Review: THE TRIAL OF EBENEZER SCROOGE at Actors' Playhouse

Is Ebenezer Scrooge a well known character in English literature? Does a chicken have lips? Well, yes, actually. Sort of. And is old Scrooge a scrawny, bent, hoarse voiced miser suppurating venom and unhappiness? Of course he is. And that's exactly what we get from Kevin Reilley. Plus the enchanting ability to light up the stage with a little dance and a smile. Christmas at last.

In THE TRIAL OF EBENEZER SCROOGE, in a wonderfully realistic English 1844 courtroom, set upstairs in the Balcony Theatre, "the trial of the century" is taking place.

Scrooge's change to a decent chap, generous and kind, told in the original A CHRISTMAS CAROL when he is visited by the Ghosts of Marley and the three Christmases, doesn't last long and faster than you can say gimme, gimme, gimme he's back being a right old toad. Hence he's suing Jacob Marley's Ghost and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future, charging them with "breaking and entering, kidnapping, slander, pain and suffering, attempted murder and intentional infliction of emotional stress."

Gregg Weiner is the blasé Judge Stanchfield R. Pearson and Carl Waisanen is his blundering Bailiff, Mr Connelly. Scrooge represents himself and is opposed by John Felix as the dreidel spinning, avuncular defense attorney, Solomon Rothschild. Wayne LeGette is the ultimate boss fearing working man, Bob Cratchit, and also explodes into the courtroom as the ghost of Marley.

Ryan Didato is Scrooge's enthusiastic nephew, Fred, and also the frightening Ghost of Christmas Future whose gibberish is translated by Diana D'Ambrosio who also appears as Mrs Cratchit, Miss Sara Wainwright and the pilfering Mrs Dilber. Lindsey Corey, whose streams of "No" are an almost endless delight as the Ghost of Christmas Past, also plays Scrooge's sister Fan and his former lover, Belle.

A veteran cast, clearly enjoying the experience.

David Arisco's sense of humor takes every joke and bit of business to the far shore, ensuring Mark Brown's witty two hour script flies right on by. Special effects whiz and bang throughout and Tiny Tim's tattered crutch makes a magical appearance.

Gene Seyffer designed the set, Eric Nelson the lighting, Shaun Mitchell the sound and Ellis Tillman the costumes. All, as is usual with Actors', were of the best. And speaking of sound, the horn blaring "Good King Wenceslaus" was an unexpected and fun effect.

THE TRIAL OF EBENEZER SCROOGE, Actors' Playhouse welcome to Christmas, is funny, warm and a sure cure for the Bah Humbug Blues.

Playing through December 27 at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. 305-444-9293 http://www.actorsplayhouse.org

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