Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Athens Theatre

From December 1 to 18, the beloved tale of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL comes to life at the Athens Theatre in DeLand. This particular telling of the story is a musical version with singing and dancing numbers. While I'm not sure I particularly enjoyed the musical version of the show, I can definitely say that the outstanding performances of the cast are well worth the cost of a ticket.

I've seen A CHRISTMAS CAROL more times than I can count and it's truly something I look forward to every holiday season. The story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the ghosts of Christmas, Tiny Tim and more has been part of the family Christmas celebration for years. I must admit however that I was thrown off by the production being a musical This is of course no fault of the Athens or their direction, I'm just not sure this particular story lends itself to a musical version. I typically love musicals, but this one did not flow as well as I would have hoped. The songs seemed out of place and too "showy" for what the particular scene was meant to portray.

One example of this is the "Link by Link" number by the ghost of Jacob Marley. Marley's ghost is supposed to be one of the most sinister and terrifying ghosts in the entire show (second only to the Ghost of Christmas Future). By giving him a musical number, it completely diminishes how scary he is meant to be. The Ghost of Jacob Marley is doomed to eternal haunting and he must carry the weight (literally) of living a loveless and joyless life with his rattling chains and morose disposition. While the audience understands that Marley is warning Scrooge of his fate lest he does not change, the ghoulish and scary Marley doesn't come across when he is making "boo" noises every couple of lines and singing an upbeat song while dancers are on stage. On the other hand, Tom Muniz who played Marley was amazing. I may not have really understood the reasoning behind the singing and dancing in the production, but if anyone had to make Jacob Marley into a singing and dancing ghost I'm glad it was Muniz. I'd seen him in the Athens' "Spamalot" not long ago, and he is absolutely brilliant.

I may not have understood why this show was a musical, but I was far from throwing in the towel and saying "Bah humbug!" to the show. I love that the Athens decided to do something different than the traditional show, but the cast vocally wasn't strong enough to carry the show as musical. What truly made the show for me were the three Christmas ghosts. You can tell that the casting director gave these parts to some of their best and most seasoned actors and signers as they truly made me hang on every word, and when the scene would cut away for a flashback or to another character I would anxiously await their return. Rachel Wittington is perfect as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Her angelic voice was breathtaking and her quiet, reflective voice were perfect to truly make me believe that her goal was to make Scrooge remember and realize his mistakes of his own omission, not by pounding it into his head. Speaking of amazing voices, I would be remissed to leave out the Ghost of Christmas Present - Kit Cleto. When I saw his name in the playbill, I knew I was in for a treat (I'd also seen him "Spamalot" before)! Not only was he hilarious and jubilant in his role, his booming and almost operatic voice were outstanding.

The sets and special effects by Tori Oakes and Amy Hadley are definitely to be applauded as well. I know The Athens is particularly proud of this production and it's use of new technology, and they should be! I was amazed by the use of a turnstile-type set piece that made it so three different scenes could be on stage at once. The use of lighting and smog effects made the ghosts' entrances feel like I was watching a magic show at times and it was a welcome relief from actors who usually just enter from stage left or right. There are also a number of effects that interact with and engage the audience - but I won't give those away!

The Athens Theatre's production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is sure to put you and your family in the holiday spirit, even if you find yourself saying "Why is this a musical?" Running now through October 18, tickets can be purchased here or by calling (386) 736 - 1500.

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So, did A CHRISTMAS CAROL leave you saying "Bah humbug!" or "Happy Christmas!" (or maybe a little of both?)? Let me know! Don't forget to follow BWW Orlando on Facebook and Twitter by clicking below. You can also connect with me about this show and all things theatre by following me on Twitter @libbychamps.

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