the three ghosts with whimsical quirkiness, while Larry Nicks made an earnest Jacob Marley. Emma O'Donnell proved a gentle Belle and Stephanie Ross a warm, motherly Mrs. Crachit. On Christmas Eve matinee, the "Green Ensemble" of children (Lily Carrigan, Jack Hagan, Lyra Legawiec, Eli Maynard, Waverly Moller, Lexi Pilk, Louisa Radtke-Rowe, Paige Scala, Braeden Skaggs, Anica Spencer, and Ryan Strack) rounded out the ensemble.

Judging by the sold-out audience - which consisted of more adults than children - this Portland Stage tradition is a hugely popular one that is here to stay. Maine audiences will have to wait two years now for the next revival - (the production alternates each holiday with The Snow Queen) - but the wait will surely be worthwhile!

Photos courtesy Portland Stage

A Christmas Carol ran at Portland Stage, 25 Forrest Ave., Portland, ME from November 28-December 24, 2016. For further information on Portland Stage's continuing season visit www.portlandstage.org