BWW Reviews: David Mann Astonishes in freeFall Theatre's A CHRISTMAS CAROL

David Mann is not just an incredible actor; he's a force of nature. When he's onstage, you see no one else. He owns every part, tackling it with heart and passion and that earth-quaking voice. It erupts rather than speaks, filling the theatre and chilling the audience. Mann has graced shows at freeFall before--mainly his memorable turns as the Emcee in Cabaret and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. And now he's back playing Scrooge in freeFall's annual gift to the community, A CHRISTMAS CAROL. I have not seen the other three versions that freeFall did of this iconic holiday show (with another actor as Scrooge), but I don't know how Mann can be topped. His Scrooge exceeds expectations. What a performance! And what a show!

Before I entered the theatre, I wondered what the usual freeFall twist would be given to this particular show. I mean, with their flashback Cabaret set in 1945, or their Fiddler with puppets, or their Freudian Into the Woods set in a psychiatrist office that comes to life with beloved fairy tales, anything was possible. So what kind of holiday show were we in for? The possibilities were endless. A sunscreen CHRISMAS CAROL set in St. Pete beach with a surfing Tiny Tim? Maybe Marley on roller skates, or Scrooge in space with zero gravity? With this group, anything is possible. But I shouldn't try to second guess Eric Davis & Co. Their CHRISTMAS CAROL is gorgeously rendered, free flowing and very cool, but it is also, thankfully, traditional. There is not a freeFall twist to the proceedings, just the usual freeFall excellence that we have come to expect.

The cast is delightful. Mann of course leads the way with his glaring stare and intense coldness; his Scrooge is callous and hard, bitter and gnarly, with no sense of the melting of his icy soul until the time is just right. His transformation from villain to humanitarian is so real, so joyful, and not at all forced, that I was left breathless.

The whole cast gleams brightly. I particularly like Mark Richard Taylor's robust interpretation of the Ghost of Christmas Present. Stephan Jones is wonderful in a variety of roles and makes for a terrifying Jacob Marley (he looks like a Victorian Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs with chains on his feet). Megan Buzzard is a charming Belle and possesses a lovely singing voice. The stunning Kelly Pekar also stands out in her many roles, and her singing is simply exquisite. Joey Panek is quite likable and real as Bob Cratchit, and his scenes after Tiny Tim's untimely death are heartbreaking and as strong as anything in the production. Daniel Schwab gives the best performance of the show (other than Mann) as Scrooge's nephew, Fred; he's so full of life, Scrooge's opposite, and commands the stage with a powerful singing voice. Other cast members, including Taylor Simmons, Kali Rabout, and especially Cara Lynn Craig in various roles, also shine.

All of the children in the cast are quite charming and professional: Amber Aronson, Natalie Cottrill, Chloe Davis, Xela Keith-Chirch, Caroline Howard, Sean Martin, Hunter Patterson, Kamy Satterfield and Dylan Mann (the latter the son of Scrooge himself, David Mann). Special mention must be made of William Garrabrant, who is an ideal Tiny Tim. His presence makes Tiny Tim's heartbreak that much more dramatic, and the celebration at the end that much more joyous.

Some of the diction of the cast is a little off on occasion, and not all of the lines can be understood, both in the songs and in some of the scenes. Accents are overall quite good, and the wonderful cast always stays in character, even the children (which is not always easy).

Eric Davis' direction is, as always, brilliant. He's becoming the Balanchine of blocking, moving mazes of bodies around effortlessly; we always know we are in the midst of a master storyteller. Yes, it's Charles Dickens' story, but in the telling of it, Davis tackles it with so much energy from his marvelous cast and choreography.

The set pieces and effects are second to none. The silent, hair-raising-on the-neck creepy Ghost of Christmas Future stands eight feet tall and is especially horrifying; it's like being in the presence of the actual Grim Reaper. Quite impressive. Mike Wood's lighting throughout couldn't be better. The snowy introductions to the various ghosts is a particularly nice touch.

Emi P. Stefanov's music direction is strong. The cast sings beautifully, and their harmonies are flawless. My one quibble with the show is the absence of a live orchestra. This CHRISTMAS CAROL doesn't lose its power with the absence because the music is lovely, but we nevertheless miss the excitement of live musicians. (On an extremely positive note, freeFall added a song list in its program to help us out in this version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, which is much appreciated.)

But the show belongs to David Mann all the way. This is an astonishing actor that I will follow anywhere, in any role. Combine his Scrooge with the genius of Eric Davis, the glorious sets, the moving Dickens story, and the marvelous cast that shares the space with him, and you have a holiday winner. A CHRISTMAS CAROL is produced often and in various locations; of all of them that shine brightly this season like lights on a Christmas tree, this is the one to see.

The show runs until Christmas Eve. For tickets, please call freeFall Theatre at (727) 498-5205.

To post a comment, you must register and login.